1 - e-DRH

Transcription

1 - e-DRH

ATOS ORIGIN • ALTRAN • CAP GEMINI • ELG • ELSYS
DESIGN • EUROTORP • NUSIL • SAVIMEX • SCAI-TECH •
SIMULOG/ASTEK • SODITECH • STUDIEL • AKKA TECHNOLOGIES
• ARM • ASK • BROADCOM • CADENCE DESIGNSYSTEMS •
ICERA SEMICONDUCTORS • MENTOR GRAPHICS • MSTAR •
SEMICONDUCTORS PSI • ELECTRONICS QUALCOMM •
SCALEO CHIPS • SYNOPSIS • TIPCOM MOTOROLA • WIPRO
TECHNOLOGIES • YOGITECH • CISCO SYSTEMS •
F2E SYSTEMS • GÉOMÉDITERRANÉE-ACRI ST • GEOSAT
TECHNOLOGY • HITACHI LABORATORY • KUANTIC • NEXO
WELCOME
GUIDE
FRANCE – COBRA TECHNOLOGIES • NODBOX • OMNEON /
CASTIFY NETWORKS • ORANGE LAB • QUESCOM •
SENTEGRA • SITA-EQUANT • SMARTCOM • SEASATCOM •
SPACEYES – GEOIMAGE • TECHNOFI • TRUSTED LOGIC •
UDCAST • ULTICOM EUROPE • VISTEON SOFTWARE
TECHNOLOGIES • ATOS ORIGIN • ALTRAN • CAP GEMINI •
ELG • ELSYS DESIGN • EUROTORP • NUSIL • SAVIMEX •
SCAI-TECH • SIMULOG/ASTEK • SODITECH • STUDIEL •
AKKA TECHNOLOGIES • ARM • ASK • BROADCOM •
CADENCE DESIGNSYSTEMS • ICERA SEMICONDUCTORS •
MENTOR GRAPHICS • MSTAR • SEMICONDUCTORS PSI •
ELECTRONICS QUALCOMM • SCALEO CHIPS • SYNOPSIS •
TIPCOM MOTOROLA • WIPRO TECHNOLOGIES • YOGITECH
• CISCO SYSTEMS • F2E SYSTEMS • GÉOMÉDITERRANÉEACRI ST • GEOSAT TECHNOLOGY • HITACHI LABORATORY •
KUANTIC • NEXO FRANCE – COBRA TECHNOLOGIES •
NODBOX • OMNEON / CASTIFY NETWORKS • ORANGE LAB
• QUESCOM • SENTEGRA • SITA-EQUANT • SMARTCOM •
SEASATCOM • SPACEYES – GEOIMAGE • TECHNOFI •
TRUSTED LOGIC • UDCAST • ULTICOM EUROPE • VISTEON
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES • ATOS ORIGIN • ALTRAN • CAP
GEMINI • ELG • ELSYS DESIGN • EUROTORP • NUSIL •
T0 THE CÔTE D’AZUR
SAVIMEX • SCAI-TECH • SIMULOG/ASTEK • SODITECH •
STUDIEL • AKKA TECHNOLOGIES • ARM • ASK • BROADCOM •
CADENCE DESIGNSYSTEMS • ICERA SEMICONDUCTORS •
MENTOR GRAPHICS • MSTAR • SEMICONDUCTORS PSI •
ELECTRONICS QUALCOMM • SCALEO CHIPS • SYNOPSIS •
TIPCOM MOTOROLA • WIPRO TECHNOLOGIES • YOGITECH
• CISCO SYSTEMS • F2E SYSTEMS • GÉOMÉDITERRANÉEACRI ST • GEOSAT TECHNOLOGY • HITACHI LABORATORY •
KUANTIC • NEXO FRANCE – COBRA TECHNOLOGIES •
NODBOX • OMNEON / CASTIFY NETWORKS • ORANGE LAB
• QUESCOM • SENTEGRA • SITA-EQUANT • SMARTCOM •
SEASATCOM • SPACEYES – GEOIMAGE • TECHNOFI •
TRUSTED LOGIC • UDCAST • ULTICOM EUROPE • VISTEON
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES • ATOS ORIGIN • ALTRAN • CAP
GEMINI • ELG • ELSYS DESIGN • EUROTORP • SCAI-TECH •
Invest in Côte d'Azur,
the Blue Chip Coast
Dear Newcomer,
Adopt the Blue Chip Coast Attitude!
Bienvenue sur la Côte d'Azur, the Blue Chip Coast!
You've come to live and work in one of the most beautiful and
exciting places in the world.
First of all, a few words about the name Côte d'Azur - the Azure
Coast. Its origins lie in the title of a book by the poet Stephen
Liegeard, published in 1887. You will also hear the term «AlpesMaritimes". It's in the Alpes-Maritimes that the Côte d'Azur is situated.
Renowned for decades as a tourist's heaven, this region has now
also gained a world-wide reputation as a centre of excellence in the
development of cutting-edge activities in Information Technology,
Life Sciences and Fine Chemistry as well as Environmental Sciences.
High-tech activities are especially concentrated in Sophia Antipolis, Europe's foremost science
park but also in Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, La Gaude, Nice, Villeneuve-Loubet , to name only a few
of them.
In Europe, the Côte d’Azur, has become a reference for high-value, high-growth companies and
worldwide activities. We are the first French region for R&D investment from foreign companies
and 95% of the foreign investors who relocate here are Blue Chip companies!
That’s why top managers call us “The Blue Chip Coast”.
This guide and its addendum have been written to help you and your family settle
into your new environment. It will not only guide you through the various administrative steps you
may have to undertake; it will also give you lots of helpful advice on day-to-day life.
The main guide provides you with an extensive overview of many different facets of living
on the Côte d'Azur. For each chapter of the book, the addendum lists specific details, relevant
addresses, information sources, etc.
Once again, welcome to the Côte d'Azur! We do hope you will enjoy living in our area.
We also hope that this book lives up to your expectations and will help you in the next few months
as you settle in.
Jean-Pierre Mascarelli
President of Team Côte d’Azur
▶Côte d’Azur, The Blue Chip Coast
1
www.investincotedazur.com/fr/vous-implanter/team/
2
Team Côte d’Azur is your confidential connection to the Côte d’Azur and your personal partner to ensure that your start-up or expansion is
efficient and trouble-free.
We are experienced in helping corporations evaluate the potential of the Côte d’Azur region and
Sophia Antipolis Science and Technology Park
to set up or expand their business.
TEAM CÔTE D'AZUR HEADQUARTERS
400 Promenade des Anglais
06204 NICE CEDEX 3 - FRANCE
Tel: 33 (0)4 92 17 51 51
Fax: 33 (0)4 93 80 05 76
E-mail: info@investincotedazur.com
www.investincotedazur.com
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES
Team Côte d'Azur in Paris:
Team Côte d'Azur in the United States:
Patrick GEORGES - CDID
18, rue Guynemer
92380 Garches
Tel.: 33 (0)1 47 95 21 75
E-mail: pgeorges@cdid.fr
Yves KRAEMER - LATONICE INC
Wilshire West Executive Center
11925 Wilshire Bd Suite 214
LOS ANGELES, CA 90025
Tel: 00 1 310 251 43 59
E-mail: ykraemer@aol.com
Team Côte d'Azur is a member of Agence Française pour les Investissements Internationaux (IFA).
Team Côte d'Azur is a member of French International Enterprise Development Association (FRIEND).
Team Côte d'Azur is a joint initiative of the Alpes-Maritimes County Council
and the French Riviera Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
MAJ July 2014
3
▶ I The Côte d'Azur
Economic Show Room:
The Côte d'Azur Economic Show Room:
The economic and interactive Côte d’Azur on large screens
Thanks to its unique multimedia platform, the Côte d'Azur Economic Show Room helps you analyze the
economic Côte d’Azur and its assets in less than 2 hours.
From a database of economic and statistical information, you can obtain a fully personalized and convivial
presentation of the accurate data related to your project.
The Côte d'Azur Economic Show Room:
400 Promenade des Anglais – BP 3185 – 06204 Nice cedex 3 – France
e-mail: showroom@teamcotedazur.fr – www.investincotedazur.com
4
Before Leaving
1. Administrative procedures - 2. Documents you need to prepare
3. What to bring with you - 4. Customs requirements
Starting Out In France
1. The French administrative structure - 2. Official documents - 3. Obtaining a French driving licence
4. Importing a car - 5 .Finding accommodation - 6. Temporary accommodation - 7. Renting - 8. Buying property
9. Moving in - 10. The social security system - 11. Banking - 12. Taxes - 13. Keeping important documents
Employment
1. Preliminary steps - 2. Job search - 3. Organizations and agencies - 4. Temporary employment
5. State benefits - 6. Training - 7. Starting a business - 8. Employment law
Miscellaneous Contacts
1. Contacts - 2. Telecommunications - 3. Practical information
Education & Childcare
1. Children below school age - 2. The French education system - 3. Enrolling children in school
4. Primary and secondary education - 5. Higher-level education - 6. International schools
7. Distance learning - 8. Examinations - 9. Financial assistance
Health
1. Medical practitioners - 2. Hospital services - 3. Chemist’ shops - 4. Pregnancy and childbirth
5. What to do in an emergency - 6. Social coverage - 7. How to get reimbursed - 8. Sickness and work
CONTENTS
Transport
1. Driving, hiring and owning a car - 2. Buying and selling a car - 3. Motorbikes, mopeds and scooters
4. The highway code - 5. Bus services - 6. Taxis - 7. Travelling by train - 8. Air travel - 9. Ferries
French Lifestyle
1. Politeness - 2. Personal relations - 3. Tipping - 4. Festivals and traditions - 5. Gastronomy
Shopping & Leisure
1. Categories of shops - 2. Where to shop - 3. Policies - 4. Alternative methods of shopping
5. Consumer rights - 6. Media - 7. Going out - 8. Sightseeing - 9. Attractions - 10. Leisure sports
11. Meeting your compatriots - 12. Events
Appendix
1. The metric system - 2. Speed - 3. Temperature - 4. Time and date - 5. Clothes and shoe sizes
Index
5
Note to Readers
This guide comes in two separate volumes:
• The main Guide which contains general information
• The Addendum which provides addresses and
contact details, etc.
References to the Addendum in the main guide are
flagged by the “see Addendum” icon .
Royalties and copyrights:
Team Côte d 'Azur grants the user the right to use
the contents of the Guide and the Addendum privately, non-collectively and non-exclusively.
Any networking, redistribution or reproduction of a
part or all of these two documents (Guide and
Addendum), in any form – even partial – and in any
electronic medium whatsoever is strictly forbidden
without specific permission from Team Côte d’Azur.
See Addendum for adresses
Contact details in the Addendum are listed and
organised chapter by chapter.
Example:
In the Guide, under the heading “Before Leaving”,
you will find the flag “See Addendum” in the
chapters “1 - Administrative procedures" and
“4 - Customs Requirements”.
This means the contact details are listed in the
Addendum for the “Before Leaving” heading under
the reference of both these chapters.
We also advise you to look in the Yellow Pages at:
www.pagesjaunes.fr
Validity of information:
We have tried to make sure this information is up-todate. We have proofread and checked our documentation several times but we are aware that some
information may quickly become incomplete or
obsolete .
Team Côte d'Azur can, in no event, be held responsible for any errors or omissions which may
have found their way into either of the documents,
which should be updated annually in the case of the
Addendum and biennially in the case of the Guide.
6
The reproduction of text from the Guide and
Addendum is permitted on paper and electronically
under the following four cumulative conditions:
• Free distribution: this document may only be used
for non-profit-making information purposes.
• The integrity of the documents reproduced must
be respected: no modifications or alterations of
any kind may be made to either of the documents.
• The source of information must be clearly and
legibly mentioned in the following form:
“Source: This document is taken from the
“Welcome to the Côte d’Azur” Guide published by
Team Côte d’Azur – www.investincodedazur.com.
- All reproduction and distribution rights reserved”.
• It must be used in accordance with the legislation
in force and with the recommendations of the CNIL
(National Data Processing and Freedom Commission), instituted by law N° 78-17 dated
6.1.1978).
Team Côte d’Azur reserves the right to withdraw this
permission at any time.
For any other use, please contact Team Côte
d’Azur.
BEFORE
LEAVING
1
2
3
4
- Administrative procedures
- Documents you need to prepare
- What to bring with you
- Customs requirements
8
9
10
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BEFORE LEAVING I ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
1 I Administrative
procedures
Obtaining a visa for
non EU residents
Depending on your nationality,
the length of your stay in France
and the reason, it may be necessary to obtain a visa before you
leave. Obtaining a long-term visa
before you depart is essential
and will then enable you to apply
for a temporary residence card.
Long-term visas are obtained
from the French authorities in the
country in which the person
wishing to settle in France
resides. Contact details are available on the “France Diplomatie”
web site.
No visa required
for EU residents
• As a citizen of the European
Union, you do not need a visa
to enter France.
• Simply presenting a valid passport or a national identity card
entitles you to stay in France in
order to work. However, for a
period exceeding three months,
a residence permit must be
obtained.
• Obtain an E111 form (EU countries only). This provides reciprocal health care for E.U.
residents on a temporary basis.
The form becomes redundant
once you work in France, as working in France implies automatic
coverage by social security.
Your employer in France will submit an application to the “Préfecture”, which will be forwarded to
your nearest French Consulate
once it has been approved. You
and your family may then have to
undergo a medical examination
in the recruitment country.
If you are from outside the European Community, or if you have
private health insurance, find out
if you can extend your current
health insurance policy to cover
you and your family abroad.
It will no longer be necessary
once you are covered by the
French “Sécurité Sociale”
although this may depend on
your specific needs.
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BEFORE LEAVING I DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO PREPARE
2 I Documents
you need
to prepare
This list of documents is not exhaustive. It is possible that you will be asked for further
paperwork, so if in doubt, bring letters of reference from banks, schools, employers,
doctors and any other relevant institutions. Generally speaking, each member of your
family will need the following documents to register in France:
• Passport,
• National identity papers (if
applicable),
• Birth certificate with parent
names written on it, or a “Fiche
d'état civil”,
• Marriage certificate or proof of
cohabitation,
• International driving licence if
from outside the EU. A translation in French can be useful,
but is not obligatory,
• Identity photos: you will need
these to obtain documents
such as a residence permit.
Judiciaires près la Cour d'Appel
d'Aix-en-Provence”, an association subject to the 1901 law.
Translating official
documents
Within an official context involving
French administration, the translation of official documents must
be carried out by an official translator recognised by the law
courts (i.e. certificates of birth,
marriage, divorce, death of a
spouse, etc).
The complete list of official translators is available: on the “Préfecture des Alpes Maritimes”
web site; in town halls (see Yellow
Pages under “Mairies” or “Administrations régionales, départementales et locales”); from the
C.E.T.I.J., the association of expert
translators/interpreters approved
by the Court of Appeal in Aixen Provence “Compagnie des
Experts Traducteurs Interprètes
Bank details
It's a good idea to keep your bank
account open until you have an
account in France. Visa and other
international bank cards are
widely accepted in France.
Insurance
documents
• Life-Health,
• For your car:
A letter of reference is needed
from your insurance company
stating how many years you have
had the policy and presenting a
summary of any claims.
The following will help you
when opening an account:
• A letter of reference from your
present bank,
• Account details,
• Statements of any loans.
Education
You're likely to get asked for
certificates, so make sure you
bring with you:
• Any certificates that you have
been awarded (diplomas,
degrees, etc.),
• Confirmation of attendance
from establishments that you
attended but that awarded no
certificate.
Work
• Work contract,
• Wage slips,
• Diplomas.
Health
• Your personal health file,
• Vaccination certificates,
• Details of any major illnesses,
or those which need ongoing
treatment, (written up by your
doctor).
Animals
• Vaccination certificates,
• Veterinary file with details of
major illness/operations,
• Certificate of origin and health:
must state that the pet has
lived for at least 6 months (or
was born) in a country free of
rabies for three years or more.
Furniture Storage
If you ship your furniture over
before you have found a permanent place to live, you can
hire containers or space for
storage on a monthly basis.
See the Yellow Pages under
“Déménagements”.
9
BEFORE LEAVING I WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
3 I What to bring with you
You will, of course, have to decide for yourself what you
consider essential to bring with you, and it's worth taking
time to reflect. However, some things will be of absolutely
no use to you in France, and it will be more practical to buy
others once you're settled in.
you wear glasses or contact
lenses, bring your prescription
with you in case you need emergency replacements.
