Folleto sobre Francia (en inglés)

1. LIVE LIFE TODAY TOGETHER
FRANCE
INFORMATION BROCHUREINFORMATION BROCHUREINFORMATION BROCHURE

2. The flag and coat of arms of Normandy are symbols of Normandy.
The leopard in the medieval bestiary is a cousin of the lion. «Léo-
pard», is bastard of the lion. The leopards of Normandy are English.
Anglo-Angels more precisely, and Normans by marriage. They are
derived from the oldest coat of arms known to the Angevin family:
the Plantagenêts.
GENERAL INFORMATION
 France is a democracy organised in the form of a
parliamentary government.
 Current president: Emmanuel Macron
 Current Prime Minister: Edouard Philippe
 The first official language is French
 Population: over 66 million
 Currency: euro
 Drives on the right
 Time zone: CET+1
 Religions: Most of the population (about 60%) is catholic.
There are also muslims and other minority religions.
FRANCE
flag national emblem
Coat of arms of Normandy

3. GEOGRAPGY AND CLIMATE
France with its area of 551 602 sq km is bordered by the countries
of Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Spain
and Switzerland, and by the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea. Three types of climate may be found: oceanic – in
the western parts of the country (with plenty of rain, cool summers,
and cool winters), continental – in eastern and central France
(characterized by warmer summers and colder winters than areas
farther west, snowy winters and ample rainfall and Mediterranean
– found mainly in the south (with cool winters, hot summers, and
limited rainfall).
LANGUAGES
French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish);
overseas departments: French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili
dialect).
ETHNIC MINORITIES
The current population of France is almost 65 million: 87% French,
3% Arabs, 2% Germans, 1% Jews, 6 % other immigrants.
Otherethnicgroups:Corsican,Catalan,CelticandLatinwithTeutonic,
Slavic, North African, Indochinese and Basque minorities.
RELIGION
There is no official religion in France; France is a secular republic
and a lay state. However, about half of French people say they are
Catholics, and 2% Protestants. Less than 10% of French Catholics
are regular church-goers. Some 8% of the French population are
Muslims.

4. SCHOOL AND EDUCATION IN FRANCE
 nursery school or kindergarten (école maternelle)
 primary school (école)
 middle school (collège)
 high school (lycée)
French schooling is free and mandatory from the age of 6 to 16.
Another 2 years of studying are required if a student is to sit the
baccalauréat exam, which they must pass to enter university.
Majority of French children start school at the age of 3.
Classes are about 30 or more students.
Most students attend local schools. Foreign families may consider
an international school to ease their child’s transition by continuing
education in a familiar language and curriculum.
State education is free for French citizens and others who have a
proof of residence, although parents have to pay for stationary and
school trips.
Allocation de rentrée scolaire (ARS) is a means-tested grant available
to help parents with the costs of schooling for children aged 6 – 16.
School dates vary according to which ‘zone’ you are in. The French
Ministry of Education maintains a comprehensive list of school
holidays in France.
Zone A: Besançon - Bordeaux – Clermont-Ferrand – Dijon – Grenoble
– Limoges - Lyon - Poitiers
Zone B: Aix-Marseille – Amiens – Caen – Lille – Nancy-Metz –
Nantes – Nice – Orléans - Tours - Reims - Rennes - Rouen
- Strasbourg
Zone C: Créteil – Montpellier – Paris – Toulouse - Versailles
Zone A Zone B Zone C
Back to school September 1 September 1 September 1
All Saints
holiday
October 19–
November 3
October 19 –
November 3
October 19–
November 3
Christmas
holiday
December
17–January 3
December 17
– January 3
December 17
– January 3
Winter holiday February 13 –
March 6
February 11–
February 27
February 4 –
February 20
Spring holiday April 15 –
May 2
April 8 –
April 24
April 1 –
April 18
The long
Ascension
weekend
May 24 –
May 29
May 24 –May
29
May 24 –
May 29
Summer holiday July 8 July 8 July 8
HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
The French celebrate the traditional Christian holidays of Christmas
and Easter. They mark May Day, known as Labor Day, on May 1.
Victory in Europe Day on May 8 commemorates the end of hostilities
in Europe in World War II. Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14. This
isthedaytheBastillefortressinPariswasstormedbyrevolutionaries
to start the French Revolution.
zone C
zone C
zone B
zone B
zone A

