Information courtesy of French Connections 
Motoring
Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Children must be properly protected up to the age of ten (car cots for small babies, and baby or child seats.) Crash helmets must be worn for all forms of motorbike travel.
Unless otherwise indicated the speed limit in urban areas is 50 kph in built up areas, 90 kph on other roads, (80 in the rain) and 130 kph on autoroutes (110 in the rain).
It is an offence to drive with more than 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood. (About two glasses of wine).
The Bison futé system has been set up to try to prevent traffic jams. The map proposes alternative routes indicated by green and yellow panels and the word bis.
Carry your insurance, car log book - original not a photocopy, (or a letter from the car hire company if it is a company car), and your driving license with you at all times whilst driving. It is an offence to not to do so.
Planes and trains
France has 80 airports with two international airports for Paris. Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle in the north, and Orly in the south.
Train tickets are sold at ticket counters and from ticket machines in stations, SNCF retail outlets, and in travel agencies. Reservations can also be made by telephone using a credit card. Tickets must be reserved for the TGV trains. Bicycles can be taken free of charge. The SNCF personnel wear red jackets and are available to help with directions and information.
Taxis
Taxis may be hailed in the streets, ordered by telephone or found at cab ranks indicated by the letter T. You will be charged for the journey to pick you up as well as the distance you travel. There are supplementary charges for each piece of luggage weighing more than 5kg and for bulky objects as well as journeys to and from stations and airports
Car Hire
In general, you must be 21 years of age and have possessed a driving licence for at least a year. You must take out the insurance offered when you hire a car. See our Car Hire page on our travel website www.frtravel.com for more information.
Metros and buses
Most cities are served by a bus or tram network. Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseilles Toulouse and Rouen also have metros. Tickets are sold at ticket counters in metro stations, in the Paris high speed RER underground, as well as on buses and trams. Single tickets, or booklets of ten can be purchased. The booklets can also be bought at tobacconists.
Telephoning
Most public call boxes now use telephone cards which are sold in tobacconists, post offices, SNCF or RATP ticket offices and other retail outlets.
To call abroad the code is 00 + country code + area code + number you are calling. The code for the U.K.for instance would be 00.44. then the area code omitting the first zero (0) The code for the U.S.A. is 00.1.
Post offices
Post offices are generally open from 8 am to 7 pm on weekdays and from 8 am to midday on Saturdays. Some are closed from 12.30pm to 2pm for lunch. Traveller's cheques and money can also be changed here.
Stamps can also be purchased at tobacconists.
Changing money
Currency
France is part of the Euro zone. There are 8 euro coins denominated in 2 and 1 euros, then 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.There are 7 euro notes enominated in 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros.
Foreign currency can be changed in post offices, stations or airports as well as banks.
ATM machines
Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard (any bank with the CB sign)
American Express a few in the very large cities and elsewhere via Le Credit Lyonnais Bank
Cirrus via Le Credit Mutuel and Le Credit Agricole
It is very easy to get cash with Visa, MasterCard and Eurocard possible with American Express, difficult with Cirrus and Plus.Credit cards
Accepted everywhere. Look for the sign CB in green-blue Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard (Carte Bleue network) AmEx, JCB (sometimes, and nearly always where there are tourists)Travelers cheques
Easy to cash at any bank. There are often charges if the cheques are not in Francs. Can also be changed at post offices.
Foreign exchange
Best rates are usually given at banks or at the American Express offices. It is easier to change a foreign currency into Francs than Francs into something else since banks have a limited stock of foreign currency.Shopping
Shops open from Monday to Saturday between 8 am and 10 am and close at about 7 pm. In the provinces the shops close between 12 noon and 2 pm for lunch. Monday is a bit hit and miss as far as shopping is concerned, some shops and restaurants are closed. On Sunday mornings there is often a market and some food shops are open.
Following the withdrawal of duty free facilities within the European Union, customs authorities in all member countries have introduced guidance levels for the import of tobacco, alcohol and other products purchased by visitors for their own use. These levels should be checked with HM Customs. Travellers who buy more than the amount specified, must be able to satisfy Customs Officers at both the point of departure and arrival that the goods are for their personal use.
Public holidays
Banks and most shops will be closed on these days.
Fixed Public Holidays
1 January New Year's Day 1 May Labour Day 8 May Fête de la Victoire 1945 (WWII Victory Day) 14 July Bastille Day 15 August Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1 November All Saints Day 11 November Armistice Day 25 December Christmas Day 26 December 2nd Day of Christmas (in Alsace Lorraine-only) Holidays falling on a weekend are not moved.
Moveable Public Holidays
Feast 2003 2004 Good Friday 18 Apr 9 Apr Easter 20 Apr 11 Apr Easter Monday 21 Apr 12 Apr Ascension 29 May 20 May Whit Sunday (Pentecost) 8 Jun 30 May Whit Monday 9 Jun 31 May
Health care
If you live in an EC country you should obtain an E111 form before you travel to France. This can be obtained from your local post office and must be date stamped by them. You will then only have to pay a part of the cost of your treatment
Land Measurements
When buying a house in France land is usually quoted in Hectares
1 Hectare = 10,000 square metres = 2.5 acres (approx) 8,000 square metres = 2 acres (approx) 4,000 square metres = 1 acre (approx) 2,000 square metres = 0.5 acres (approx) 10 Ares = 1000 square metres = 0.25 acre (approx) 1 Are = 100 square metres British Embassy in France
The address of the British Embassy is 35 rue du Faubourg St Honore, 75383 Paris; tel: 01 44 51 31 00 (0033 1 44 51 31 00 from the UK).
British Consulate Generals are situated at Bordeaux (tel: 05 57 22 21 10), Lille (tel: 03 20 12 82 72), Lyon (tel: 04 72 77 81 70) and Marseille (tel: 04 91 15 72 10).
Information courtesy of French Connections