Electrical Goods
In order to bring your pets to
France you will need the certificates listed in section 2 “Animals”. If the pet can travel in a
travelling bag, you may take it on
a plane with you, otherwise it will
be transported in a cage in the
baggage section. It is important
to maintain health records (a
“carte de santé” for your pet, as
animals will not be accepted in
kennels in France without one.
Electrical goods operate on 220
volts (50 amperes). You can buy
adapters before you move so
that equipment is ready to
plug straight in. Larger electrical
equipment may not be compatible, so check this out before
leaving. Televisions in France use
the SECAM standard, so if your
set is only PAL or NTSC it will
not work. You can buy multi-
standard televisions and video
recorders in France, which you
will then be able to use outside
France.
Medicines
It is a good idea to bring enough
medicine to last a couple of
months – prescription and overthe-counter – as you will not
necessarily be able to obtain the
same brand names in France. If
Pets
4 I Customs requirements
Setting up your
main residence on
the French territory
If you are bringing items of value
to France, you must declare
them to the relevant authorities.
This applies whether they are
transported by plane or boat,
although the requirements differ
according to whether you are
from inside or outside the E.U.
If you do not come
from a European
Union country
You may benefit from exemption
of duties and taxes on the importation of your personal possessions if you have been staying in
another country for at least 12
months and if you wish to transfer
your main residence to France.
Exemption applies to certain of
your personal possessions that
10
have been used on a private basis
for at least six months before residence transferral whether taxes
were paid or not when the goods
were purchased. For all further
information, contact the Customs
Information Centre “Centre de
Renseignements des Douanes”.
If you come from
a country within
the European Union
As of July 1993, goods can
circulate freely within the European Union. Fiscal and customs
formalities linked to crossing
intracommunity borders have
been abolished. There are no
limits in either terms of quantity
or value to the goods you may
buy in another E.U. member
State for your personal use.
Free circulation
of goods
The prices you pay for goods
include tax. Tax is charged at the
rate applied in the country of purchase except in the cases of
mail-order purchases and new
cars; these are subject to VAT in
the country of delivery. Limits to
the exemption regime have been
abolished. You can transfer your
residence from a Union State or
receive an inheritance with no
limitations.
However, certain particularly sensitive products remain subject to
controls and/or declarations and
some other restrictions do exist.
Contact a customs office to find
out more.
STARTING OUT
IN FRANCE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
- The French administrative structure
- Official documents
- Obtaining a French driving licence
- Importing a car
- Finding accommodation
- Temporary accommodation
- Renting
- Buying property
- Moving in
- The social security system
- Banking
- Taxes
- Keeping important documents
12
15
18
18
19
20
20
22
23
23
24
25
26
11
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I THE FRENCH ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
1 I The French
administrative
structure
An understanding of the administrative system in France
will prove helpful in obtaining the necessary papers
President of the French Republic
STATE
National
Assembly
Senate
Prime
Minister
REGION
The Prefect
President
of the County council
County
Council
DEPARTMENT
The Prefect
President
of the County council
COMMUNE
General
Council
Town
Council
Mayor
FRENCH CITIZENS
The Overall
Organisation of
Public Institutions
France is a very old country with
a centralised Unitarian structure
and a strong and omnipresent
State – even in the domain of
economics. Since 1982, however,
an important wave of decentralisation has seen certain powers
12
and jurisdictions – that up until
that time had belonged to the
State – transferred to diverse
local authorities [regions, departments (or countries) and communes], now administered by
elected representatives.
Refer to the Addendum for
details and look in the Yellow
Pages under “Administration de
l’intérieur” for addresses.
The Commune
The Department
The “commune” is the most
elementary unit in the French
administrative organisation.
Above and beyond managing
communal patrimony, decentralisation laws recognize the
communes' rights to power in
the following domains:
• Town planning,
• Primary education,
• Local cultural action,
• Marinas,
• Economic, and social matters,
• Medical and hospital-related
matters.
(or County)
Each year, the Town Council
votes the communal budget and
deliberates on matters falling
within the jurisdiction of the
commune. The Town Council is
elected by voters in the commune every 6 years.
Each of the Municipal Council's
deliberations, every municipal
decision and every public
contract must be transmitted to
the Prefect to be enforceable and
the Prefect verifies that the local
authorities' actions are in keeping
with the law.
The Town Council gathers in ordinary sessions at least once each
quarter. But the mayor can also
convene extraordinary sessions.
Sessions are public, presided by
the Mayor – or failing the Mayor,
by a Deputy – but the public
does not have the right to
intervene. The mayor has local
policing powers.
A list of “Mairies” (town halls) can
be found in the Yellow Pages
under “Mairies” or “Administrations régionales, départementales et locales”.
There are 102 “departments” in
France (the code of the AlpesMaritimes department is 06).
Each department’s name reflects
the geographical names linked to
the territory it covers.
Two administrations co-exist at a
departmental level:
• The department level administration, directly by the president
of the “Conseil Général” (county Council),
• The State Department, under
the authority of the Prefect,
who represents the State.
The General –
or County – Council
(“Le Conseil Général”)
The “Conseil Général” deliberates and decides upon matters
falling within the jurisdiction of the
Department.
One councillor (“Conseiller Général”) per canton (an intermediary
administrative division, between
an arrondissement and a commune) is elected by universal
suffrage to join the “Conseil
Général” for a period of 6 years.
The President of the “Conseil
Général” is the head of the
executive office:
• He prepares and enforces
“Conseil Général” deliberations.
• He prepares the budget and
authorizes the department’s
spending.
• He manages the department and in this capacity
has policing powers.
• He manages the department fire and rescue service
“service Départemental
d’incendie et de Secours” –
(S.D.I.S).
• He is head of the Department-level administration
departments.
Decentralisation laws define
the Department’s jurisdiction:
• Management of the department,
• Medical and social affairs,
• Secondary education (“Collèges”- secondary schools),
• Economic affairs,
• Commercial marinas,
• Works (departmental roads),
• Cultural affairs.
The Prefect
They participate in the work of specialized permanent committees and
gather in a plenary assembly once
each quarter. Extraordinary sessions can be convened by the office
or by 1/3 of councillors. “Conseil
Général” sessions are public.
The following are voted in
plenary sessions:
• The election of the president of
the “Conseil Général” for a
period of three years, and the
election of the vice-presidents
of the assembly – the “office”,
• The annual vote on the departmental budget. This is its major
role.
(“Le Préfet”)
• Represents the Prime Minister
and each of the ministers in the
Department,
• Is responsible for the interests
of the nation and the respect of
its laws,
• Is solely qualified to take measures relating to law and order,
to security and to public health
and safety in situations whose
scope exceeds the territory of
a commune.
The Prefect is assisted by a
Director (political affairs), a
Prefectoral General Secretary
(Administration), Sub-Prefects in
13
each arrondissement and heads
of the state’s external affairs
departments.
It is freely governed by an elected council: the Regional Council
(“Le Conseil Général”).
Department level
directorates of
government offices
Within the department, they
represent and act on behalf of
the principal ministries – under
the orders of the Prefect and
each respective minister. The
Department of Education is
represented by the regional Education Authority (“le Recteur de
l’Académie”).
In 1956, France was divided into 22
regions, each one comprising
several Departments (the AlpesMaritimes, Department 06, is part
of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
PACA region). Up until 1982, the
year of decentralisation, the region’s
status was that of a “regional public
establishment”, with the Prefect of
the region as it executive.
The Region
Just like the commune and the
department, the region is another of
the Republic’s territorial authorities.
The region has jurisdiction over
promoting the economic, social,
medical, cultural and scientific
development of its territory, as
well as land development.
land planning and development,
of initiatives that encourage
apprenticeship and professional
training, of responsibility for
senior schools, and of the creation and the running of river ports
and canals.
The Regional Council deliberates
and decides upon affairs within
the region’s jurisdiction. It meets
in ordinary sessions once each
quarter.
The number of members varies
according to the economic
importance of the region (from 41
to 197); they are elected by direct
universal suffrage for a period of
6 years.
Decentralisation laws strengthen
the region’s role in questions of
The Chamber Of Commerce
And Industry (C.C.I.)
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a public administrative establishment.
It is placed under the administrative supervisory authority of the Ministry for
Industry and Commerce.
It represents enterprises registered in its district’s Register of Companies.
The law of April 9th 1898 entrusted Consular Chambers with the tasks or representing the general
interests of Commerce and Industry and of creating and managing services that would facilitate
enterprise development.
It consists of an assembly of heads of enterprises – elected by their peers – and a permanent team.
It manages a budget composed of fiscally generated resources and commercial revenue generated by
establishments of an industrial or commercial nature that it manages and that are financially autonomous.
The Chambers of Commerce and Industry in France constitute a consular network.
14
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
2 I Official
documents
Team Côte d’Azur Services
Team Côte d'Azur is the Regional Economic Development Agency of the Côte d'Azur.
We provide assistance in obtaining a Residence Card and Work Permit for yourself and
your foreign employees.
BEFOREHAND
Team Côte d’Azur offers assistance in defining the need to build an international team:
• Personalized meetings to analyze the situation and projects at hand.
• Administrative recommendations on the status of foreign workers in France.
DURING HIRING
We act as an interface with French authorities to validate the conditions to deliver administrative
documents (work permits, residential cards, etc.) for non-European foreign workers. In addition, we offer:
• Qualified and validated information regarding recruitment and hiring procedures, as well as the status
of foreign workers and their families.
• Follow up on all formalities regarding residential cards (in partnership with the Alpes-Maritimes
Prefecture).
OTHER SERVICES
Team Côte d’Azur also provides:
• Information and training for your administrative services to learn how to deal with the formalities linked
to hiring foreign employees.
• Conferences for HR managers on international mobility themes, given by experts in the field.
• Training sessions on French social and fiscal laws regarding expatriation and foreign detachments.
SPECIFIC CASES
Team Côte d’Azur offers assistance in specific status cases:
• Follow up on formalities for foreign minors.
• Integration of researchers via scientific reception protocol.
Team Côte d’Azur organizes short seminars for companies hiring foreign employees to help them with
the integration into their new environment:
• Sessions on the French legal and administrative system regarding issues such as social coverage,
housing and schooling.
15
Residence Card
(“La Carte de Séjour”)
This is a very important document. You are allowed to remain
in France for 3 months before
this permit becomes compulsory.
During these three months, you
must apply for a permit. Once the
three month period has elapsed
(commencing from the date you
arrived in France), you must be in
possession of a residence card.
A long-term visa is therefore mandatory prior to your arrival in France.
Long-Term Visa
Application
The procedure commences in
your country of origin at the initiative of your future employer who
submits a dossier to the Department Level Office of Work,
Employment and Professional
Training (DIRECCTE). You will then
be summoned to the French
Consulate in your country of origin
to obtain a long-term visa which
will allow you to come to France.
Once in France, your employer will
arrange a mandatory medical visit
for you at the OFII (Office Français
de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration). Your employer will also send
a residence card request to the
Prefecture.
• Work contract approved by the
Department Level Office of
Work, Employment and Professional Training
• Birth certificate translated in
French
• Marriage or divorce certificate
translated in French
• 4 recent identity pictures
(3.5x4.5cm)
• Proof of residence in the name
of the interested party drawn up
within the past three months
(leasing contract, EDF or France
Telecom bill, notarial deed, etc.)
If you are housed by a third
party, you must provide:
• Sworn proof of housing by
the person concerned
• Proof of residence in the
name of the person housing
you
• Photocopy of the residence
permit (“carte de séjour”) of
the person housing you
Temporary
Residence Permit
Once your request for a residence
permit has been submitted to the
Prefecture, you will receive a
temporary carte de séjour (a
receipt). This document is valid
for a period of three months until
the final permit has been issued.
It can be renewed if necessary.
When applying for a
residence permit
for the first time
The following documents must
be submitted:
• Valid passport with a long-term
visa and a stamp of your arrival
date in France
• Certificate of the medical vist at
the ANAEM
For all formalities, contact:
The relevant office at the “Préfecture” at the “Sous-Préfecture”
at the town hall (“Mairie”) or at
the police station (“Commissariat
de Police”).
Look in the Yellow Pages under
“Administration de l’intérieur” for
addresses.
Where to pick up
your resident card
Your resident card can be picked
up either at the Prefecture of the
Alpes-Maritimes, the ANAEM
office, the city hall or your local
police station. You will be notified
by mail as to the place where you
have to go to pick it up.
Refusal to grant
authorisation to work
Authorisation to work can be refused to a foreigner for reasons of
the present and future state of the
employment market in the profession requested by the foreign worker and in the geographical zone
in which he or she intends to carry
out this profession. Authorisation
can be refused even if you present
a work contract or an undertaking
to employ you.
Family Members
Visas for family members are to
be obtained at the French consulate in your country of origin prior
to coming to France. As far as
residence is concerned, partners
in unmarried couples are regarded
differently to spouses, and this
has particular repercussions for
people from outside the European
Union. Spouses and Partners
from outside the E.U. wishing to
work in France should first of all
obtain their residence card, or
“carte de séjour”. The next step is
to go to the “Direction Départementale du Travail et de l’Emploi”
to obtain a form to be filled in by a
prospective employer. This gives
you the right to work.
For more information, contact : CCI Nice Côte d’Azur - Business Pôle
1047 Route des Dolines - Allée Pierre Ziller - Bat B - 06560 Valbonne - Tel: 04 89 06 72 19
Email: edrh-titredesejours@cote-azur.cci.fr
16
How to register as a job-seeker
(“un demandeur d’emploi”)
Partners and spouses who want to work will need to register at the “Pôle emploi”, which manages the
payment of benefits and provides information on any help to which you are entitled.
To register, you must fill out a document entitled “Inscription comme demandeur d’emploi” (job-seeker
registration) which can be obtained by telephone or from an “Pôle emploi” office.
See Addendum for details of the “Pôle emploi” office nearest to you. Your job search should commence
at your local employment agency. This is called the “Pôle emploi”.
Look in the Yellow Pages under “Administration du Travail et de l’emploi” and see the chapter entitled
“employment” for further details.
Depending on your status you
need either:
• An employment contract,
• A letter from your partner
saying that he or she is financially responsible for you, in
which case the spouse’s
income is given,
• Proof of income (student grant,
etc.),
• A declaration of cohabitation or
a P.A.C.S. contract. Partners
and spouses from E.U. member States also need to apply
for a residence card (“carte de
séjour”).
As well as marriage, France
recognizes other statutes:
• Cohabitation. An actual union,
characterised by the stability
and continuity of life shared by
two people of different sexes or
of the same sex and who live as
a couple. You are generally
considered to be unmarried.
Certain administrations may
grant you the same advantages
as married couples (social security, family allowances, S.N.C.F.,
etc.). You will need to prove that
you live as a couple and supply
a declaration of their honor with
a proof of address. To establish
this joint declaration, contact the
municipal registry of births, marriages and deaths in the commune where you live.
See Yellow Pages : “Mairies”
or “Administrations régionales,
départementales et locales”.
• P.A.C.S. (Pacte Civil de Solidarité)
is a contract drawn up between
two adult persons of different
sexes or of the same sex with a
view to organising their life together. P.A.C.S. can be established
if you do not wish, or you are not
able to marry.
P.A.C.S. does not affect the rules
of filiation and parental authority.
It does not give you the right to
adopt a child together, or, if you
live with a partner of the same
sex, to benefit from medically
assisted procreation. P.A.C.S.
creates rights and obligations
between the partners.
You can sign P.A.C.S. and make
a joint declaration in the law
clerk’s office at the appropriate
police court, or in the French
Consulate if you reside abroad
and one of the couple is French.
Consult a notary or a solicitor.
These professionals will advise
you of your rights and your obligations and will help you to
formalise your contract.
Work Permit
As mentioned in the chapter
entitled “Before Leaving”, some
administrative procedures must
be completed before you leave
for France if you are from a country outside the EU.
For detailed information regarding procedures concerning
work permits, contact the consulate in your home country before
you leave for France. You may
also contact the “Prefecture”.
17
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I IMPORTING A CAR
3 I Obtaining
a French
driving licence
You hold a driving licence
issued by a State that is a
non-member of the European
Union:
You must request a licence
exchange within one year of
acquiring residence in France.
You will be invited to go to the
relevant department at the Préfecture as soon as you obtain
your first residence permit, or, in
the case of a French citizen,
during the first twelve months
following your return to national
territory. Go to the “Préfecture” or
the “Sous-Préfecture” once you
have your “carte de séjour”. Each
case is studied on an individual
basis.
