Life in France

I intend to post useful infomation on this thread regards life in France, for those members that may be intrested, also I will try to answer any quires you may have.

Here is a bit of a Introduction to France

Metropolitan France

In French, metropolitan France is sometimes referred to as the Hexagon because of its six-sided shape. Starting in the Middle Ages, it took over a thousand years and the stubborn determination of her kings, and then of the Republic, to unify her. She has three sea and three land frontiers and her present territorial boundaries were shaped by the outcomes of the Franco-German wars of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

In the south, the Pyrenees, rising to the 3,404 metres high Pic Aneto (in Spain), form the frontier with Spain and, to the east, the Alps and Jura those with Italy and Switzerland, whilst the middle reaches of the Rhine separate France from Germany. These are "natural" frontiers, long impenetrable, and there are still serious problems crossing them through passes, bridges, road and rail tunnels given the increase in European traffic. The Pyrenees, Alps and Jura give France mountainous areas shared with her neighbours. The French Alps to the north form the most extensive ski slopes in Europe and most mountain sports originated there. Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain, rises to 4,807 metres.

In the north, by contrast, the border with Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium is much more open. It cuts across the ancient massif of the Ardennes at fairly low altitudes, and across the great north European plain. It was for a long time the most threatened border, that of conflicts, battles and invasions. Now, at many points, it sees intense cross-border activity between the Lille region and Belgium, between Lorraine, Luxembourg and the Saar. But, boosted by European agreements, other transborder regions are taking shape elsewhere, around the middle reaches of the Rhine between Alsace and Baden-Württemberg, in the areas around Basle-Mulhouse and Geneva, in the Nice region, in Catalonia and the Basque country.

France has the exceptional privilege of having three seaboards, if not four. To the south lies the Mediterranean, with a very sunny coast, sheer cliffs and picturesque shores in Provence and on the Côte d'Azur, and long sandy beaches in the Languedoc. South-western France borders the Atlantic, with a more humid but mild and sunny climate and many sandy beaches rimmed by marshes and dunes. In the north-west, France faces the Channel and the North Sea, the world's busiest stretch of water, linking the Atlantic and the great Belgian, Dutch, British, and German North Sea ports. France has two port complexes of European standing: Le Havre/Rouen on the Seine, serving Paris and the surrounding area, and Marseille on the Mediterranean at the mouth of the Rhône. She has, however, never been - and this is even more the case today - the great maritime power she could have been. The main activity of France's coastal regions is now tourism, which has developed everywhere, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The quality of her coastline helps make France, with her mountains, countryside and historic towns, the leading tourist destination in Europe and indeed the world.

Somthing for thought when venturing South!


Here are a few difference in France from the UK firstly shops they have a different attitude to customers in France you are not always boss, for instance if you wish to return goods you will most probably not get your money refunded more that likely you will be allowed a voucher which permits you to purchase another item from that store.

The shop hours are very different the close from 12.30 – 2.30 daily for a standard french lunch break except for the large Hyper markets, most store do not open on a Monday and no one opens on a Sunday.

Road Charges as there is no road tax as it was abolished in 2000 they regain road charges via tax on fuel “ordinary routes ”and tolls “motorways” controlled by each region so if you leave the Charante and enter the Girond you will come across another toll the cost vary from as low as 5 Euro or up to 28 Euro they take credit card as well as cash this lane is marked CB “Cart Bleu”., these are Motorways only as there is no charge for the green national routes.


Fuel Petrol is known as Essence and Diesel is Known as Gas Oil, quite often small garages are still attendant manned.


Speed Limits can vary and in small towns and villages are set by the Marie and the council the police whom control these limits can vary from Police National in the large towns & City’s the Gendarme whom control the Villages & Countryside and the Municipal whom are a sort of local B special whom work under the local Marie.

Speed Cameras the are not so much static cameras about but plenty of the hand held versions and the Gendarme are quite active in areas of confusion? The company that supply the cameras and their is only one is owned by the brother of a government minister.

OK that’s enough for this edition, if there are any questions regards a specific subject please ask? I will endeavour to find the answer!

Barry Au Revoir

Couldnt live in France.....too mnay French there:wink:

Was never a fan of "Hello.Hello"
BTB

Buyer Beware

Recently whilst my wife was working in a British/French Estate Agents a women placed her French property on the market it was a small property with land in the Gironde region close to St Terre.

It was a barn structure, which had been partly converted to a small dwelling within part of the barn, a kitchen bedroom living area and toilet.

The price I believe was quite fair so it did attract a few viewers in particular a French family was quite keen, and inquired into the planning permission, but thought that would be just a formality as it had already been converted in part?

Further inquires revealed that the conversion had not had planning permission so was illegal and in fact the land was still listed as agricultural and no one could reside there.

It was also established that the permission had never been granted, but her husband had served as the Marie at one time???

