We invite you to the land of eternal romance, unique architecture, as well as to the fashionable "capital" of Europe - France!
France is a country that has always attracted tourists with its refinement, aristocracy, beauty and elegance. Here you can endlessly enjoy amazing natural landscapes, the fruits of the historical past and rich cultural heritage, the best wines and cuisine in numerous restaurants, bars and cafes.
And believe me, whoever visited France at least once, encountered its culture, felt the breath of time and history, immersed in French safety and "savoir vivre", will return here again and again, discovering something new, unforgettable and unique every time .
Most of France is located in Western Europe, its mainland borders Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in the northeast, Switzerland in the east, Monaco and Italy in the southeast, Spain and Andorra in the southwest. France is washed by four bodies of water (the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea). In the west and north, the territory of the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean (the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel), in the south by the Mediterranean Sea (the Gulf of Lyon and the Ligurian Sea). The length of the sea borders is 5,500 kilometers. France is the largest country in Western Europe by territory: it occupies almost one-fifth of the territory of the European Union, has large sea spaces (the exclusive economic zone extends over an area of 11 million square kilometers).
The state also includes the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea and more than twenty overseas departments and dependent territories. The total area of the country is 547,030 km² (674,685 km² including overseas possessions).
The climate on the European territory of France is moderately maritime, transitional in the east to moderately continental, and on the southern coast to subtropical. In total, three types of climate can be distinguished: oceanic (in the west), Mediterranean (in the south), continental (in the center and in the east). The summer is quite hot and dry - the average temperature in July reaches + 23 - 25 degrees, while the winter months are characterized by rains at an air temperature of + 7- 8 ° C. The main share of precipitation falls in the period from January to April, and their total the amount ranges from 600 to 1000 mm. On the western slopes of the mountains, this indicator can reach a mark of more than 2000 mm.
Do not forget to change your clocks, because the time difference between Ukraine and France is minus 1 hour in winter and 2 hours in summer.
The currency is Euro. Consists of 100 cents. US dollar exchange rate: $ 1 = 69 JMD. There are few exchange points, mainly in banks. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On the eve of public holidays, of which there are quite a few in the country, banks stop working at noon.
France celebrates 11 Jours feries (weekends) a year. The civil calendar was first established in 1582; Bastille Day was established in 1789, Armistice Day in 1918, Labor Day in 1935, and Victory Day in 1945. Throughout May, there are holidays almost every week, so you need to be prepared for the fact that shops, banks and museums may be closed for a while. You will do well if you call museums, restaurants and hotels in advance and make sure that they will be open.
French cuisine can be conditionally divided into two main branches - regional folk and refined aristocratic.
Regional cuisine includes dishes that have been prepared by residents of various historical regions of the country for centuries. Aristocratic French cuisine was formed at the court of the Bourbons, when Paris became the legislator of world fashion. Her unique dishes were distinguished by variety and sophistication.
A traditional French meal may start with hors d'oeuvre (hot or cold appetizers in the case of lunches), followed by soup, then a main course, salad and cheese. The end of the meal is dessert or fruit. The main snack is cheese, of which there are more than 200 varieties. It was in France that such a dish as soup with transparent broth was formed. Wine is a special pride of the French. The kings of French wines are Bordeaux and Burgundy. Cognac is also very popular worldwide.
The French earned the insulting nickname "frogs" for eating frogs' legs, but this dish is more of a delicacy than an everyday food and not served in all restaurants. France is the largest importer of frogs from Asian countries for their consumption.