You hold a driving licence
issued by a State that is a
member:
Driving licences issued by member
States are considered to be valid
on French soil as long as they have
not expired and have not been
issued in exchange for a license
issued by a country outside the
European Union with which France
has no reciprocal agreement. An
exchange is compulsory if the dri-
ver has committed an offence on
French soil that has led to restrictive measures, suspension, cancellation, of the right to drive or the
withdrawal of points.
Anyone holding a licence issued
by a State that is part of the
European Union, may, if they so
wish, register their licence. In
return, they will receive a confirmation document that facilitates
procedures in the case of a
lost or stolen licence, and will
possibly simplify dealings with
insurance companies.
4 I Importing a car
You must transfer your possessions within twelve months of transferring your main
residence and must clear them through customs as soon as they enter France.
We advise you to get your vehicle registered in France very quickly because you only have
the right to drive with foreign number plates for four months. Go to the main “Préfecture”
in Nice, or the “Sous-Préfecture” in Grasse, with the following documents:
Vehicles
Originating from
within the EU
Used cars
The documents you need to
take with you are:
• Certificate of acquisition with
tax receipt,
• Certificate 846 A (obtained
from customs),
• Registration document,
18
• Confirmation issued by the
manufacturer, the manufacturer’s agent in France, or the
“D.R.I.R.E” (“Direction Régionale
de l’Industrie, de la Recherche
et de l’Environnement”) that the
vehicle complies either with the
national standards, or standards
in the European Community,
• Application to register the
vehicle in France,
• Proof of identity and address
(Residence card or visa, proof
of address in the name of the
interested party dating from
within the last three months:
leasing contract, bill from your
electricity or telephone supplier,
etc.),
• A stamp of the required value
(can be purchased at the “Préfecture”),
• A “contrôle technique” (the
equivalent of an M.O.T. certificate) if the car is over 4 years
old.
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I FINDING ACCOMMODATION
New cars
If you are importing a new car
from an E.U. member State,
the documents you need to
present at the “Préfecture”
are as follows :
• Proof of acquisition issued by
the tax authority of origin,
• Invoice and sales certificates,
• Provisional registration number,
• Confirmation issued by the
manufacturer, the manufacturer’s agent in France, that the
vehicle complies with either
national standards, or standards
in the European Community,
• Application to register the
vehicle in France,
• Proof of identity and address,
(can be purchased at the
“Préfecture”).
Importing A Car From Outside
Importing a car from inside and
outside the E.U. are very different
issues. If you’re thinking of importing a vehicle from outside the
community (e.g. the U.S. or
Canada, it’s worth considering
how much you really want to
bring it, as the procedures are
very cumbersome). For example,
the safety standards are different,
which may mean changing seat
belts, headlights, etc. And fur-
thermore, the cost of transportation is prohibitive.
The documentation you need
to provide is a follows:
• Préfecture,
• Certificate 846 A (obtained from
customs),
• Certificate of purchase or receipt,
• Registration document or official confirmation that the registration document has been
taken by the authorities in your
country of origin,
• Request for registration certificate in France,
• Proof of identity and address,
(can be purchased at the “Préfecture”),
• A “Contrôle Technique” (the
equivalent of an M.O.T. certificate) if the car is over 4 years old.
5 I Finding
accommodation
There are different types of
accommodation to suit different situations.
You may be surprised by
how different properties
are in France, especially
their size.
• Ground floor: “0 or “Rez-dechaussée” (R.D.C.) ,
• 1 st floor: “1er étage”,
• 2nd floor : “2ème étage”, etc..,
• Underground parking,
• “Sous-Sol” , “S.S.” or “-1”,
• Cellar: “cave”.
Rooms in a property are called
“pièces”. In a property description,
a “pièce” is any room excluding the
kitchen, the bathroom or the hall.
So a 4-bedroom house with a
lounge, bathroom and kitchen is a
“5 pieces”. The size of the property
is measured in square metres (m2).
There are specific terms to describe
the floors in an apartment building:
• Garden level: “Rez-de-jardin”
(R.D.J.),
Where To Look
Being a tourist area, short-term
lets are available (although quite
expensive!) whilst you look for
permanent accommodation.
There are plenty of estate agencies, called “Agences Immobilières”, for renting and buying.
Most will speak English, Italian
and possibly other languages.
For addresses, look in the Yellow
Pages under “Immobilier”.
Private owners are called “Particuliers” and if you negotiate
with them directly, you do not
pay agency fees. The best
places to look for adverts, or to
place your own advert, are:
• Nice Matin, classified section,
• Local free papers (“Top
Annonces and Paru Vendu”),
• Specialised press (“Nice Matin
Immo, Logic Immo, De Particulier à Particulier, Le Particulier”),
• Ads in local shops can often
be a good source.
For more information, contact
e-drh - Aide au logement
Site: www.edrh06.com
19
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
6 I Temporary
accommodation
This can be useful if you haven't yet decided where you want to live. In July and August,
prices can double and lets are difficult to find because of strong tourist demand.
In general, the choice of temporary accommodation is:
• Fully furnished apartments and
villas – everything is included,
down to kitchen utensils,
• Furnished rooms in villas,
• Hotels,
• Holiday apartments (comprising studios and apartments
equipped with a corner-kitchen
and basic equipment, plus
communal services),
• Hotel residences (which provide accommodation on a
more commercially oriented
basis: “résidence hôtelière,
résidence hôtel, hôtel-résidence, village- club, etc”),
“Maisons et chambres meublées”, “Résidences de tourisme,
résidences hôtelières” and
“Hôtels, hôtels-restaurants”.
7 I Renting
You can either rent through an agency or directly from a landlord.
• Agencies: you will be charged a fee (“Ies honoraires”) to cover
the agent's costs of finding the accommodation and administration. The fee usually amounts to the equivalent of 1 month's rent
excluding charges (see page 17 for an explanation of charges),
• Private landlords (“particulier”): often demand more paperwork
than agents.
Apartments and villas for long-term lets are usually rented out unfurnished, in which case there are no kitchen appliances or fixtures
and fit-tings: the bathroom is equipped with a toilet, bath and/or
shower, but in other rooms there will simply be bare walls with
electrical sockets to connect appliances. If you need a short-term
or temporary let, (see page 15, "Temporary Accommodation" below)
the accommodation is usually fully furnished (“meublé”).
Paperwork
Lease agreement
The landlord or agency must
give you a lease (“bail”) for the
duration of the rental period. The
lease is a written contract, generally a ready-to-use printed
document, and usually established for a lease period of 3
years. However, any precisely
specified duration is possible.
The lease will be drawn up in
duplicate, and each party keeps
a copy; take care to read all
clauses, or have them explained
to you in your own language,
before signing. Note that there
are pre-printed leases onto which
further clauses can be typed or
hand-written.
Married couples: the husband/
wife is automatically co-leaseholder.
20
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I RENTING
Couples living together: if both
partners sign the lease, they
become joint leaseholders. If only
one partner signs, he or she is
the sole tenant and the other
does not have any rights.
Termination of
lease
If you want to terminate the
agreement before the end of the
lease period, it is usual to give 3
months' notice. Check that your
lease has a clause allowing you
to do this without incurring
penalty charges. The notice
period is usually just one month
if you are transferred for work
reasons (“mutation”) or if you lose
your job (“Iicenciement”).
Inventory
An inventory (“état des lieux”) is
drawn up. It describes the state
of the property, listing any
damage, and is checked before
you get your deposit back. The
agent, or landlord, and the tenant
prepare this document together
when the keys are handed over,
and do so again at the end of the
rental period when the keys are
handed back. The document
must be signed by both parties
to make it valid.
Documents you will need:
• Pay slips (or other proof of
income) and tax declarations.
Your income is expected to be
3 times your rent,
• Proof of identity – passport and
national identity card,
• Bank details – in France this is
called a “relevé d'identité bancaire” (also referred to as a
RIB). You'll find one at the back
of your chequebook.
Payment
Don't pay anything in the way of
a deposit until you have a written
agreement from the landlord.
Then pay by cheque and ask for
a signed and dated receipt (“quittance”).
When you sign the lease you
will have to pay:
• 2 months' deposit (“caution”),
which you get back when you
leave, assuming there is no
damage,
• One month's rent in advance,
• Month's charges (see below) in
advance,
• Agency fees (if applicable).
Extra charges
The monthly rent does not include
charges, which are quoted separately: these charges cover
expenses such as building maintenance, the cost being shared
equally between all the residents
in the building. The amount that
you pay in charges must be stated in the lease and is paid on a
monthly basis, although a supplement may be added at the
end of the year.
Charges typically include the
following :
• Lift maintenance,
• Water and heating,
• Shared facilities, internal and
external,
• Cleaning,
• Television aerials,
• Refuse collection.
The landlord is responsible for
major repair work, but everyday
maintenance and small repairs
are at the expense of the tenant.
Rent increases
Rent may be increased once a
year if your lease has a clause to
this effect. If it does not, the rent
remains the same throughout the
period of the lease. If your landlord does not give you notice to
quit when your lease comes to
an end, the lease carries on for
the same length of time once
again, according to the conditions stipulated in the contract.
Insurance
According to French, law the
tenant is responsible for insuring
rented property; this is obligatory
and insurance coverage must
start from the date you sign the
lease, not from the date you
move in (in case of accident
when the property is empty).
You may choose your own
insurance company, and the
policy should at least cover
the following:
• Fire,
• Storm and flood damage,
• Window breakage,
• Civil liability,
• Third-party claims.
To find an insurer, look in the
yellow Pages under “Assurances”.
Garage
facilities
If your apartment does not
come with a garage or parking
facilities, you can rent garage
space through an estate
agent or independently.
Look for adverts in the classified sections of local papers,
or in your local shops.
21
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I BUYING PROPERTY
8 I Buying property
In France, the procedure
for buying a property may
differ considerably from
that in your country of origin. It’s best to find out the
facts first. If you’re not a
fluent French speaker, take
someone along with you
who is, or find an agent
who speaks your language
so that no misunderstandings occur.
Where To Start
In France, the legal representative who does the conveyancing
is called a notary (“notaire”).
Be aware that French inheritance
law is very strict in favour of
dependants, so you should look
into this carefully with a notary
before buying a property. One
must be particularly careful if the
property is already occupied.
There are two main ways:
• Real estate agents (“Agents
Immobiliers”),
• Directly with the owner.
Real estate agents charge commission, which they set themselves (usually 5% + VAT) and
which the vendor pays. They will
give you an idea of a fair price for
a property, and the benefit of
their experience in navigating the
French system. It’s best to opt
for an agent who speaks your
languages until you are completely sure of your French, as things
can get very complicated.
Negotiation
The asking price will generally
22
have a built-in-negotiating
margin, so make an offer rather
than, immediately agreeing to the
full asking price.
Moving Costs
The purchase pays the notary
fees – essentially taxes –, which
amount to approximately 10% of
the purchase price if the property
is over 5 years old, or has been
sold before.
New properties and those under
5 years old which have not been
previously sold have conveyancing costs of around 3%.
Contracts
Once you decide on a property,
you can sign a pre-contract or an
undertaking to sell or to buy.
However, as the final deed must be
signed in the presence of a notary,
it is advisable to sign this preliminary document with his help. It
involves making a down payment
of 10% of the purchase price,
which is then held in a blocked
account by the notary. If the deposit is not made, the promise to sell
is invalid, even if it has been signed.
At this stage, both vendor and purchaser are committed to the sale. If
the purchaser pulls out, he loses
the 10% deposit; if the vendor pulls
out, he has to pay 10%, so the
would-be buyer gests his 10%
back plus 10% from the vendor.
Loan not granted
The pre-sale contract (“promesse
de vente” or “compromis de
vente”) must state whether or not
the price will be paid with the
help of a loan. If it mentions
recourse to a loan, you have a
minimum period of one month
(two to three months is practice)
to obtain your loan.
What happens to
the sales contract
if the loan is not
granted?
If you cannot obtain a loan to
finance your real estate project,
(the purchase of an apartment, for
example, or the acquisition of land
on which to construct a house)
you may waive the presale contract or pre-contract at no cost.
Reimbursement of
the down payment
If you do not obtain finance within
the given period, the vendor has
to reimburse you the entire sum
you paid him, with no stoppages
and no indemnities. As of the
15th day following the request
for reimbursement, the sum in
question will earn interest.
In the case of any dispute or for further information, you can contact
the Order of Notaries (“l’Ordre des
Notaires”) or refer the matter to the
department level Competition,
Consumption and Fraud Repression Authority (“Direction de la
Concurrence, de la Consommation
et de le Répression des Fraudes”),
or to local consumer associations.
Finance
Estate agents can advise you on
financing the purchase of your
home. They often work with
banks that specialise in property
finance. It is usually easy to borrow up to 50% of the purchase
price and it’s possible to borrow
up 80% with proof of appropriate
income. As a general rule, your
income should be at least 3
times your repayment.
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I MOVING IN
9 I Moving in
As soon as you arrive in
your new home, you need
to register with the following service suppliers:
• Electricity and gas,
• Telephone.
“France Télécom”, privatised in
1997, no longer enjoys a monopoly position. Other companies
now compete to supply overseas
and national call facilities. However, “France Télécom” still has
the monopoly for the installation
of domestic fixed phones.
To register with “France Télécom” you need to phone or go to
a France Télécom office with an
official identification document
such as a passport (you do not
need a “carte de séjour” to have
a telephone account) and proof
of your address. If there is a line
in your home already, the process
is simple: you simply advise
France Télécom of the old telephone number. Otherwise, a
technician will come and install a
line – a process that is usually
completed within a few working
days.
• Internet suppliers can also
install a phone line.
10 I The social
security system
“La Sécurité Sociale” is the body that reimburses medical expenses and pays pensions
and other social benefits. Each person working in France legally is given a personal
Social Security number and a card with personal details marked on it. It is essential that
you have a social security card if you work in France.
Your Partner
And Children
If your partner does not work, you
will be considered responsible for
him/her, as you are for your children. They will therefore be registered on your Social Security card.
Obtaining a Card
Your company will send all the
necessary documents to “la
Sécurité Sociale” and you will
receive your card by mail. The
procedure for obtaining the reim▶Côte d’Azur, The Blue Chip Coast
bursement of medical expenses
is explained in the chapter entitled “Health”.
Other Benefits
Assistance with paying one’s rent
is available to those who can
prove that their family’s total
income falls below the legally fixed
ceiling and therefore warrants aid.
This benefit is called “Allocation
logement”. Enquire at your local
“Caisse d’Allocations Familiales”
(CAF).
23
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I BANKING
Family Allowance
This allowance is administered by the “Caisse d’Allocations Familiales” (CAF), with
which you should register. It takes the form of monthly payments for families with at
least 2 children. The amount you receive depends on your financial circumstances and
how many children you have.
If you are eligible, you receive
payments for:
• Children up to the age of 16
(who are considered to be
dependant upon their parents
up to school leaving age).
• Children up to the age of 20 if
they remain in the education system and are truly in your care.
The family allowance office will
provide further information –
consult the Yellow Pages under
“Allocations familiales”.
Additional benefits are
awarded according to certain criteria:
• Income.
• Number of children.
• Age of children.
• Situation of spouse (working
or at home).
For further information, contact
the “Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie” and “la Caisse
d’Allocations Familiales”.
• “Prime à la naissance ou à
l’adoption” – benefit for
young children.
• “Le complément de libre choix
d’activité” – help with raising
young children.
• “Le complément familial” –
family subsidy.
• “L’allocation de soutien familial”- family support.
• “L’URSSAF” and “la Caisse d’Allocations Familiales” will be able
to provide further information.
“Administration de la santé et
des affaires sociales” or “Allocations familiales”.
For help with finding a “crèche”,
nursery or mother’s help, go to
the Town Hall and consult the
Addendum to the Education &
Childcare chapter.
11 I Banking
Banks
The main French national
banks are:
• BNP Paribas,
• Société Générale,
• LCL – Le Crédit Lyonnais,
• Crédit Agricole,
• Banque Populaire,
• La Caisse d’Epargne,
• HSBC,
• CIC…
All of the main international banks
are represented in France, particularly on the French Riviera and
in Monaco.
Opening times vary, but tend to
be around 8:45 am to 12 noon
and 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm. Some
open on Saturday mornings but
in this case they are closed on
24
Monday mornings. Most banks
have cash dispensers from which
you can withdraw money using
VISA and other major bankcards.
Post Offices also offer banking
services, and usually provide the
same services as bank do.
Some Post offices also have
cash dispensers.