5. TYPICAL FRENCH FOOD
 cassoulet, a casserole containing meat, typically pork
sausages, goose, duck sometimes mutton, pork skin and
white beans
 tartiflette, made with potatoes and cheese, served as a main
course in the Alps
 hachis parmentier, made with mashed baked potatoes,
diced meat sauce lyonnaise and served in the potato shell
 crème brûlée, (burnt cream), crème catalane (Catalan
cream), a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped
with a layer of hard caramel
 charlotte, or ‘ice-box cake’, sponge cake or biscuits/cookies
filled with fruit puree or custard
 soupe à l’oignon , traditional French soup made of onions
and beef stock, usually served with croutons and melted
cheese on top
 mussels, seafood
 escargots, cooked land snails
 baguette, which
literally means
‘a stick’, the most
popular type of
bread
 croissant
 macaron, a sweet
meringue-based
confection made
with egg white,
icing sugar,
granulated sugar,
almond powder
or ground almond
 French cheeses
 French wine

6.  coq au vin, dish of chicken braised (pot roasted) with wine,
mushrooms, salt pork or bacon (lardons), mushrooms,
onion, often garlic and sometimes brandy
PLACES WORTH VISITING IN NORMANDY
Le Mont Saint Michel, one of the most recognisable landmarks of
France, located about 1 km off the country’s northwestern coast,
at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. Since the 8th
century it has been the seat of the monastery, once used as a jail.
Omaha Beach American Cemetery, gives home to the fallen
American soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom
during World War II, namely the first episode of the battle of
Normandy.
 beef bourguignon - traditional French meal that has become
internationally well-known

7. Falaise d’Etretat (Etretat), chalk cliffs, including 3 natural arches
and a pointed formation called L’Aiguille or the Needle. Some of them
as high as 90 metres.
Deauville, one of the largest and most popular seaside resorts in
Normandy. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10a.m. to 7p.m. There
are several boating marinas and the Port of Morny with the Deauville
Yacht Club.
Giverny, Monet’s Garden, is a must-see destination for lovers of
Impressionism. A lovely property in the countryside about one-hour
drive from Paris.
Château de Fontaine-Henry, the most spectacular castle in
Normandy from the 13th
century.
The region also features
a “Route de Cidre” which
allows visitors to sample
Normandy’s ciders.
Rouen, a city on the River Seine, the capital of Normandy, formerly
one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe.
Bayeux , Capital of Bessin, located a few kilometers from the landing
beaches, you can discover the Bayeux Tapestry, also known as the
Tapestry of Queen Mathilde, an 11th
century embroidery inscribed
since 2007 in the Memory of the World register by UNESCO.

8. MOVING AROUND
 SHOPS
In shopping centres, shops usually open from
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Outside shopping centres, they ususally close
earlier at 7:00 p.m. and usually open at 9:30 or
10:00 a.m.
 TRANSPORT
Local buses cost approximately 1,50 €
Taxis start from 5€
There are trains to nearby towns from 15 €
There are long-distance buses and trains
 AIRPORTS
Paris: Paris-Orly and Paris (ORY) - Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Beauvais: Beauvais-Tillé (BVA)
 OFFICIAL TOURIST INFORMATION WEB
www.tourisme.fr
 SOCIAL LIFE
Relationships: public vs private
The French have different rules of behaviour for people within their
social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally
polite in all dealings, it is only with their close friends and family that
they are free to be themselves.
Meeting etiquette
 The handshake is a common form of greeting.
 Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the
cheeks, once on the left cheek and once on the right cheek.
 First names are reserved for family and close friends. Wait
until invited before using someone’s first name.
 You are expected to say bonjour or bonsoir (good morning
and good evening) with the honorific title Monsieur or
Madame when entering a shop or a restaurant and au
revoir (good-bye) when leaving.
Gift giving etiquette
Flowers should be given in odd numbers but not 13, which is
considered unlucky. If you give wine, make sure it is of the highest
quality you can afford. The French appreciate their wines. Gifts are
usually opened when received.