The outcome was that the property was not sold needless to say the seller was annoyed having been tumbled and was heard to say never mind I will sell it to the English, which quite annoyed my wife.

So never be to keen to buy! and insure that the contact list "pending on planning permission being granted"

More on French Property’s soon!

Au revoir Barry

Some Things to think about before you plan to leave the UK

Pets

If you got a pet and wish to take them with you then it will need a passport ID Chip and a Rabies Jab, if you do not intend to bring them back to the UK the do not require the blood test which can cost around £80 - £100 and some Vets may not mention this and try to give it your pet, when there is no need, advice I received from DEFRA, whom are on line for advise.

Medical

Medical well in France they pay their own cover either through the social and private insurance or social & Cash, now Medical insurance is advisable once settled but until then make use of E111 which willcover you for thee months I believe an I think the document has been renamed, you will pay for treatment for some things but will then be refunded part or all of the costs.

Further advise on Medical Cover on request!

Eyes & Teeth

I would however advise you to change your Glasses prior to moving and also if possible get your Teeth done, as in France that cost, an example I had an eye test cost E 80 refundable through insurance but my glasses will cost me E700 = £500 one pair they are progressive “Verifocals” and only E140 is refundable, I know eat more carrots but hey that’s steep.

Dental just had a quote for a crown & a implant E 1500 = £ 950 so yes arrive fully MOT’Ed


Your Car

Do you change to a L Hand Drive prior to arrival as it will be easier to re-register as it already conforms and a British Car is harder to reregister, or buy a French car here there are dealers whom will take your R Hand drive off you if you have all the service history.


Car Insurance, make sure you have a copy of your proof of no claims as you will need that here!


Income Tax

Tax on your pension ensure Cardiff the tax office for pensions is aware of your move and that they change your details as you will eventually get a reduction in Tax in line with permitted income/earnings before tax.


British Food

Well don’t despair as well as friend being giving get me list prior to coming to visit you most items can be got on the net via britishcornershop.com and also in Eymet a village in the Dordogne there is a British Shop.


TV systems

If you have a UK TV and its your pride and joy bring it as it will serve as a monitor as most do these day as it’s the decoder that receive the channel you just view it on the TV, now if you want UK TV its not a problem there are systems out there that will work here, you just need to buy a card, not a Sky Card “No revenue for you PB” unless you want sky, but a ITV Ch 4 card as BBC is free, at a one of cost of around £20 your dealer will advise you, but it does work I have got one.

With the above system which cost around £200 including Dish 60cm you also get local radio stations so you can keep in touch with the UK, now some people may not want to, but its all about choice.


I think that will do for now but if there are any questions please feel free to ask

Au revoir Barry


Now if you are not interested in France you are advised to stop reading at the word "some" as it may not be for you? sorry

Update on

Sunday Opening “The Rules” wef March 2007

The Conseil Economique et Sociale (CES) has issued a report on Sunday opening for shops. The council wishes to maintain the concept of Sunday as a day of rest but suggest that the rules be made simpler. In principle, the law forbids all opening on a Sunday but certain sectors like hotels restaurants and florists have a permanent opt-out.

Food Shops can open up to midday. Tourist businesses can get permission from the prefecture to open. A Marie can authorise a particular sector of the business to open up to five Sundays a year in his commune.

The CES suggests all business should be allowed to open for up to five Sundays without asking for special permission providing they give advance notice to the prefecture.

It ain’t easy is it will it be open when you arrive hungry at 9am on a Sunday morning who knows aye what 5 Sundays will they open?

It’s the same all story the bigger the town and the closest to tourism then the chance of a shop being open is greater? Or is it!


Prefecture is the area Council the link from Government to the localMarie’s

Anyone interested in Wine, I have worked the harvest twice and just attended a 2 day Wine tasting in St Emillion "Top Stuff" and I am doing a tour of vineyards of the Dordogne on Thursday with a professor of the Terre - earth a Viticulture, so should be intresting !

Questions welcomed!

From his last post:

"Anyone interested in Wine (IS THE POPE A CATHOLIC?), I have worked the harvest twice and just attended a 2 day Wine tasting in St Emillion "Top Stuff" and I am doing a tour of vineyards of the Dordogne on Thursday with a professor of the Terre - earth a Viticulture, so should be intresting !"

Rough life for some, eh Barry?

The wines of the Bordeaux Region

There are 119.000 hectares (294,000 acres) of vineyards in the Gironde department, producing 6.3 million hl of wine a year. Around 80% is red, but before 1970 there was more white than red in the Bordeaux region

Wines from the left bank (sounds like the Lebanon) of the river Garonne & Gironde:
Medoc (Medoc, St Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux Haut-Medoc); Graves (Pessac-Leognan, Graves); Sauternes (Cerons, Barsac, Sauterns).