French banking
customs
French banks operate on a personal, branch level. All banks offer
fairly standard facilities: a cheque
book, a credit card (a visa card or
“Carte Bleue” which is accepted
everywhere), an overdraft facility,
standing order arrangements,
loans for current expenses but
mainly for real estate.
In France, it is an offence to write
a cheque with inadequate cleared
funds in your account – called “un
chèque en bois”. As well as facing
heavy fines, your details are sent
to the Bank of France and you are
forbidden to write cheques until
the penalties have been paid and
your account is put back in order.
Such incidents will seriously affect
your credit rating.
Furthermore, if you sell a car to a
private person, for example,
insist on a cheque certified by the
purchase’s own bank, a “chèque
certifié”.
Opening an account
When you open an account
you will need :
• Proof of identity,
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I TAXES
• Proof of address (a bill or letter
from your electricity or telephone supplier),
• Pay slips or other proof of
income. It is usual to open
a savings account (“compte
d’épar gne”) at the same
time as a current account.
Loans
Banks will normally arrange loans
on application, according to your
circumstances.
There are also credit companies
that finance large purchases in
return for monthly repayments.
Currency
The European currency :
Euro (€) is split into the
following denominations of
notes and coins:
• Centimes: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50
• Euros coins: 1, 2
• Notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200,
500
12 I Taxes
Income tax
In France, tax declarations are filled
out once a year in February. Income
tax is not deducted from your salary;
it’s up to you to put money aside to
pay the amount stated on your tax
demand. You will receive a selfassessment form by mail that you
must complete and return. Never
send payment with your tax form.
You will receive a demand for
payment later. If you do not pay
your tax bill on time, you will be
charged a penalty corresponding
to a percentage of your bill.
This penalty increases the longer
you delay payment. In France,
income tax is paid the following
year: once you are registered for
tax, you will be able to choose
whether you pay in monthly instalments or in 3 payments spread
throughout the year. Ask your
local “Trésorerie” for details.
As long as you are a resident in
France – even if you do not receive
an income or if you earn too little
to be eligible to pay tax – you are
still required to fill out a tax return.
Remember, as long as you are a
French resident, you are required to
declare all of your income, from
France or abroad. You should ask
for advice on any obligations you
may have in your country of origin.
To find the address of your local
tax office, look in the Yellow
Pages under “Administration de
l’Economie et des Finances”.
Tax On
Accommodation
Television Licence
(Taxe sur la Redevance
Audiovisuelle)
Television tax is charged automatically per household. If your
household does not have a
television, you should notify the
regional centre (Centre régional
de la redevance) in writing.
(Taxe d’habitation)
A tax that is invoiced once a year
to cover local amenities. For
details, you should contact the
“Trésor Public”, or look in the yellow Pages under “Administration
des Impôts, du Trésor Public”.
The amount of tax is determined
according to where you live. This
tax is always charged to the
occupant, whether the occupant
is a tenant or the owner.
During the course of the last
quarter, you will receive a bill
that states:
• The elements used to calculate
the tax,
• The amount to be paid to the
Treasury,
• The deadline for payment.
In addition to the “Tax on Accommodation”, you will receive at the
same time the :
The licence fee is levied only
once per household – even if the
household owns several TV sets.
• Annual price: € 133 (as of
January 1st, 2014).
Real Property Tax
A yearly tax that only needs to be
paid if you own a property. For
details, contact the “Trésor Public”.
This tax is charged to the owner of
the land or real estate. The amount
is determined according to the
location of the property.
During the course of the third
quarter, the owner receives a bill
that states among other things:
• The elements that make up the tax.
• The amount to be paid to the
treasury and the deadline for
payment.
“Administration des Impôts, du
Trésor Public”.
25
STARTING OUT IN FRANCE I KEEPING IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
13 I Keeping
important
documents
Insurance
You must keep the following
documents for two years:
• Premium receipts or, failing
these, premium notices edited
by your insurance company
plus proof of payment,
• A copy of your letter requesting
the cancellation of your insurance plus the acknowledgement of receipt,
• Correspondence with your
insurer concerning the settlement of any claim.
Liability Insurance
Never throw away insurance
contracts covering you for
liability, especially:
• Automobile,
• Householder,
• Professional.
Liability Insurance
If you have been a victim in an
accident, make sure you keep
the following until you have
been fully compensated:
• Bills,
• Expert reports,
• Medical certificates,
If you have been seriously injured, keep your dossier safe
throughout the rest of your life
because after-effects can come
to light several years later.
Goods Insurance
Keep the following for as long
as your personal estate or
real estate is insured:
• Insurance contracts,
26
• Copies of correspondence with
your insurer,
• Bills for the purchase of furniture and valuables,
• Bills for repair work on all of
your possessions, including
your car,
• Bills for the purchase of equipment you carry.
Life Insurance
and whole-life
insurance
Keep premium advice notes and
proof of payment of policies that
benefit from tax reductions for at
least four years.
Should the capital of a whole life
insurance policy be paid in your
favour, keep your dossier for four
years. This means you will be
able to prove that the sum you
received was not subject to inheritance tax.
House Insurance
documents:
• Water bills: for two years,
• EDF-GDF bills: for ten years,
• Telephone bills : for two years,
• Estate agency bills: for ten
years,
• Chimney-sweeping certificate:
for one year.
If any work is carried out,
keep documents relating to
the following for ten years:
• The order, the contract, delivery
of work,
• All damages and instances of
bad workmanship that have
arisen,
• Entrepreneur and architect bills.
Beyond these time limits, the law
no longer holds them responsible.
Tenant
Lease
Keep this document throughout
the entire length of the rental
period and for five further years
after leaving the accommodation.
Throughout the entire length
of the rental period, keep:
• The inventory of the state of the
premises and the building,
• The certificate of official measurement.
Throughout the entire length
of the rental period:
• Correspondence exchanged
with the lessor,
• The insurance contract,
• The guaranty,
• The heating maintenance contract and bills,
• The telephone contract,
• Inventory of furniture in the
case of furnished rented
accommodation.
Beyond the rental period and
up until the security deposit
has been reimbursed:
• The inventory of fixtures,
• The receipt for payment of the
security deposit and all subsequent modifications.
Once the rental period is over
and up until reimbursement,
keep for five years:
• Rent receipts,
• Bills pertaining to improvements
and facilities that you supplied
to improve the dwelling.
And for ten years:
• Bills for various repair work if
the repairman is registered on
the commercial register.
Owner
Property deed: keep this until you
sell the property. Should you lose
it, you can contact the notary
who must keep a copy.
Notarial bills:
• Five years as far as his fees are
concerned,
• Two years for the taxes and
expenses that were incurred.
Where applicable keep for ten
years:
• The residence regulations,
• The residence accounts, correspondence with the organisation that manages the
property (“le Syndic”) minutes
of general meetings.
Social
Security-Health
You must conserve the following documents:
• Proof of payment of social
security and family allowance
contributions for five years,
• Proof of documents that were
used to calculate contributions
(wage slips, etc.) for three years,
• Advice notes accompanying
family allowance payments and
breakdowns of social security
reimbursements: for two years.
Occupational
accidents
It is wise to keep related documents indefinitely.
Then you will be able to request
that your pension is reviewed
should your situation worsen.
Proof of payment of
medical expenses
and fees
You must keep them for two
years. Doctors, midwives and
pharmacists have the same
length of time to collect sums
owing to them.
medical documents:
• Vaccination certificates and
booklets: throughout the whole
of your life,
• Blood group card: throughout
the whole of your life,
• “Carnet de santé” (health
record): preferably to be kept
throughout the whole of your
life and at least until you reach
adulthood,
• Prescriptions: for two years,
• Medical examinations, analysis
and x-ray results: for as long as
necessary.
Family
Birth
As a rule, there is no limit on
validity of a birth certificate.
However, in certain cases (particularly in view of a forthcoming
marriage), birth certificates must
have been issued within the last
3 or 6 months.
Adoption
The adoption order must be
kept throughout your whole life.
In case of loss, the court will
supply a copy.
Recognition of a child born out
of wedlock.
The recognition deed must be
kept throughout your whole life.
Marriage
The following must be kept
throughout your whole life:
• The prenuptial agreement; in
case of loss, contact the
notary who drew it up,
• The “livret de famille” (family
record book); in case of loss,
a copy can be obtained from
the town hall (“Mairies”),
• Documents relating to possessions brought into the
marriage or acquired during
the marriage by means of a
donation or legacy.
Divorce or
separation
The divorce or separation order
must be kept throughout your
whole life; in case of loss the
court can supply a copy.
Non-marital union
and P.A.C.S.
Contestation may arise when a
non-marital union comes to an
end. Keep all documents relating to the union for thirty years.
Will
Your whole life long. Documents relating to inheritance:
no time limit for keeping them,
particularly if the inheritance
involves real estate.
27
Claims by
Administrative
Departments
The different offices must
make their claims for the reimbursement of sums paid
unduly to you within two years
of the date on which payment
was made, except in cases of
fraud or false declarations.
You are unemployed
Keep the documents concerning
your unemployment benefit for at
least five years. If you have not
received your unemployment
benefit (or have not received all of
it) you have two years to make
your claim. The “Pôle emploi”, on
the other hand, has a period of
five years in which to claim sums
of money unduly paid to you.
Taxes & Banking
Documents
Relating to your
Professional Life
You are an
employee
To be kept for thirty years and
at least up until your retirement:
• Wage slips,
• Work contracts and letters of
appointment,
• Redundancy letters,
• Copies or receipts for full
settlement,
• Employment certificates,
• Notice of suspension of work in
case of illness or accident,
• Social security benefit receipts.
Why these documents need
to be kept:
• You may need to use them
when you start to collect your
pension,
• A time limit of five years is stipulated for proceedings concerning salary claims (i.e. you
have five years to claim unpaid
salaries from your employer),
• Sums that are not salaries
(redundancy payments, for
example) are subject to a 30year time limit.
28
Income tax
It is wise to keep the following documents until the end
of the third year following the
year for which tax is due:
• Your income declaration forms
and the proof of reductions and
deductions requested in these
forms,
• Your tax bills.
Bank and Giro
Accounts
Cheque validity period
A cheque is valid for a period of
one year and one week in the
case of a bank cheque and for a
period of one year in the case of
a Post Office cheque. Beyond
this time limit, the bank does not
have to cover the cheque.
You must keep:
• Cheque stubs and bank and
postal account statements for
ten years, because they constitute prima facie evidence in
case of litigation,
• Direct debit orders during the
period of their validity.
Disputing transactions
For Giro accounts, complaints
relating to transactions are
admissible for one year, but for a
post office cheque converted
into a money order, the time limit
is two years.
Balance
You can claim the balance of
an account that has not been
the subject of any transaction:
• For thirty years, if it is a bank
account,
• For ten years, if it is a Post
Office current account.
Important! Money orders that
have not been claimed within two
years fall to the Post Office administration. For all information,
contact the “info banques” counter at a branch of the Banque de
France.
Help With
Filling Out
Administrative
Documents
If you have problems filling out
administrative forms or writing
important documents, you
may call upon the services of
an “écrivain public”, available
in most towns. Your local town
hall will give you more details.
Keep payment and transfer instruction slips until these transactions have been charged to your
account, or for a period of ten
years.
EMPLOYMENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
- Preliminary steps
- Job search
- Organisations and agencies
- Temporary employment
- State benefits
- Training
- Starting a business
- Employment law
30
30
32
33
33
34
35
35
29
EMPLOYMENT I PRELIMINARY STEPS
1 I Preliminary
steps
This chapter is specifically aimed at employees’ families (spouses, partners, children)
who are looking for work. The chapters headed “Before Leaving”&”Starting out in France”
explain how to go about obtaining the papers that give you the right to work in France,
and how to register as a job-seeker (“un demandeur d’emploi”) at the “Pôle emploi”
(“Association pour l’Emploi dans l’Industrie et le Commerce”). As soon as your are
registered, you are given the address of the “Pôle emploi”, or job centre, that you should
report to for help in your job search.
Before launching headlong into
your search for a job, it’s worth
taking the time to consolidate
your skills and assess your suitability to French employment
market; its structure and needs
may differ considerably from
those of the market you’ve come
from.
Making
an Assessment
You may decide to seek the professional advice of a skill profile
expert. Help is available from the
State and often comes free –
private career consultants can be
expensive!
Read on to find out how.
However, until you are confident
in French this is not an easy task:
if you’re not, take someone with
you who is.
Mini profiles
In France, the “Pôle emploi” is a
good source of guidance and
advice. It organises mini-assessments, carried out by qualified
consultants. The assessments
take the form of individual or
group tests held at the job center
or in a company, and last from
between one day and several
weeks. Your fist step should be to
ask for an interview with an “Pôle
emploi” advisor. Explain your
situation and ask for help in a personalised approach. You will then
be guided towards the most
appropriate plan of action.
Full profiles
Constructing a true professional profile is an intense and personal project that requires the
help of a consultant – rather like
undergoing psychoanalysis!
To obtain a complete skill profile,
you should ask the “Pôle
emploi” for help in conducting a
“bilan de competences”. The
“Pôle emploi” will then refer you
to an organisation called the
“C.I.B.C.” (Centre Interinstitutionnel de Bilan de Compétences). If the “Pôle emploi”
refuses your request, you can
go directly to the “C.I.B.C.” or to
a private firm that specializes in
this field. The direct approach
implies paying some or all of the
costs. Look in the Yellow Pages
under “Conseil en formation,
gestion de personnel” for private
companies and See Addendum.
Consult the Yellow Pages:
“Formation continue”
“Formation continue: divers”
“Formation Professionnelle”,
and “Enseignement”.
2 I Job search
Looking For Work
There are a number of ways in
which to look for work: you can
reply to advertisements, send spontaneous applications and register
with agencies. Different methods
suit different types of work.
30
Answering an advert
You can consult job adverts in
a number of different ways:
• The regional daily newspaper
“Nice-Matin” carries job adverts
on Thursdays and Saturdays,
• Professional magazines (e.g.
“Le Monde informatique” for IT,
“Moniteur du Bâtiment” for
construction) are sold in bookshops or by subscription,
• Job centres “Pôle emploi” have
regularly updated notice boards
displaying job vacancies.
• Temping agencies (“agences d'intérim”) often display vacancies.
EMPLOYMENT I JOB SEARCH
Prepare The Necessary Tools
Curriculum Vitae
Even though you may have what
you consider to be a perfect CV
in your own language, the
French have some formalities
that you should observe.
The headings are as follows:
• Personal details (name,
address, date of birth, marital
status, nationality),
• Work experience,
• Education,
• Hobbies and pastimes.
It is, however, acceptable to produce a thematic CV in order to
present yourself in a more positive
or original light (young graduate,
• The Internet can be useful, but
as they are not regulated, not all
advertised
vacancies
are
genuine. The best places to look
are on “Pôle emploi” notice
boards, web sites and the like.
The company address usually
appears at the bottom of the job
advert. Sometimes, however, the
company remains anonymous
and asks applicants to send CVs
and covering letters either to the
newspaper, to the agency that
produced the advert, or to the
recruitment agency in charge of
selecting suitable candidates.
The speculative
approach
Before approaching a company
directly, you may wish to carry
out some initial company
research. There are several
potential sources of information:
• Daily newspapers carry general
company information in their
business sections, and on
Covering letter
This serves to shore up your CV. It
gives you the opportunity to highlight the skills which will be useful in
the position you are applying for,
and to accentuate your strengths.
The letter should be tailored to
whichever company you're writing
to, whether in response to an
advert or as a spontaneous application. Certain information will be
standard, of course. Show that
you have really understood the
company and how your profile fits
in perfectly with their requirements.
The French expect the
following formalities to
be observed:
• The letter is often handwritten:
not only is this more personal
than a printed letter (and therefore more polite) but your
handwriting may be analysed for
insight into your personality. Graphology is sometimes used as
part of the selection process in
France. However, with the common use of the Internet, it is now
acceptable to send it by email,
• Make sure that your address is
in the top left-hand corner of
the page. The address to
which you send the letter must
be at the top right.
Tuesdays, “Nice-Matin” carries
2 pages of information on companies in the region,
• Professional magazines (mentioned above),
• Larger companies will often
send out information packs
and details of their business
activities, on request,
• Company directories (Kompass,
Dun&Bradstreet, etc.) are accessible at “Pôle emploi” offices
and/or at the CCI (The Chamber
of Commerce and Industry).
• The Internet and company
websites are also helpful.
Making yourself
known
Using contacts
As many jobs are never advertised, it is advisable to take full
advantage of any contacts you
may have. Let people know that
you are looking for work and what
type of work you are interested in.
