France

Nearly 3,000 foreign industrial companies, many of them British and North American, currently take advantage of France's location and established trade relations with neighboring markets. Consequently, a network of relocation agencies, expatriate clubs and English-language societies have emerged throughout France to enable foreign transferees to integrate into the community with minimal difficulty.

As well as being at the forefront of business and industry in Europe, France is renowned for its cultural and historical heritage. The country is filled with over 30,000 Chateaux and monuments that retrace over 2,000 years of history.

France’s exceptional cultural treasures are legacies of the country’s wealthy monarchy, which dates back to 500 AD. Tribes from present day France and Germany established a kingdom that rivaled the Roman Empire in size; in 800 AD, the monarch Charlemagne ruled a kingdom covering most of Europe.

France is one of 12 countries in the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) to adopt the Euro (€) as its new official currency. The Euro, which replaced the local currency, can be used uniformly for transactions in participating European countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain). The introduction of the Euro took place in January 2002 and is now the sole official currency in use.

She is also a member of the European Union. Initially, the forerunner of the EU, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), consisted of just six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined in 1973, and many more countries have been added since. For an up-to-date list of member countries in the EU go to http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm.

Geography
France is divided into 21 administrative and cultural regions, not including Corsica and the nation's overseas territories.

Alsace	Franche Comté	Normandy (Basse Normandie, Haute Normandie)
Aquitaine	Ile de France	Pays de la Loire/Loire Atlantique
Auvergne	Languedoc/Roussillon	Picardy
Brittany	Limousin	Poitou/Charente
Burgundy	Lorraine	Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur (PACA)
Centre/Val de Loire	Midi-Pyrénées	Rhöne/Alpes
Champagne/Ardenne	Nord/Pas de Calais

History
By the medieval era, French territory had been consolidated into the region of what is now present day France. The monarchy remained strong until the late eighteenth century, when a large-scale peasant uprising destroyed it all together. The French Revolution, as it is known, became a model for peasant and working class revolt throughout most of Europe.

Twentieth century politics continued to play out the conflict between the elite and working classes initiated in the French Revolution. By the beginning of the twentieth century, left wing Socialists, inspired by the beliefs of Karl Marx, gained popularity. Socialism was derailed, however, by the advent of World War I and World War II. In 1940, Nazi Germany occupied northern France and much of the country was swept into war. In the end, France was devastated.

After the war, right wing conservatives dominated the government and made great strides towards modernization and industrial growth. However, conflict in the French colony of Algeria threw the country into chaos once again. By 1954, France was involved in a bloody war of Algerian independence that lasted until 1962. Then, in 1968, French students and workers staged a protest in Paris that caught the government by surprise. The protest, aimed at the country’s rigid, elitist institutions, brought about the gradual liberalization of French society, despite the fact that conservatives remained in power until the 1980s.

In 1981, Socialist Francois party leader Francois Mitterrand was elected president and instituted a series of policies aimed at raising taxes for the wealthy, empowering local governments and raising the standard of living for the poor. Although Mitterrand remained the president until 1995, the conservatives, including next president Jacques Chirac, held important government positions, keeping the level of debate between the two parties at a high pitch. Even today, France's political drama continues. The centre right-wing government under Jacques Chirac which was elected in June 2002 won majorities throughout the country.

Nicolas Sarkozy is the current President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra, elected on 6 May 2007 after defeating Socialist Party contender Ségolène Royal during the second round of the 2007 election. Before his presidency, he was leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) right wing party. Sarkozy is known for his strong stance on law and order issues and his desire to revitalise the French economy. In foreign affairs, he has promised closer cooperation with the United States.

Climate
Northern France typically enjoys a temperate climate, with warm summers and cool winters which may bring some snowfall. The highest regions of the Alps and Pyrenees are covered with snow all year, and the Mediterranean Coast is usually home to hot, dry summers and relatively mild winters. In Paris, the weather is usually pleasant after May, with Spring bringing a considerable amount of rain. During the summer months, light or medium-weight clothing should be most comfortable. The winter months can get quite cold, so heavier clothing is necessary.