9. Dining etiquette
If you are invited to a French house for dinner, arrive on time. Under
no circumstances should you arrive more than 10 minutes later
than invited without telephoning to explain you are late. The further
south you go in the country, the more flexible time is.
If invited to a large dinner party, especially in Paris, send flowers the
morning of the occasion so that they may be displayed that evening.
Dress well. The French are fashion-conscious and their version of
casual is not as relaxed as in many western countries.
Everyday tips for a foreigner
Take the train. It’s the safest (not to mention quickest and cheapest)
way to travel in France. If you’re a student, bring your student ID. You
can get discounts and freebies on everything from transportation
to museum admission. If you require medication while in France,
remember to bring a prescription with you. For assistance in any
emergency situation, call 112.
How to pay?
For anyone visiting France, the easiest way to pay for things is to use
a credit card backed by one of the worldwide credit-card companies,
notably Visa or Mastercard. Most traders accept the main types of
card – Visa, Mastercard, American Express – and may accept other
types of card too, including Cirrus and Maestro, notably if these are
equipped with chip and pin technology.
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
Foreigners living and working in France must register and pay into
French social security in exchange for certain government benefits,
including healthcare.
Who pays French social security and what benefits apply?
Most employees are covered for sickness, maternity, paternity
and family benefits under the compulsory general scheme. This
is financed mainly by contributions and taxes deducted from
earnings, shared between employees and employers and managed
by a network of local, regional and national organisations under the
control of various ministries.
Self-employed workers are covered by a compulsory basic and supple-
mentary scheme for health, family allowances and pensions but not un-
employment or sick pay – you need to take out separate cover for that.
If you are a student under 28 on 1st
October of any year, and come
from a country in the European Union (EU) or Switzerland, you can
use your European Health Insurance Card to register with your local
Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) and be reimbursed for
healthcare expenses.
There are several main branches:
 sickness, maternity, paternity, disability and death
 accidents and occupational diseases
 family allowances
 unemployment benefits
 old age pension
HEALTH CARE
The French healthcare system covers both public and private
hospitals, doctors and other medical specialists who provide French
healthcare to every resident in France regardless of age, income or
status. This makes the French health care system highly accessible,
even for foreigners.
What do you pay for?
 generalist consultation
 specialist consultation
 psychiatrist
consultation
 cardiologist
consultation
 filling a cavity
 root canal
 teeth cleaning

10. Prescription of medicine (cost of prescription depends on the drug
and your insurance cover; the French health care system pays the rest)
Health care system for foreigners
In 2016, the French government
implemented a new French
healthcare system for foreigners
known as the Protection Universelle
Maladie (PUMA), replacing the
previous Couverture Maladie
Universelle (CMU) system. The
reform is aimed at simplifying
the French healthcare system and
reducing paperwork, as well as
guarantees that everyone who
worksorlivespermanentlyinFrance
(longer than three months) will have access to French healthcare and
reimbursements. In addition, starting at the end of 2017, doctors and
certain medical personnel will have to waive upfront payments and
be paid directly by the government or health insurer. When you see
a doctor or have medical treatment a percentage of the cost – usually
about 70 percent of doctors’ fees and 80 percent of hospital costs –
will be reimbursed for most people through the French healthcare
system, so long as you are referred by your ‘attending doctor’. In the
case of some major or long-term illnesses, 100 per cent of the costs
are covered.
Social benefits for immigrants:
 Allowance of 11.45 euros a day or 343.50 euros a
month while awaiting result of asylum process and
applying for housing in one of some 300 asylum-
seeker housing projects across France. You must
pay for food from this allowance, but free or cheap
meals often available from food banks.
 Free health insurance while application being
reviewed.
 Cannot work for first 12 months.
ORGANISATIONS WHICH HELP
FOREIGNERS
 GISTI
TEL: +33 1 43 14 84 84
ADRESS: GISTI, 3 villa Marcès, 75011 Paris, France
http://www.gisti.org
 Centre Enfants du Monde
TEL: 01 42 72 71 78
ADRESS: 21 Place Victor Hugo 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre
http://www.edmf.org/
 Femmes de la Terre
Tel : 01 48 06 03 34
ADRESS: 2, rue de la Solidarité
75 019 Paris
Métro Danube
https://www.femmesdelaterre.org/
Social organisms:
Job Centre; Pôle-Emploi (which means “Employment
Centre”) operates the employment centre, assisting job
seekers to find placement and ensures benefits are paid. It
also works for the employers, assisting companies in their
recruitment (needs analysis, selection of candidates) and
collects contributions for unemployment insurance.
Pôle-Emploi has a website service for job seekers and
employers to review job vacancies or CVs of available
workers.
http://www.pole-emploi.fr/accueil/

11. An information brochure
LIVE LIFE TODAY TOGETHER
was created as
one of the outputs of the project
I CHANGE – INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCES:
HORISONS APPLIED TO NEW GENERATION’S EDUCATION.
The brochure is an effect of cooperation
among the teenagers of the partner schools:
Lycée Marie Joseph in Trouville-sur-Mer, France
Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Mikołaja Kopernika in Tuchów, Poland
IES Mercedes Labrador in Fuengirola, Spain
N. Serap Ulusoy Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi in Samsun, Turkey
The brochure includes useful information for foreigners
who are planning to settle down in France.