Networking can be an effective
way of finding employment, so talk
to neighbours, friends, and use
any other connections – either
through a local sports club, or your
social life – as an opportunity to
meet people and make contacts.
different professional experiences,
re-entering the job market after a
long period of inactivity, etc.)
Hints
• Send your application directly to
the manager concerned, or to the
relevant department, not just to
the human resources department,
• Follow up your application after
about 2 weeks,
• If you feel confident in your
spoken French, you can also
approach companies over the
telephone, as it is quicker and
can be more informative.
Other ways of making yourself accessible to employers:
• You can place ads in the
“Employment wanted” (“demande
d’emploi”) sections of “Nice
Matin”, or professional magazine, and also on the Internet,
• Register with recruitment agencies and temping agencies,
found in the Yellow Pages under
“Recrutement (organismes”) and
“Intérim (agences)”.
31
EMPLOYMENT I ORGANISATIONS AND AGENCIES
3 I Organisations
and agencies
There are a number of government (and also private)
organisations that help those seeking employment.
Pôle emploi
Already mentioned above, the
“Pôle emploi” is the place to start
when looking for work, training or
help on setting up your own business. It is a public service, open to
everyone, with staff to offer advice
and point you in the right direction.
It is usual to go to the “Pôle emploi”
office nearest to where you live
(you can find the address at the
“Pôle emploi”), but you can choose
to use any of them. If you have
specific skills, it may be useful to
see if there is an “Pôle emploi” that
specialises in your field, as some
specialise in specific sectors of
employment, such as hotels, catering, construction or management.
See Yellow Pages under “Administrations du Travail et de I'Emploi” and the Addendum.
Television
Programmes
Numerous French TV channels broadcast programmes
for those looking for work,
seeking training or wanting
to set up their own company,
among them:
• Cable TV channels “Demain!”,
“La Télévision de l’Emploi, de la
Formation et des Initiatives” or
the TV of Employment, Training
and Action”: www.demain.fr,
• “France 2” broadcasts “Télé
Matin”.
A.P.E.C.
“Association Pour
l'Emploi des Cadres”
This association is for executives
(as defined by your past work
experience, or if you have a
university degree).
It gives you access to:
• Personal advice,
• Job search workshops (CV,
training),
• Reference material (newspapers, publications).
Job Seeker Groups
These associations (“Groupes de
chercheurs d’emploi”) are attended by unemployed people in an
effort to make their job-hunting
more effective.
Magazines
There is an increasing number of
employment related magazines
that can be found in bookshops
or obtained by subscription.
“Rebondir” is a monthly magazine that gives advice and information on subjects such as
training, useful addresses and
benefits. It also publishes practical guides such as how to write a
CV and a covering letter, working
from home, paramedical professions, etc.
The groups operate like small
companies with a clearly defined
role for each person.
The groups organise workshops on various themes:
• CVs,
• Letter writing,
• Training, etc.
The groups approach companies
by sending information about
themselves or by canvassing for
work. They can be an excellent
means of job-hunting as they
reduce feelings of isolation, provide motivation and support, and
act as a useful source of information for those who are less familiar
with the French system. Membership can be subject to certain
requirements; ex: approval by
other group members, a small
contribution to cover expenses or
qualifications (professional or educational). Ask at the “Pôle emploi”
or “A.P.E.C” for contact details.
Organisations for
unemployed people
These organisations do not
directly help you to seek work but
act as advisory bodies to help
unemployed people deal with
bureaucracy and administration.
In addition, the group can provide
you, with moral support. Ask the
“Pôle emploi” for contact information. Or see Addendum for details.
32
EMPLOYMENT I TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT
4 I Temporary
employment
As we’ve already mentioned, you may have to wait
quite a long time before
finding your ideal job. So
you may be interested in
something in the meantime, to earn some money.
Or maybe you would rather
work part-time.
See Yellow Pages under “Interim”
and “Recrutement”
Sources
of Employment
Seasonal, temporary and
part-time work is often the
kind that is easiest to come
by. These types of vacancies
are generally advertised in the
following ways:
• Temporary employment agencies: the agencies that need
fluent English speakers are more
likely to be in Sophia Antipolis and
Monaco (you need a different
work permit for Monaco), look in
the Yellow Pages under “Interim
(agences)”.
• Newspapers: Nice-Matin and
the local free papers such as
“Top Annonces”, have job offers
in their classified sections. It is
also possible to place an advert
requesting a job in these publications,
• Radio stations: “Riviera Radio” and some French stations
have job slots. Refer to the
Addendum for details,
• Local shops: the shops in your
neighbourhood are likely to display adverts on behalf of people
looking for part-time help with
house-work and baby-sitting, etc,
• Employment agencies for
domestic staff: there is a high
demand for private cooks, gardeners and other domestic
staff. Refer to the Addendum
for addresses of agencies
specialised in this field,
• Yachting: there is seasonal
demand for foreign personnel to
work on private and chartered
yachts, especially around Antibes,
• Word of mouth: very important
in France when looking for
work. Make it known that you
are seeking employment and
you may hear of someone
needing your services.
See Yellow Pages under “Intérim”
and “ Recrutement”.
5 I State benefits
France is seen by some
to be generous in the
assistance it provides to
the unemployed and the
socially disadvantaged.
excellent source of information
for anyone wanting help with training or starting up a business.
The government ministry responsible for State benefits and for
help with professional training is
the Ministry of Work and Employment (“Ministère du Travail et de
l’Emploi”).
It is represented at a regional
level by the “DIRECCTE”.
The “DIRECCTE” is therefore an
Social Assistance
Unemployment
benefit
The state unemployment benefit
payment scheme (which workers
and employers contribute to, as
well as the State) is administered
by the “Pôle emploi” . In order to
benefit from the “Pôle emploi”
assistance you must be unintentionally unemployed, actively
looking for employment and be
able to prove that you have worked and contributed to the
French social system for at least
6 months.
If you qualify, the amount you
receive and the length of time
you will receive it, is determined
by the State. The “Pôle emploi”
will be able to help you further.
33
EMPLOYMENT I TRAINING
Incentives to Employ Certain Categories
Of Workers
If you are thinking of setting up your own company, it may be of use to know that there are certain
incentives set up by the State to encourage companies to employ certain categories of workers.
These categories include:
• First time job-seekers,
• Part-time workers,
• Apprenticeships,
• Job qualification contracts (for 16-25 year-old),
• Your first employee,
• Management schemes,
• Handicapped workers.
If, as a job-seeker, you fall into one of the above categories, you should alert possible employers so that
they can benefit from State aid. The “Pôle emploi” and “DIRECCTE” have further details.
6 I Training
As a working person or as someone who is unemployed you are
eligible for training.
There is a wide choice of training
available in every conceivable
domain and at every level. Training is
dispensed by public and private
organisations. You can look for a
training course in a company or institution you find appealing, or you
can ask an “Pôle emploi” advisor to
recommend courses and organisations and to help you in your choice.
The main organisation for adult professional training is the “A.F.P.A”
(Association Nationale pour la Formation Professionnelle des Adultes)
which has regional offices and
numerous training centres.
Guidebook of A.F.P.A. offices
(Association pour la Formation
Professionnelle des Adultes),
F.N.E. training courses (Fonds
National pour l’Emploi) “Cadres”,
catalogue of training courses
34
approved by the I.N.F.F.O. centre.
If you are interested in a specific
profession, you can contact the
Chamber of Professions (“Chambre des Métiers and CCI Nice
Côte d’Azur”). You can also
contact the careers advice organisations that advise students
“(D.R.O.N.I.S.E.P., C.I.D., C.I.J.)”.
Refer to the Education & Childcare
chapter for further information.
Find out about the cost of training.
It may be free if you’re registered
as a job-seeker (“demandeur
d’emploi”), but sometimes you
have to pay. In the latter case, you
might be able to get help with the
costs from:
• The “Pôle emploi” (if you can
prove that you have worked for
6 months in France),
• Other State organisations such
as the “Conseil Général” on
condition that you qualify for
benefits.
Assistance
with training
Unemployed people
The “Pôle emploi” may pay the
total cost. If not, there are other
State Organisation such as
General and Regional Councils (“Conseil Regional”) that
may subside your training programme. An “Pôle emploi” advisor will give your more information about who to contact.
Employees
If you have worked for a company for a minimum of 1 year
and your employer is in agreement, you can take a sabbatical. The training costs and
compensation for loss of
earnings are covered by the
official organisation “O.P.A.C.I.F”
and “F.O.N.G.E.C.I.F”.
The personnel department of
your company can give you
further information.
EMPLOYMENT I STARTING A BUSINESS
7 I Starting
a business
If your ambition is to work for
yourself, your professional profile
assessment will have weighed up
your chances of succeeding. The
next step is to assess the feasibility of your project by conducting
some market research; then put
a business plan together. Note
that depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for
grants and other assistance from
the state. Your first contact will be
an “Pôle emploi” advisor who can
point you in the direction of most
useful services. There is an association that helps new businesses
called the “Agence Nationale
pour la Création d’Entreprise”
(referred to as the “A.P.C.E.”. It
Help with starting a business
The State fosters the creation of businesses with financial and
legislative assistance. You can also contact the “DIRECCTE” for
information on the financial assistance you may be eligible for –
according to whether you are unemployed or working.
• Employees: people already in employment can take unpaid leave
(“Congé Création Entreprise”) for a period of one or two years in
order to create a business. After this period, they can return to
their previous job if they wish. The personnel department of your
company will give you further information.
will give you more information on
the help you’re entitled to. Alternatively, you can go to the
Chamber of Commerce (“CCI:
Chambre de Commerce et d’In-
dustrie”), another useful source of
help and information.
8 I Employment
law
Official
Organisations
The Ministry of Work and
Employment applies governmental decisions. It is represented in
each region by a “DIRECCTE”,
which has the task of enforcing
its directives. The “DIRECCTE”
must also ensure that the laws
are respected in companies
(through its Work Inspection Division – “Inspection du Travail”).
Employer
organisations
• “M.E.D.E.F.” (“Mouvement des
Entreprises de France”), a
national organisation,
• Employer unions
(“Unions
Patronales”), national organisations split into professional
branches,
• “U.P.E 06.” (“Union pour l’Entreprises des Alpes Maritimes”),
• “U.P.R.PA.C.A.” (“Union Patronale Régionale PACA”).
Trade unions
There are 5 major trade unions,
all represented regionally:
• “C.F.D.T.” (“Conférération Française
Démocratique
du
Travail”), Democratic Workers’ Federation,
• “C.F.T.C.” (“Confédération Française des travailleurs Chrétiens”),
Christian Workers’ Federation,
• “C.G.C.” (“Confédération Générale des Cadres”) Management
Federation,
• “C.G.T.” (“Confédération Générale du Travail”), General Workers’ Federation,
35
EMPLOYMENT I EMPLOYMENT LAW
• ”F.O.” (”Force Ouvrière ”), Workers’ Federation.
Legislation
The laws governing employment have very different
origins:
• The Labour Law (“Code du Travail”). This is applicable to all
businesses and is based on government laws and decrees.
Companies' obligations differ according to their size: the larger the
company, the more constraints there is regarding their employees.
• Collective Agreements (“Conventions Collectives”). Fix particular rules in certain business sectors (ex: clock makers, insurance).The collective Agreement that you must respect depends
on the APE code of your company (the APE is the official category of activity your company is engaged in).
• Internal regulations (“Règlement intérieur”): These are fixed
by the employer.
• Current practice and habits that are recognised as laws, but are
not formalised in writing. The labour law defines the minimum
protection to which employees are entitled.
Other rules (Collective Agreements and internal regulations) can be
more useful to employees than resorting to the law. Furthermore,
international and E.U. legislation is increasingly important and can
over-ride national legislation. Examples of this include:
• The treaty of Rome: The foundation of the E.U., which has at its core
the free movement of people amongst member states. The Brussels
Commission harmonies the laws that govern work within the E.U.,
• International Treaties: Bilateral (between two states) or multilateral (adopted by the International Labour Organisation) law take
precedence over national laws.
Some good sources of information about legislation affecting
the workplace:
• Ministry of Work and Employment,
• “DIRECCTE”,
• “Le Journal Officiel”, official journal publishing all French legal texts.
Pay Slip
You receive a pay slip with your
salary at the end of each month.
It should detail all deductions
taken from your salary each
month (e.g. Social Security payments, pension payments, supplementary health insurance).
36
Your pay slips are proof of your
contributions to these institutions. You need them to benefit
from Social Security payments.
Keep them until you retire.
Pay slips can be complicated
so, if in doubt, ask your personnel department to explain
them.
“Syndicats et ordres professionnels” and “Syndicats de salariés”.
If your company is large enough
it may have union representatives.
Application
Of The Law
If you require information
about employment laws, the
following organisations can
advise you:
• The Ministry of Work and
Employment (“Ministère du
Travail et de l’Emploi”),
• “DIRECCTE” Work Inspection
Division,
• Trade unions.
Employment
contract
This formalises your engagement with an employer. You
are likely to come across two
types of contracts:
• “CDI” – “Contrat à Durée Indéterminée”: this is a permanent
contract,
• “CDD” – “Contrat à Durée
Déterminée” – a temporary
contract, or a job creation
contract.
To find out more about the different types of contracts that exist,
contact the Ministry of Work and
Employment. (“Ministère du Travail et de l’Emploi”).
MISCELLANEOUS
CONTACTS
1 - Contacts
2 - Telecommunications
3 - Pratical information
38
39
39
37
MISCELLANEOUS CONTACTS I CONTACTS
1 I Contacts
The Côte d'Azur is a cosmopolitan area where lots of
different nationalities co-reside. This means that many
people are living away from their country of origin. There
are times when you might want to meet people from
your home country, and there are a great number of
associations and contact groups set up to put you
in contact with people, whatever your personal
circumstances and preferences.
Embassies
& Consulates
Clubs And
Associations
Most Consulates are represented
in Nice, with main offices in Marseilles. Look in the Yellow Pages
under “Ambassades, consulats
et autres representations diplomatiques”.
There are too many to give an
exhaustive list, and some come
and go. But a good reference point
is foreign language media: The
“Riviera Reporter”, “Riviera Côte
d'Azur Zeitung”, “Riviera Radio”,
(the addresses of these media are
in the Addendum). There are social
clubs, special interest clubs and
business associations.
Religion
The dominant religion in France
is Roman Catholicism. However,
other religious beliefs are catered
for, and the French Riviera has
some English speaking services.
The Addendum contains
addresses for non French religious institutions. For further
addresses, look in the Yellow
Pages under “Eglises” or “Cultes”
or “Associations religieuses
ou philosophiques”.
Foreign Residents’
Associations
The Addendum lists telephone
numbers for clubs on the French
Riviera representing most nationalities: some are home numbers
of the private individuals who run
the clubs and associations, so it
may be necessary to call in the
evening.
38
Help in the Home
Building and repairs
Companies and independent
legally registered “artisans” are
insured to carry out work in your
home.
They will normally provide a free
estimate (“devis”) for the work to
be done. The estimate should
clearly state the amount of V.A.T.
(“TVA”) and if so, is “TTC”
(“Toutes Taxes Comprises”) or
including taxes. If not, the
amount is said to be “hors taxes”
(before taxes) and VAT (TVA) at
the current rate will be added.
Here is a list of the most
common services:
• “Maçonnerie” - builders,
• “Plomberie” - plumbers,
“Accueil des Villes
Françaises”
“A.F.V.” are associations that
help newcomers - French and
foreign - to a town to integrate
into their new surroundings.
They can help you find doctors,
dentists and other professionals
who speak your language and
can point you in the right direction to find schools, accommodation, etc. They offer basic-level
French conversation classes
(“séances de conversation”) to
give you enough knowledge of
the language to go shopping
and find your way around.
• “Electricité” - electrician,
• “Chauffage” - heating installation,
• “Jardinage” - gardening,
• “Dépanneur” - repairman (e.g.
TV),
• “Vitrerie” - window replacements,
• “Serrurerie” - locks and alarms.
the service required.
A word of warning: French law
forbids you to knowingly hire
someone who is not registered. If
they are injured on your premises,
you will be held responsible.
MISCELLANEOUS CONTACTS I TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2 I Telecommunications
Mobile Phones
Mobile phone are becoming less
expensive in France, and many
different types of subscriptions are
on offer. A “forfait” – or package –
is often the best option.
The 4 main networks in France
are basically providing the same
offers:
• “Orange”,
• “SFR”,
• “Bouygues Telecom”,
• “FREE”…
For more information regarding
packages and to find a location
nearest you, visit the website of
the mobile operators.