The winter months in Paris can be bitter, but the coldest month is February with average temperatures ranging between one and seven degrees Celsius (34 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit). In general, temperatures in the months of December and January also hover anywhere between one and ten degrees Celsius (34 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperatures in March and April rise slightly and there is more rain. The average temperature in March and April is typically about 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit).

In general, you can expect temperatures in July and August to be between 15 and 28 degrees Celsius (60 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit). The average temperature in October is about 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit), while the average temperature in September is about 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Culture
France and the French are world renowned for their nationalism. As a result, foreigners visiting or living in the country often view the French in a stereotypical manner. However, French culture is one of rich heritage and tradition.

The French may appear indifferent to strangers. Instead, they tend to reserve their warmth and hospitality for friends and family. Foreigners will find that the French enjoy life's simple pleasures like reading in a cafe or eating a two hour lunch on Sunday with their family.

Each region of France is physically and culturally diverse. Each province has its own distinct style which can be seen in the people themselves, as well as in the architecture and cuisine. The sheer diversity found throughout the country is no more apparent than in the "City of Lights". Paris is considered one of the most high-tech cities in all of Europe. Yet traditional villages and old-fashioned buildings are found amongst monumental structures like the Louvre. Like all of France, Paris offers a wide variety of experiences, opportunities and sights for all.

Paris is world famous for its rich cuisine, fine wines and stunning architecture. In addition, it is served by one of the most efficient and pleasant public transport systems in Europe. The city is compact, consisting of twenty areas, referred to as arrondissements. Although Paris has some dangerous sections, the crime rate is relatively low compared to other major urban centers throughout the world.

Regionalism is an important element in the lives of many French individuals and families. Within each region of the country you will find a variety of differences. Each province proudly boasts of its own culinary expertise, sports teams or wine. The bond formed between a family or individual with a specific region of the country usually stems from past generations. You will find that while many people live and work in Paris, they may also own a home in the country. Provincial attachment may be stronger in some cases than a bond of national identity.

The French also enjoy being different. French culture can be separated from the cultures of other countries and French people even enjoy being different from one another. French individuals are passionate about conversation, cuisine, fashion, language and sexuality. In general, the French try to avoid boredom and, as a result, certain elements in their life, such as fashion trends, may pass by quickly. Though surrounded by a long history of tradition, the French continue to look into the future and embrace new ideas.

Language
Although dialects vary from region to region, French is the official spoken and written language of France. Most nationals are familiar with at least one other European language, but visitors will find that proficiency in French is very useful.

Religion
Although a large majority of French nationals are Catholic, a much smaller number actually practices the religion. There are minorities of Protestants and Muslims in Paris and other major cities.

Religious Institutions
More and more expatriates are joining the local English-speaking churches and synagogues for social as well as spiritual reasons. In addition to prayer groups and bible study, many of these institutions offer community service activities, Christmas bazaars and even 'pizza night' parties. You may find that members come from all different ethnic backgrounds and even different religions. If you are looking for new social opportunities, don’t overlook the idea.

Public Holidays

New Year's Day	1 January
Easter Sunday	March or April
Ascension Day	Fifth Thursday after Easter
Pentecost Monday	Seventh Monday after Easter
Labor Day	1 May
Victory Day	8 May
Bastille Day	14 July
The Assumption	15 August
All Saints' Day	1 November
Armistice Day	11 November
Christmas Day	25 December

Embassies and Consulates
An embassy is the official representation of a country within another country. Embassies are almost always located in the national capital of the country. American embassies are in, for example, Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, London, etc.

Consulates can be thought of as embassy "branch offices." They are located in major cities, geographically distributed for convenience. The number of consulates in a foreign country depends on the need for representation and cost of running a consulate. For example, many governments maintain consulates in Zurich, Switzerland, which is a major city but not a national capital.

Most of the embassies of the world have homes on the Internet to compliment their addresses in their country. To obtain the most up-to-date information online for street, Internet or email addresses, and telephone or fax numbers, use one or all of the sites listed below:

www.embassyworld.com– links to embassies and consulates worldwide
www.embassy.org– links to foreign embassies in the USA
usembassy.state.gov/ - US Embassies abroad