Wines from Entre-Deux-Mers, between the rivers Garonne and Gironde; Entre-deux-Mers (Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cadillac, Loupiac, Ste-Croix-du-Mont, Cotes de Bordeaux-St Macaire, Haut-Benauge, Entre-Deux-Mers, St-Foy-Bordeaux,Graves-deVayres).

Wines from the right bank of the rivers Dordogne & Gironde:
Libournais (Fronsac,Canon-Fronsac,Pomrol,Lalande-de-Pomerol,St-Emilion,Montagne-St-Emilion,Lussac-St-Emilion,St George-St-Emilion, Puisseguin-St-Emilion,Bordeaux Cotes de Francs,Cotes de Castion); Blayais-Bourgeais(Cotes de Blaye, Cotes de Burg).

Appellations

There are a total of 50

Regional – Bordeaux, e.g.Bordeaux Superieur (slightly higher in alcohol), Bordeaux Clairet, Cremant de Bordeaux).

Sub Regional (e.g. Medoc, Haut -Medoc, Graves,Sauternes, Entre-Deux-Mers, St Emilion, Pomerol, Cotes de Bourge).

Parish Appellations (e.g. St-Estephe, Pauillac, St-Julien, Margaux, Pessac-Leognan).


Grape varieties

Most all Bordeaux wines are a blend of two or more grape varieties.

Red & Rose wines

50% of the vines grown for red wine are Merlot some Pomerol wines contain over 95% Merlot, Flavours plums,blackcurrants,spices

They are blended with either Cabernet Sauvignon which has a more fruitier flavour than Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Franc I worked in St Emilion there mix was 60% - 40% but depends on the flavour you wish to achieve and also the type of soil your vine is grown in.

White Wine

Semillon accounts for 53% of white wine grapes, flavours lime-flowers aromas. lanolin, honey, apricots.

Sauvignon Blanc acidic variety flavours gooseberries, freshly cut grass, nettles.

Muscadelle in the blend of both dry and sweet wine

Lesser Known varieties Ugni Blanc, Colombard & Merlot Blanc

Some of the best know sweet white wines are Monbazillac & Sauternes


(I have been told a glass should never be more than ½ filled in order to allow for the aromas to be develop)

Wine

Red Wine gets its colour from the pigments in the grapes skins and sometimes from the tannins in the pips and stalks of the grapes, unlike white wine the skins remain longer to allow colour.

White wine can be made from either white or black grapes; the grapes are crushed and pressed to separate the juices from the skins and seeds.

Rose is made by various methods either by making red wine from lightly coloured grapes; making white wine from very dark-skinned grapes (often known as vin gris) and the bleeding method, in which the juice and skins macerate for a shorter time than for red wines. When the desired pale pink colour occurs the juice is then drawn off the skins.

Note one vine will give one bottle of wine as a general rule, there are areas in the France that differ but very few.

Recommendations “Guide only”

Rose is excellent served chilled during the summer months with either a Barbecue or Salad, a young Red can be consumed at room temp without the accompaniment of food.

A mature Red from a recognised Chateau they say should be consumed with food to really enjoy its quality in line with the wine food guide, but taste is a personal thing so you will know best.

A sweet white wine is better been served chilled with desert.

The basic of the shelf young wine should be consumed within 5yrs the better classed red wines need longer to mature 7 – 15 years some even longer

Controls

In France the wine production controlling body only allows vine yard owners to produce 50 hl of class A wine anything over this amount must be sold as a second wine at a much cheaper price, so it is possible to obtain a really nice second wine at a much more reasonable price, but not all vineyards produce more than 50hl

In Search of a good Wine

Finding a good wine is again a personnel thing and even when you remember the name a different year can change the whole taste, but there are many good wines and some bad, I find it easier to remember the bad and avoid them.

I have my favourites too I am a great fan of the Medoc wines grown on a very sandy soil gives it the taste I appreciate, but I also like some of the wines from the Roussillon region which come out a lot more reasonably priced.

Remember the box wines of Germany well they have boxed wines here too, and they taste really nice but not so attractive for the table, but having lived here a while and the fact I drink wine every day and having served my probationary period of wine searching and tasting, now days I buy a 5 or 10lt box of Bordeaux Superior or Medoc for general use and save the bottled good stuff for visitors.

Classifications of Wines Drawn up in 1855 & 1959 & 1973

This can be confusing because each area has a different system; i.e. Bordeaux has Premiers crus (first Growth) Deuxiemes crus (second growth and so on up to 5th).

The Graves has Premiers Grand crus (First great growth)

St Emilion has Premiers Grand crus classes (First great classed growth), Grand crus classes (Great classed growths) and a Grand cru which is a lesser class in this region.

Pomerol – Cru hors classe (above classification), Premiers grands cru (First great growths) and a Grand cru (Great growths)

The is relationship between different areas of the wine industry is quite poor, hence no standardisation of classes