There are, global providers such
as “Free”, “Orange”, ”Neuf”, etc.
See Yellow Pages under “Téléphonie mobile, radiomessagerie,
radiocommunications”.
The monthly packages usually
include Internet, TV and phone
services (landline). For more information, visit the website of the
Internet providers.
The Internet
See Yellow Pages under “Internet”: fournisseurs d’accès”.
There are plenty of Internet
providers, so the rates are reasonable and the choice is good.
3 I Pratical
information
English Language
Libraries
The Anglo-American library next
to the Anglican church in Nice
(see Addendum for details) offers
the widest selection of English
language books. There is a small
subscription fee on joining.
Larger French libraries also have
English language books. Look in
the Yellow Pages under “Bibliothèques, médiathèques”.
Evening Classes
Your local town hall (“Mairie”) and
the Arts and Youth Centre (“Maison des jeunes et de la Culture
(MJC)”) will have lists of evening
classes in your area.
If you cannot find what you’re
looking for, look in the Yellow
Pages under the name of your
interest, or under “Enseignement
privé”.
Learning French
The Post Office
The postal service is called “La
Poste”.
Post boxes are yellow and are
often found outside “tabacs” as
well as inside and outside Post
Offices (“bureau de Poste”).
“Administrations des Postes et des
Télécommunications” or “Poste”.
39
MISCELLANEOUS CONTACTS I PRATICAL INFORMATIONS
Professionals With
Linguistic Skills
If you are looking for a lawyer,
a notary, a chartered accountant
or any other professional who
can provide services in a specific
foreign language, contact:
40
• “L'Ordre des Avocats du
Barreau” (the Bar) of Nice or
Grasse,
• “L'Ordre des Experts Comptables” (The Order of Chartered
Accountants),
• “L'Ordre des Notaires des
Alpes-Maritimes” (The Order of
Notaries),
• “Team Côte d’Azur”.
Companies that need professional services in a particular foreign
language may contact Team
Côte d’Azur for relevant contact
lists.
EDUCATION &
CHILDCARE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
- Children below school age
- The French education system
- Enrolling children in school
- Primary and secondary education
- Higher-level education
- International schools
- Distance learning
- Examination
- Financial assistance
42
43
45
46
47
48
49
50
50
41
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I CHILDREN BELOW SCHOOL AGE
1 I Children below
school age
Full-Time Childcare
There is a comprehensive system
of childcare for the children of
working parents from the age of
three months. The options are a
“crèche“ or “garderie” (nursery/
kinder-garten), a “nourrice” (nanny) or “assistante maternelle”
(childminder), or an au pair.
“Crèche –
Garderie”
Demand for “crèches” and “garderies” is high, as they enjoy a
very good reputation and have
competent staff. It is therefore
advisable to reserve a place
as early as possible in your
pregnancy. Crèches will take
children from as young as three
months if both parents are working. They generally remain open
during school holidays, with the
possible exception of the month
of August. The amount you pay
is related to your income.
Most take children on a full-time
basis and provide lunch, which
parents may be asked to pay
towards. Some offer half-day
(morning or afternoon) facilities.
There are two types of “crèche”
or “garderie”: the “crèche municipale”, run by the “Mairie” (Town
Hall), and the “crèche parentale”,
a crèche run by an association of
parents on a rota basis. For further details, contact your “Mairie”
or look in the Yellow Pages under
“Crèches”.
Nanny (“nourrice”)
Childminder
(“assistante
maternelle”)
A nanny will look after your child
(and possibly others) at her own
home (you may be able to
arrange for her to come to your
home). Some are registered
(“Agréée”) and have to comply
with strict criteria established by
the Office of Social Affairs
concerning Children and Health
Direction de I'Action Sociale de
I'Enfance et de la Sante, or
“OASES”), a government department. As such they are subject to
regular controls. See the Yellow
Pages, under “Assistantes
Maternelles” or contact your
“Mairie” for a list
“Au pair”
This region understandably
attracts young people from
abroad wishing to work on a
'live-in' basis as au pairs. An au
pair is usually female, in which
case she may be referred to as a
“jeune fille au pair“.
Various legal obligations must
be observed:
To work in France legally she
should have an au pair visa,
which is valid for one year, and
there are various restrictions on
her working arrangements.
For more information and
addresses, contact the “A.V.F.”
(see the Miscellaneous Contacts
chapter).
Part-Time Or
Occasional Care
Of Children
Here, the choice is between a
day nursery (“halte-garderie”) and
a babysitter (“babysitter” in
French!). To find a “hafte-garderie” or an organisation providing
babysitting services, look in the
Yellow Pages under “Garde d'enfants”.
Day nursery
(“halte-garderles”)
“Halte-garderies” look after children on an occasional basis.
Some expect you to book a
place in advance, others take
children on a first-come, first-served basis each morning.
Babysitters
Babysitters are usually paid in
cash at a rate agreed between
you. If they have no means of
transport you may have to pick
them up and take them home.
To find a babysitter, try the
following:
• Look for advertisements displayed in your local shops,
• Contact local schools (French
and international),
• Visit the Tourist Information
Offices, (they often have lists of
students looking for work),
• Contact organisations offering
babysitting services.
42
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I THE FRENCH EDUCATION SYSTEM
“Chèque Emploi"”
The “Chèque emploi service universel” (CESU) is reserved for private individuals who
employ someone for home-help tasks: cleaners, occasional gardeners, help with
school work, caring for the sick (excluding medical care), looking after children
(except if the employer wishes to benefit from the “Benefit for Childcare in the Home”
(“l'Aide à la Garde d'Enfant à Domicile” – A.G.E.D.).
The chequebooks are issued at no cost by the
Post Office, banks, building societies and the
Treasury.
The employer simply has to write the cheque,
stating the net salary, and to give it to the
employee who puts it into his or her bank
account.
The latter:
• withdraws social contributions from the
employer's bank or post office account,
sending monthly statements plus an annual
certificate for tax declaration purposes,
• sends the employee an employment certificate
that serves as a pay slip.
A private person employing someone to work in
the home is eligible for certain tax reductions
and exoneration from employer social security
contributions.
2 I The French
education
system
Education In France is the responsibility of the State, and
is provided through a system of State schools. Private
schools are also available. “Le Ministère de l'Education
Nationale” (Ministry of Education) manages all aspects of
education in France. Education is undenominational,
compulsory up to the age of 16, and free until the age of
18. The Ministry is responsible for the establishment and
maintenance of schools, for recruiting and training staff,
defining education programmes, and the administration
of exams. In the name of the freedom of education, there
are also private schools – for the most part Roman
Catholic establish-ments that have signed a contract with
the State.
The Youth Affairs and Adult
Education Inspectorate (“Inspection Générale de l’Education Nationale” or I.G.E.N.)
plays a role in appraising staff
involved in inspection, management, teaching, education and
giving advice. It participates in
their training, their recruitment
(participates in examination
43
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I THE FRENCH EDUCATION SYSTEM
juries), the verification of their
work and the evaluation of the
educational system in general.
the regional-level representative
of the Ministry of Education,
Research and Technology,
The Regional Education
Authority (“Le Rectorat
d'Academie”): The Rector,
Vice-Chancellor of Universities is
He or she is seconded in each
department (or county), by an
Inspector who acts in the name
of the Regional Education Autho-
rity. The Côte d’Azur – -especially
the area around the Sophia Antipolis science park – is a very cosmopolitan area and consequently
has a number of schools to cater
for this international community.
The Academic Year
The school year runs from the beginning of September to the end of June. The summer holidays, known
as “les grandes vacances”, are in July and August. Apart from these, there are 4 other holiday periods:
“Vacances de Toussaint” (All Saints)
One week at the end of October or beginning
of November
“Vacances de Noël” (Christmas)
Two weeks starting in the second half of
December
“Vacances d'Hiver” (Winter)
Two weeks in February or March
“Vacances de Printemps” (Spring)
Two weeks in April or May
For the Winter and Spring holidays, France is divided into three zones, A, B and C, which stagger their
holidays.
Zone A covers
Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon,
Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes,
Toulouse.
Zone B covers
Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille,
Limoges, Nice, Orleans-Tours, Poitiers,
Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg.
zone C covers
Bordeaux, Paris, Creteil, Versailles.
Diaries and calendars frequently carry the holiday dates for each zone, but for the most
reliable data:
• For your zone (Zone B for the French Riviera): contact the school or “L'lnspection Académique de
Nice”,
• For other zones: contact the “Ministère de I'Education Nationale”.
44
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I ENROLLING CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
The School
Timetable
Sports, Music
The school week in French State
schools traditionally consists of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Thursday and Friday p.m. Wednesdays tend to be reserved for
sports and other non-academic
activities. Some schools may follow a modified schedule, especially for younger children, such
as no Saturday attendance. The
school day begins between 8
and 8.30 a.m. and ends around
4.30 or 5.00 p.m.
There is usually a two-hour lunch
break starting at 11.30 a.m. during
which children are permitted to go
home, although schools generally
provide canteen facilities.
All children, even young ones, will
probably be given regular homework.
These are seen as extra-curricular
activities and are not organised by
all schools. It is therefore up to the
parents to enrol their children in
sporting and artistic activities.
Municipal sports facilities are
usually very good and offer tuition
in tennis, swimming, skiing, etc.
Contact your local Arts Centre
(“Maison de la Jeunesse et de la
Culture” “M.J.C.”) to register your
child for artistic activities, and a
music school (“conservatoire”) for
musical tuition.
“Maisons de quartier, Maison de
la Jeunesse et de la Culture”.
Private Schools
Private education accounts for
17% of pupils from infant school
to the end of secondary education. They generally offer very
good quality, but are fee-paying
(and some are very expensive!).
Most are recognized by the State
and the State provides financial
aid to some of them. In the private
sector, families must pay for
schooling costs, and these vary
from establishment to establishment. French private schools (see
section 6 below for international
schools) essentially offer the same
syllabus as State schools and prepare children for the exams.
Private Or State –
Making The Choice
The choice of school – private or
public, French or international –
needs careful consideration. French
schools offer the advantage of helping children to speak French
fluently and to become accustomed to French culture. Young children generally have no problem with
settling in, but integration may prove
harder for some older children.
3 I Enrolling
children in school
This should be done as soon
as your arrive in France. Your
“Mairie” is a valuable source
of information.
Necessary
Documents
Certain documents are essential and you will not be able to
enrol your child without them:
• School records: all documents, grades or confirmation
of the level of studies attained,
• Your child’s birth certificate,
• Medical certificate issued by a
French doctor (except in nursery
school, where a medical exami▶Côte d’Azur, The Blue Chip Coast
nation is carried out at school),
• Vaccination certificates: vaccinations are obligatory in France
and you’ll need an up-to-date
record.
For further information on mandatory vaccinations, consult the regional department of Social Affairs,
address given in the Addendum.
Where To Enrol
• Nursery school: at your town hall,
• Primary school: at the school
itself,
• Secondary school: at the
“Lycée” or “college” in question.
For secondary schools, look in the
Yellow Pages under “Enseignement privé secondaire” and consult the Addendum for addresses
of the school inspectorate.
• Higher education: the registration department of the
relevant establishment. Look
in the Yellow Pages under
“Enseignement privé supérieur
ou public supérieur”.
45
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I PRIMARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION
4 I Primary &
secondary
education
The following chart illustrates the different types of
establishments for primary and secondary education, the
names of the classes and the diplomas awarded.
Primary education – “enseignement primaire”
AGE
CLASS
ESTABLISHMENT
EXAMINATION
OR DIPLOMA
3 -5
Maternelle
infant school
-
6
Cours Préparatoire (CP)
“Ecole Primaire” (primary school)
-
7
Cours Elémentaire 1 (CE1 )
“
-
8
Cours élémentaire (CE2)
“
-
9
Cours Moyen (CM1)
“
-
10
Cours Moyen (CM2)
“
-
Secondary education – “enseignement secondaire”
AGE
CLASS
ESTABLISHMENT
11
6e
Collège (middle school)
12
e
5
“
13
4
e
“
14
3e
“
15
2
16
1
17
nde
ère
Terminale
EXAMINATION
OR DIPLOMA
“Brevet des Collèges”
Lycée (high school)
“
“
“Baccalauréat”
The “Baccalauréat”
The “Baccalauréat” (known as the “BAC”) is an examination taken after 2 years of study after the legal
school-leaving age (16). A “BAC” is necessary for entering into higher-level education, similar to
“A-levels” in England.
46
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I HIGHER-LEVEL EDUCATION
5 I Higher-level
education
Post
“Baccalauréat”
Studies
the French Embassy in the country in which you live, or, if you
attend a French school abroad,
directly from that establishment.
Higher-level education (“Enseignement Supérieur”) is available
to those possessing a “Baccalauréat”. The choice is between a
university, a school for professional studies such as a Business
School, and a private college
offering a variety of courses.
In all cases, first-time registrations for the first stage of education at a French university require
proof that you have the qualifications that give you the right, in
your country, to undertake the
studies you have in mind (generally a diploma marking the end
of secondary education). At the
moment, there is neither selection process nor restriction on the
number of admittances into university in France. However, medical and dental studies involve a
selection exam at the end of the
first year, and some specialised
training – “Institut Universitaire de
Technologie (polytechnic)”,
“Institut d'Etudes Politiques” (Institute of Political Studies)” – set
an entrance exam.
The number of study years that
are undertaken at a higher level
(ie. after the “Baccalauréat”), correspond to the following categories which you will often see in
job advertisements and other
professional situations.
• Diploma (“Diplôme”) BAC+2
• Degree (“Licence”)
BAC+3
• Master's degree (“Maîtrise”)
or qualification from a
“Grande Ecole”
BAC+5
• PHD (“Doctorat”)
BAC+8
University
Registration for the first stage
of tertiary education: mandatory admission request
If you live abroad, you must
collect a blank pre-registration
dossier between December and
January of the year preceding the
beginning of the university year
and sit the French language test
mentioned in the pre-registration
dossier. Dossiers are available
from the Cultural Department of
mics and literature), as well as
medicine and law, are taught at
Nice-Sophia Antipolis University.
Registering for the second
and third stages of tertiary
education
As early as May-June, you can
apply to the Université de NiceSophia Antipolis via the Foreign
Student Department (“Service
Scolarité des Etudiants Etrangers”) of your preferred establishment.
You can supply certified photocopies and French translations of
your diplomas, grades and study
programmes so that the Equivalence and Validity Commission
(“Commission d’équivalence et
de validation”) can study your
application.
General studies (such as econo-
The following diplomas are
awarded for general university studies:
• Licence I
• Licence II
After two years of study
• “Licence” (Bachelor's) III
One further year
• “Maitrise” (Master's) I
• Master II
Two further years
• “Doctorat” (Doctor's)
Three further years
Professional
studies
Studies that focus on professions are provided by “Ecoles
d'Enseignement Supérieur”,
which can be either State-run or
private.
Typical qualifications are:
• B.T.S. “Brevet de Technicien
Supérieur”: courses provided
by public or private “Ecoles
d'Enseignement Supérieur”.
• D.U.T. “Diplôme Universitaire
de Technologie”: Course provided by an "I. U. T." “Institut
Universitaire de Technologie”
(polytechnic): a college associated with a university.
47
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
The “Grandes
Ecoles”
“Grandes Ecoles” are colleges
that usually demand a preliminary
year of study or an entry examination before students are accepted. Therefore they are very well
regarded in France. Either for
Business – called “Grandes
Ecoles de Commerce” (“E.S.C.” =
“Ecole supérieure de Commerce”)
or Engineers – called “Grandes
Ecoles d’Ingénieurs” (“E.S.I.” =
“Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs”).
Advice On Higher
Education
For further information on
opportunities in higher education, contact one of the following (their details are
provided in the Addendum):
• O.N.I.S.E.P. – Produces a
range of general and thematic
brochures and supervises a
network of C.I.O.s (“Centre
d’Information et d’Orientation”)
• C.I.D.J., “Centre d’Information
et de Documentation Jeunesse”,
• The “Ministère de l’Education
Nationale”.
6 I International
schools
Bilingual Schools
If you wish your child to be well
immersed in the French language
whilst still retaining their English,
then a bilingual (French/English)
school may be the answer.
These schools follow the French
curriculum, but teaching is in
both French and English, in
roughly equal proportions.
Usually the schools cater for
all ages and may include a preschool nursery (“maternelle”).
See under “Enseignement privé”
in the Yellow Pages.
• The “Ecole Primaire des Sartoux” is a primary school with
an international section offering
bilingual teaching. See Addendum for details,
• The international section of the
“C.I.V” (“Centre International de
Valbonne”), based in the
Sophia-Antipolis science park,
offers a bilingual French/English
48
curriculum leading to the International Baccalauréat (with
sections English-American,
Dutch, Spanish, Italian). It
accepts children from 11 to 19
years and offers a French environment to English-speaking
students without totally immersing them in the French academic system.
• A bus service operates from
Nice and certain other towns.
The school also has a boarding
option and excellent sports facilities.
• Further details concerning the
“C.I.V”, can be found in the
Addendum.
• The University of Nice offers
language tuition and courses in
French literature and culture.
Regular university courses are
also open to those who are fully
competent in French, although
they may be required to sit an
entrance examination.
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I DISTANCE LEARNING
International
schools offering
a Non-French
Syllabus
Three international schools in the
region offer a foreign (non French)
syllabus.
I.S.N.: International
School of Nice
The I.S.N.(“International School
of Nice”) provides English-language education for children
aged from 4 to 18, based principally on the American curriculum.
For older pupils tuition leading to
the International General Certificate of Secondary Education
(I.G.C.S.E) and the International
Baccalauréat is also available.
The school is accredited by the
relevant educational bodies in the
United States and the United
Kingdom.
Lessons are in English but there
are daily compulsory lessons in
French. Various sporting and cultural activities are also provided.
There is a bus service for pupils
living in various towns on the
Riviera. The school also has a primary and a secondary section in
Monaco, with the same curriculum as in Nice.
Mougins School
The Mougins School is a private
day school for children from 3 to
18 years and follows the UK
National Curriculum leading to
G.C.S.E./I.G.C.S.E. and “A-level”
examinations. Tuition is in
English, but French is taught as
a regular subject: English is also
taught as a second language
where required. Most of the students speak two or more languages and originate from many
different parts of the world. In
addition to the academic classes,
the school offers a range of extra
curricular and sporting facilities.
EBICA
The EBICA school offers both an
international and French curriculum for children from 3 to 9 years
old. Classes are taught in small
groups from 8 to a maximum of
17 students per group. As part of
the curriculum, the EBICA school
also offers community service
projects.
Language Schools
And Private Tuition
There is no shortage of language
schools in this region, some offering full-time, intensive courses
lasting several weeks, others just
a few hours each week.
For some people, a private tutor
may be more convenient. You will
need to choose an arrangement
that suits your circumstances
and your budget.
Quality varies so ask around
especially among your colleagues.
Your company may be able to
suggest language schools and
private tutors. The “A.V.F.”
(“Accueil des Villes Françaises”)
also offers basics language
courses (“séances de conversation”) and can recommend
tutors.
For more contacts See in the
Addendum or look under “Enseignement : Langues” in the yellow
Pages for other possibilities.
7 I Distance
learning
If you are unable to study in a
teaching establishment you may
consider distance learning. The
“C.N.E.D.” (“Centre National
d’Enseignement à Distance”), an
organisation devoted to this
method of education for the
general public, may be able to
guide you.
There are also private organisations – see the Yellow Pages
under “Enseignement par correspondance et télé-enseignement”.
49
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE I EXAMINATIONS
8 I Examinations
If you are studying with an educational body or establishment they
will normally assist you in registering for examinations. However, if
you are studying by yourself, you can register for a national exam as
a “candidat libre”. To do so, you will need to contact the “Inspection
Académique”.
9 I Financial
assistance
Depending on your circumstances
and revenue, you may be eligible
for financial help in connection with
your (or your family’s) studies in the
State education system.
For children between 6 and 18
years :
• “Allocation de rentrée scolaire”
(ARS) (Help with back-toschool expenses),
50
• “Aide à la scolarité au collège”
(Help with middle-school tuition
fees).
Contact your “Caisse d’Allocations familiales” for more information. Scholarships (“Bourses
scolaires”) may be available for
children at “Lycée” or the “Inspection Académique”
• You may also qualify for a
higher education scholarship
(“Bourses de l’enseignement
supérieur”). Contact the
“Service des Bourses” at the
university in question.
Details of other forms of financial
assistance may be obtained from
“C.R.O.U.S”.
HEALTH
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
- Medical practitioners
- Hospital services
- Chemist shops ("pharmacies")
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- What to do in an emergency
- Social coverage
- How to get reimbursed
- Sickness and work
52
53
53
54
55
55
59
59
51
HEALTH I MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
1 I Medical
practitioners
The French medical
system is linked to the
Social Security services
(la “Sécurité Sociale”)
which deals with the
reimbursement of
medical expenses.
In this chapter you'll
find essential
information about how
the French medical
system operates.
France offers a wide variety
of medical professionals.
General
Practitioners
• Practitioners in general medicine,
• Acupuncturists,
• Homeopathic practitioners,
• Paediatricians.
In general these doctors are
authorised to prescribe drugs.
You need to register with a particular doctor if you want to be fully
reimbursed by the “Sécurité
Sociale”. However, you are free
to change to move from one
doctor to another as you wish.
Your doctor can refer you to see
a specialist (except an optometrist, dentist and gynaecologist
which do not require a referral). If
you see a specialist without a
referral, you will pay a supplementary fee.
Specialists
You may consult these doctors directly, without going via
a general practitioner:
• Psychiatrists,
• Gynaecologists,
• Dermatologists,
• Optometrists.
52
Paramedical
Professions
These professionals are not
doctors. However, their fees are
reimbursed by Social Security.
You may make appointments
with them directly (but you
won’t be fully reimbursed):
• Dentists, dental surgeons,
• Chiropractors,
• Midwives (“sages-femmes”).
The following services are
reimbursed, when prescribed
by a doctor:
• X-rays, ultrasound scans, MRI,
scanner,
• Pathology laboratories (blood
and urine tests, etc.),
• Physiotherapists, speech therapists (“orthophonistes”),
• Nurses.
Other Professions
Whether or not they are formally recognised, services provided by the following are not
reimbursed by Social Security:
• Osteopaths, chiropractors,
• Psychologists, psychoanalysts
For details on how to contact
the various practitioners, look in
the Yellow Pages under “Médecins”. The “A.\/.F.” (“Accueil des
Villes Françaises”) can help you
to find a doctor who speaks
your language.
(See guide and Addendum –
“Miscellaneous Contacts”
chapter.).
HEALTH I HOSPITAL SERVICES
2 I Hospital
services
There are three types of
medical institutions: hospitals, clinics and hospices.
Hospital
A State-run institution offering a
wide range of medical services.
All treatment is reimbursed by
Social Security.
Clinic
A private institution offering specialist services. Here, treatment is
only partly reimbursed.
Hospice
A State-run institution for the
chronically and terminally ill. All
treatment is reimbursed by the
Social Security. If you have to go
into a hospital or a clinic for an
overnight stay or longer, you
need to take your own nightwear,
toiletries, toothpaste, shampoo,
etc.
Ambulances
The ambulance service is operated by private companies and is
solely a means of transport for
sick people between hospitals or
between home and hospital.
The vehicles carry only basic
medical equipment (they should
not be confused with emergency ambulances, which are
more extensively equipped) –
see section 5.
3 I Chemist’ shop
(“pharmacies”)
Dispensaries
Pharmacists (Chemists) are health
professionals and are at your disposal for minor health problems
that do not require a visit to the
doctor.
They are also responsible for
checking the prescriptions issued
by doctors, to ensure that there
are no undesirable interactions
between medicines.
Pharmacy opening hours are the
same as shops in general: 9a.m.
to midday and 2p.m. to 7p.m.
Outside these hours, duty chemists (“pharmacies de garde”)
are available (see section 5).
To qualify as reimbursable, items
in the above two categories must
be prescribed by a doctor.
Medicines
• Cosmetic and other products
(shampoos, creams, etc.).
Pharmacies deliver three
types of medicine:
• Medicines supplied on prescription only – these are generally reimbursed by the Social
Security,
• Freely available medicines, some
of which may be reimbursable
(aspirin, cough medicines,
homeopathic treatments, etc.).
Recently, “generic” drugs have
been introduced as possible
replacements for brand products. Your doctor may prescribe
these.
Vaccinations are prescribed and
administered by a doctor, but you
buy them yourself at a chemist's.
53
HEALTH I PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
4 I Pregnancy
and childbirth
Pregnancy tests are sold over the counter in chemists.
If the test proves positive, consult your gynaecologist who
will arrange a blood test for confirmation.
Childbirth
Professionals
Your gynaecologist will look after
you throughout your pregnancy.
For the birth, you have the choice
of a public hospital or a private
clinic. In either case, you will be
attended by a midwife (“sagefemme”) and an obstetrician,
who may be your gynaecologist if
he or she is qualified in obstetrics.
If you opt for a public hospital, a
hospital midwife will give antenatal courses, and your labour and
delivery will be managed by a
midwife. An obstetrician will be
on-hand to assist in case of complications.
At a private maternity clinic your
own obstetrician will be at the
delivery, assisted by a midwife.
For antenatal courses you need
to contact a midwife, either from
the clinic or an independent midwife, see the Yellow Pages, under
“Sages-femmes”.
Note: Midwives are medical
professionals who have obtained
a midwifery diploma and have
acquired appropriate hospital
experience.
Formalities
When your pregnancy is first confirmed, the doctor will give you a
“Future Maman” or “Vous êtes enceinte” form, which you need to fill
in and send to your Social Security office.
Within a few weeks you will receive a booklet called a “Carnet de
Maternité”, which contains information and claim forms. All costs are fully
reim-bursed, including the costs of your regular 'compulsory' check-ups.
In general, the antenatal rest period is six weeks and post-natal
convalescence is ten weeks.
These periods are extended if you are expecting twins or triplets, or
if you already have two or more children. During this period, your
salary is paid by Social Security. You may be entitled to receive “allocations familiales” (a monthly family allowance payment) starting from
your first month of pregnancy until your baby is 3 months old.
Subsequent payments will be made after check-ups at regular
intervals until your child is 2 years old. The amount you receive
depends on your income.
“Allocations familiales” continue beyond the baby's third month for
families with two or more children (see the chapter “Starting out in
France” for more information).
You should check with the embassy of your home country regarding
residency & citizenship status, immunisations, and any other
formalities concerning your new baby.
54
HEALTH I WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
5 I What to do in
an emergency
Depending on the nature and
seriousness of the emergency, there are several possibilities:
• Go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital
(strains, sprains, cuts and injuries),
• Call the fire service (“pompiers”) for serious accidents,
injuries and other major problems. They will deal with
emergencies very rapidly and
they are trained in first aid. Their
vehicles are well-equipped for
emergencies.
The emergency telephone
number is 15.
• Call a duty doctor (“médecin de
garde”) if outside normal
consulting hours (for cases of
influenza, fever, etc). Call your
local police station (“commissariat de police”) for this number.
The emergency telephone
number is 18.
• Call the Emergency Medical
Aid Service (“S.A.M.U.” Service
d’Aide Médicale d’Urgence”).
The S.A.M.U.” provide medical
assistance in emergencies.
They can provide advice over
the phone, can send a medical
team to the site if the matter is
serious and can direct you to
the various other medical services that are available. They
are usually not as fast as the
“pompiers” in getting to the
scene of an accident.
Contact the duty chemist
(“pharmacie de garde”). Some
chemists remain open outside
normal opening hours as well
as on Sundays and public holidays to deal with prescriptions
issued by duty doctors.
Call your local police station
(“Commissariat de police”) for
this number.
Details of duty doctors and duty
chemists can also be found in
the “Nice-Matin” daily newspaper, under the heading “Infos
Pratiques”.
Your local “Commissariat de
Police” can also advise you.
The European emergency
telephone number is 112
You can call this number from a
telephone or a mobile phone
(even blocked, or without credit
and SIM card).
55
HEALTH I SOCIAL COVERAGE
6 I Social coverage
Social Security
La “Sécurité Sociale”
France has one of the most efficient systems of social coverage
in the world. Every salaried worker, of French nationality or a
foreigner, has the right to benefit
from Social Security in order to
cover health costs incurred in
case of accident or illness. These
benefits are mainly financed by
employers and a contribution
deducted from employees' salaries.
If you are a salaried worker, you
pay these contributions automatically. When you become affiliated, you receive a number and a
“carte d'assuré social” (Social
Security card) which will enable
you to be reimbursed for any
health costs incurred by you and
your dependents (providing they
do not contribute themselves,
which is the case, for example, of
trainees at the C.I.E.S.). Your
dependents are your spouse or
your partner and your children in
your care who are under 16 (or
under 20 if they are studying).
It is important to note that only
salaried workers are affiliated to
the Social Security system. If you
are a grant holder or if you benefit from an allowance, you are not
considered as a salaried worker
in France and you need to draw
up a personal insurance policy
(“assurance personnelle”) or be
insured in your country of origin.
Benefits from the “Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie
(C.P.A.M.)” – Local sickness insurance fund. Providing you have
worked at least 60 hours during
the last month or 120 hours over
the last 3 months (“délai de
56
carence”, qualifying period),
French Social Security reimburses its affiliates' and their
dependents' medical expenses
at various, legally determined
rates. Costs covered include
medical and dental expenses
(consultations and visits to GPs
and specialists, tests, X-rays,
etc.), medicine prescribed by the
doctor, hospitalisation fees (surgery, maternity, etc.). If you come
from a E.U. or E.E.A. country and
have an E111 form, you are
covered immediately. The reimbursement of daily contributions
(50% of gross daily salary) only
starts once you have worked at
least 200 hours during the 3
months before you stopped
work. In the first instance, you
pay the full fees. Then you are
reimbursed in part by the “Caisse
Primaire d'Assurance Maladie
(C.P.A.M.)” in your area. The
balance, called the “ticket modérateur” (own contribution), and
any fees over and above the
recognized ceilings (“dépassement d'honoraires”) may be paid
by your complementary health
insurance (“complémentaire
santé”).
Social Security
deals with
Medical expenses:
• Medical fees (including extra
costs charged by the practitioner for home visits and consultations at night, on Sunday, or
public holidays),
• Medicines, examinations,
• Hospitalisation and surgical
fees,
• Maternity (medical fees and
salary compensation),
• Invalidity,
• Retirement.
HEALTH I SOCIAL COVERAGE
Doctors
The majority of doctors and
dentists sign an agreement with
Social Security, which sets an
upper limit for their consultation
fees – these doctors are
“conventionnés” and are obliged
to apply the set tariffs. Doctors
who have not entered into this
agreement (“non-conventionnés”) are free to set their own
fees (“honoraires libres”), which
may often exceed the scales
defined by Social Security. Only
about 1% of all doctors in France
fall into this category. It's worth
checking before visiting a doctor
that he or she is “conventionnés”.
You will then be sure to obtain a
reimbursement of their fees from
Social Security.
Ophthalmology
Fees and products are generally
well covered – except for glasses
and contact lenses.
Hospitalisation
Social Security covers several of
the costs involved in hospitalisation, including daily charges and
expenses in terms of pharmaceuticals, transfusions, the use of
apparatus, operating theatres,
and delivery rooms. It covers
medical and surgical fees within
certain limits.
Because the Social Security element may not cover all of your
hospitalisation costs, it is important to have the additional cover
provided by complementary
health insurance (“une mutuelle”).
Dental care
Charges for routine treatment
such as fillings and removing
plaque are normally reimbursable. On the other hand, orthodontic treatment (bridges, false
teeth, etc.) is poorly covered,
except for children under 16
years of age.
Coverage includes
• Your husband/wife and your
children
• Others with entitlement
(“ayants-droit”)
Persons (other than your husband/ wife and children) living
under your roof may benefit
from social coverage, subject to
certain conditions, the main
one being that they are truly
and permanently in your care.
The persons concerned are:
your common law spouse, other
family members, and others
without a family relationship.
When you register with Social
Security (see the chapter called
“Starting out in France”), you will
be given a card ("carte d'assure
social") bearing your reference
number. This number is necessary for all administrative procedures related to your health. The
“Tiers-Payant” (Third Party
Payment) system skirts around
paying fees for consultations,
medicine, etc, that will be reimbursed by the Social Security.
The system operates thanks to
certain complementary health
coverage policies (“complémentaires santé”) in establishments and with practitioners
that have signed an agreement
with a health insurance organi-
sation. This system is used
especially in the case of an
occupational accident.
Your Social Security card is a
form of medical insurance, but it
only provides for partial reimbursement calculated according
to a detailed scale: the rate
of reimbursement depends on
the type of treatment received.
The amount that remains at
your expense is called the
"ticket modérateur" (or "own
contribution" - we'll refer to it
again later). The "ticket modérateur" may be covered in part or
in full by your complementary
health insurance policy, if you
choose to subscribe to one.
57
HEALTH I HOW TO GET REIMBURSED
The reimbursement structure
This chart illustrates why you need complementary medical cover:
“Dépassement
d’honoraires”
Excess at your
expense depending on
your specific contract.
Social Security limit
“Ticket modérateur”
at your expense
(+/- 35%)
“Ticket modérateur”
at your expense
(+/- 35%)
Classical
contract
Reimbursed by
the Social Security
(+/- 65%)
Reimbursed by
the Social Security
(+/- 65%)
“Conventionné” doctor
“Non-conventionné”
Doctor’s fees
Complementary
Cover
“Mutuelle”:
Complementary
health insurance
A “mutuelle” covers the “own
contribution” (“ticket modérateur”) element of health care, or
even all costs, depending on the
nature of the contract you have.
Social Security does not generally reimburse 100% of health
costs. It may be that the outstanding fees are high. In the case
of hospitalisation for example,
80% of fees are reimbursed, but
58
the remaining 20% could still
represent quite a considerable
sum.
There are numerous complementary health insurance policies which guarantee near total
reimbursement of: on the one
hand, outstanding fees (“own
contribution” and fees above the
recommended ceiling – “ticket
modérateur” and “dépassements d'honoraires”), and on
the other hand aspects of health
care that are either poorly reimbursed or not reimbursed at all
by Social Security (vaccinations,
spectacles, dentures etc.). The
cost of the “mutuelle” depends
Reimbursed by the
“mutuelle”
on the cover you require. It may
be a company health insurance
scheme (“mutuelle d'entreprise”)
included as part of your employment package, or it may be a
personal one (see the Yellow
Pages under “Mutuelles”).
HEALTH I SICKNESS & WORK
7 I How to get
reimbursed
When you go to a doctor, dentist,
etc, you pay them directly and in
return you are given a form called a “feuille de soins”. This
states the amount you have paid
for the consultations or treatment.
On the front of the form (“feuille”)
there are boxes to be filled with
your Social Security number,
your name and addresses and
other pertinent details.
If you are given a prescription,
take this, plus the “feuille de
soins” to the chemist’s (“Pharmacie”). The chemist will dispense
your drugs and forward the
paperwork to Social Security.
Note that certain items may not
be reimbursed, and you will have
to pay the chemist for these. If
you are not given a prescription,
send the “feuille de soins” to
Social Security yourself. See your
Social Security card for details of
where to send it.
Social Security processes your
request and liaises with your
complementary health insurance
company using a system called
N.O.E.M.I.E., Social Security
should credit your bank account
with the first part of your reimbursement within 6 days.
The reimbursement from your
complementary insurance company (“mutuelle”) is paid into your
bank account four or five days
later. You will receive a breakdown of payments from Social
Security and your “mutuelle” by
mail a few days later.
Vitale Card
This card is intended to replace
the reimbursement form (“Feuille
de soins”). The health professional in question transmits their
reimbursement details electronically to the sickness insurance
fund that then reimburses the
insured person directly. This will
all happen thanks to two microchip cards that symbolise
change: the “Vitale” card for the
insured party, replacing the former Social Security card paper
and the health professional’s card
(“carte de professionnel de
santé”, C.P.S.”) that serves as an
electronic signature. This system
is gradually being set up throughout France.
8 I Sickness & work
Sick Leave
If your doctor considers that you
are unfit to attend your place of
work he will give you a sick leave
certificate (“arrêt de travail”). This
informs your employer and Social
Security of the situation, and you
have to act quickly (even though
you are sick!). You must send the
first two pages to Social Security
and the third page to your
employer within 48 hours. The
same procedure must be followed
if your doctor decides to extend
your period of sick leave. Note that
you are only permitted to leave
your home between the hours stated on the “arrêt de travail”.
An “arrêt de travail” is normally
required for any absence due to
illness. Check with your manager
if it is required for absences of
one day or less.
Social Security will reimburse you
up to 80% of your salary, excluding the first three days of
absence (your employer may
cover this loss of salary). This
salary compensation is called
“indemnités journalières” and
must be declared on tax forms.
Social Security will send you noti-
fication of the amount they have
paid you for the year in question.
Occupational
Accidents
If you have an accident during
working hours or travelling between your home and place of
work, it is called an “accident de
travail”. All costs (fees, medicines, examinations, etc., as well
as days of sick leave) are completely covered by Social Security, and you have nothing to pay.
The first doctor to treat you will
provide the necessary forms.
59
HEALTH I SICKNESS & WORK
Your personal details
to be filled in by you
Consultation fees
filled in by doctor
60
TRANSPORT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
- Driving, hiring and owning a car
- Buying and selling a car
- Motorbikes, mopeds and scooters
- The highway code
- Bus services
- Taxis
- Travelling by train
- Air travel
- Ferries
62
63
64
65
67
68
69
70
70
61
TRANSPORT I DRIVING, HIRING AND OWNING A CAR
1 I Driving, hiring
and owning a
car
Essential
Documents
You must have the following
documents with you when
driving a car in France:
• Driving licence (it may be useful
to have a translation if your
licence is not in French),
• Registration document (“carte
grise”) for the vehicle,
• Insurance certificate (“carte
verte”) and a green insurance
sticker (“vignette”) on the
windscreen,
• Road tax disk (“vignette”) on
the windscreen, (for company
cars only),
• Road test (“contrôle technique”) certificate and sticker
(“vignette”) on the windscreen
if the car is more than 4 years
old.
Driving Licence
You are allowed to drive with a
driving licence issued in a country situated outside the E.U. for a
period of approximately one year
commencing on the date you
arrived in France. If your country
of origin is a member of the E.U.,
you do not have to exchange
your driving licence for a French
one, but may do so if you wish.
As in a number of other countries, France uses a points system for driving offences. Your
licence starts with a credit of 12
points and offences may result in
a deduction of points, possibly
leading to total disqualification.
You can find out more about the
system, including the scale of
penalties, from the “Préfecture”
or on the “Internet”.
If you don’t have a driving
licence, you can take a course at
a driving school (“école de
conduite”) or (“auto-école”) and
obtain a French licence.
Vehicle Registration
Document
(“Carte Grise”)
The French vehicle registration
document is called a “carte grise”
(grey card). It contains various
details about the vehicle, including its registration number
(“numéro d’immatriculation”) and
the registered owner.
The “carte grise” is obtained from
your car, always take the carte
grise with you. It contains information about your vehicle that
will help the dealer identify the
right parts for your specific make
and model.
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TRANSPORT I BUYING AND SELLING A CAR
Insurance
Certificate
(“Certificat d’assurance”)
French law requires that you have
at least third part cover “assurance au tiers”.
It is usual to use a French insurance company, although it might
be possible to use one from your
home country. In any case, you
must carry a valid insurance certificate in the form of a green card
(“carte verte”) whenever you are
driving, with a corresponding
green
insurance
sticker
(“vignette”) clearly displayed on
the windscreen.
Your insurer should also provide
you with an accident report form
(“un constat”). These forms are
available in various languages , all
with the same layout to facilitate
comprehension, so ask for one in
French and one in your own language. Keep them in your vehicle.
French motor insurers offer a noclaims bonus (the maximum rate
is 50%) and will generally honour
existing counts, although you
may not get the same rate.
Therefore, if you already have
a no-claims bonus, ask your
present insurer for written proof
of this.
Importing Your Car
Into France
Hiring A Car
(“Location de voitures”)
The procedure for hiring a car in
France is similar to most countries. You need to present a valid
driving licence and to name
anyone else who may drive the
vehicle. You usually have a
choice of insurance options.
You will find hire companies in
most towns in the region and
also at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.
For their contact details see
under “Location d’ automobiles”
in the Yellow Pages.
The procedures for importing your
car into France are given in the
“Starting out in France” chapter.
2 I Buying and
selling a car
There are several avenues to explore when buying a car.
Second-hand cars
The classified sections in “NiceMatin”, the “Top Annonces” and
“Paru Vendu” (the free local
papers) have a good selection of
second-hand cars. Specialist car
magazines are available from
news agencies, and “Riviera
Radio” advertises cars for sale for
their listeners.
New cars
If you’re buying a new car, it’s
best to go to a dealer for the
widest choice of makes. You’ll
find addresses in the Yellow
Pages under “Automobilesagents, concessionaires et succursales”.
A good reference point for prices
is the magazine “Argus”, which
lists the value of all types of cars,
new and used.
“Contrôle
Technique” (M.O.T.)
This technical test, equivalent to
the British M.O.T. test, is compulsory for private vehicles and
commercial vehicles under 3.5
tonnes over four years old.
• The test is only valid for 2
years.
If ownership of a vehicle is to be
transferred, the test must have
been carried out within the past
6 months.
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TRANSPORT I MOTORBIKES, MOPEDS & SCOOTERS
Procedure for Used Cars
• When selling a car, the current owner, or vendor, must
obtain a transfer form – “un
certificat de cession” – from
the “Préfecture”, the “commissariat” or the Town Hall.
The owner keeps a copy to
send to the “Prefecture” and
gives another copy to the
purchaser.
• The vendor must then write
on the “carte grise” the date
sold (“vendu le…”) and sign it
before cutting off the upper
right-hand corner.
• The vendor must also provide a “certificat de nongage” (no pledge certificate)
which proves that the vendor is entitled to sell the
vehicle. The vendor obtains
this certificate from his local
“Préfecture”.
• If the car is over four years old,
the owner must supply the purchaser with the vehicle’s
“contrôle technique” certificate
(the equivalent of an English
M.O.T). The certificate proves
that the vehicle is in good
condition and has no hidden
defects.
As the purchaser, you then go to
your local “Prefecture” with the
following documents:
• Proof of residence,
• Proof of identity,
• The “non-gage” certificate,
• The “cession” certificate,
• The “contrôle technique”, certificate,
• The “carte grise” belonging to
the former owner.
You will then be issued a new
“carte grise” in your name.
New cars
When registering a new car, you
will need the same paperwork
as above apart from the “contrôle technique” certificate, and
you will be given a new plate
number by the “Préfecture”.
A garage or a specialist shop
will make the number plate for
you.
Certain car dealers will handle
all the administrative details for
you, but not all.
3 I Motorbikes,
mopeds &
scooters
You can ride a motorbike in
France provided that you have
a licence that corresponds to
the vehicle’s cubic capacity. As
with other vehicles however,
unless you have a licence from
an E.U. member State, you
must exchange your existing
licence for a French one as
soon as you get your full residence card (“carte de séjour”).
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In France, you have to wear a
crash helmet when you ride any
motorbike, moped or scooter.
If you have had a driving licence
for more than two years, it
covers you to drive a motorbike
up to 125 cc. You can take lessons at a driving school to
obtain a motorbike licence from
the age of 18. Scooters and
mopeds up to 80 cc are unre-
gistered vehicles and can be driven without a licence from the
age of 14. However, it is now
obligatory to pass a road safety
exam (“brevet de sécurité routière”). For more information you
should contact the “Préfecture”
or look in the Yellow Pages
under “Auto-écoles”.
TRANSPORT I THE HIGHWAY CODE
4 I The highway
code
The French highway code is called the “Code de la Route”
and is available in bookshops. Get a copy and study it, even
if you don’t need to take a French driving license. You may
decide to find a driving school with an instructor who
speaks your language and take one or two ‘lessons’ to
familiarise yourself with your new environment.
In this region, there is an interesting mix of elderly (slow) drivers,
fast drivers and tourists who don’t
know where they are going – any
of them may stop suddenly or
change direction without warning!
You will also encounter mopeds,
scooters and motorbikes travelling at speed and weaving in between, other vehicles. Don’t be
taken by surprise, this style of driving is very common. So make
good use of your mirrors, particularly when driving in town.
You can also expect to be hooted at, especially if you hold the
traffic up. Stay calm – this sort of
reaction is almost a reflex action
in France!
For more information about traffic
conditions, planning your route
and road safety, see “Internet”.
Priority From
The Right
“Priorité à droite” means priority
from the right in France. Essentially, a driver coming from the
right always has priority unless
the intersection is marked other▶Côte d’Azur, The Blue Chip Coast
wise. Even if you are driving on
what you consider to be the main
road, do not assume you have
right of way at any intersection –
and be prepared for vehicles in
front of you stopping to give way
to emerging traffic.
You will frequently encounter
roundabouts (“rond-point”): here,
vehicles already on the roundabout have priority. Signs bearing
the words “Vous n’avez pas la
priorité” and “Cédez le passage”
mean essentially the same thing
– ‘you do not have right of way’.
Fasten
Your Seat Belt
The wearing of seat belts in front
and back seats is compulsory:
you will be breaking the law if you
don‘t, and can be fined. Young
children must be seated in the
rear of the car, in an approved
child seat. These can be found in
department stores, the larger
supermarkets and in some
shops specialising in items for
children.
Speed Limits
• 110 km/hr on motorways
(“Autoroutes”).
The latter two are reduced to 80
km/hr and 110 km/hr respectively in case of rain, snow or fog.
Other speed limits are indicated
by appropriate signs where applicable.
The start of an urban area is indicated by a sign with a red border,
bearing the name of the town –
the urban speed limit applies
from that point. The end of the
area is a similar sign with a black
diagonal line through the name.
Radar speed checks, unmarked
police cars and cameras are
common: speeding offences
carry heavy fines and may result
in the deduction of points from
your licence.
Winter Driving
In winter, if you are planning to go
to the mountains for skiing and
other winter sports, it is a good
idea to buy snow chains for your
tyres as there may well be snow
and ice on the road. Chains may
be purchased from supermarkets
and car spares shops.
The national speed limits are:
• 50 km/hr in urban areas,
• 90 km/hr outside urban areas,
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TRANSPORT I THE HIGHWAY CODE
Drinking & Driving
Drinking and driving is still a major
cause of accidents in France. The
limit for drinking and driving is now
very strict (the legal limit is 0.5
grammes per litre of blood) and
the punishments are severe –
including the immediate surrender
of your licence. Spot-check breathalyser tests are common and a
test may be carried out routinely if
there has been an accident, especially if there have been injuries or
fatalities.
Motorways
“Autoroutes” in France are toll
roads and are designated by an
“A” number on a blue board.
Thus, the French Riviera is served by the A8 “Autoroute” which
links with “Autoroutes” serving
central France, Spain and Italy.
Signs giving directions to “Autoroutes” are dark blue with white
lettering. You may also see the
word “péage” (toll).
The amount of toll is determined
by the distance travelled. On
some sections of “Autoroute” you
pay on entry, on others you simply collect a ticket at the beginning of the section and pay at the
end. On long stretches of “Autoroute” you may travel through
several sections and thus pay
several times. The word “péage”
is also used to denote the toll
booth: in most cases, several
lanes (for cars only) are equipped
with automatic coin collecting
equipment – look for the sign
“Avec pieces de monnaie”. The
other lanes are manned and have
the sign “Tous usagers” (all users).
Toll booths give change and
accept all euro coins (except 1, 2
and 5 cents). Most also accept
credit cards and international travellers’ cards, except for very
small amounts.
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Facilities For Regular Users
If you are a regular user of the “Autoroute”, it may simplify your
journeys to subscribe for a “télébadge” from the “Société de
l’Autoroute Esterel-Cote d’Azur” (“ESCOTA”). This is an electronic
device which you fix to your windscreen, and which triggers the
barriers as you approach them.
Special lanes are reserved for “Télépéage” subscribers at major toll
points and will considerably speed up the toll-crossing process for
you. Subscribers receive a small discount on tolls.
For more details contact “ESCOTA” or see “Internet”.
Parking
The French Riviera towns tend to
be very crowded and you will
often find it easier and quicker to
use a public car-park than to
search for a parking space on the
street. In most car-parks you
receive a ticket when you enter.
Keep it with you – don’t leave it
in the car – and pay when you
return to the car-park, before collecting your car.
Even if you choose to park in the
street, there is a chance you will
have to pay. Parking spaces will
often be marked “payant” and
ticket dispensers (“horodateurs”)
will be found nearby. However,
check the information on the dispenser before paying: at certain
times and on certain days parking is free.
Watch out for painted kerb
stones! Generally speaking they
mean ‘Don’t stop here!’ Broken
yellow lines means ‘No Parking’;
a solid yellow line means ‘No
Parking and No Stopping’.
Parking fines
If you get a parking fine, buy a “timbre amende” for the appropriate
sum from a “tabac”, stick it onto
the parking ticket and send it to the
address given on the ticket. Failure
to do this within the specified time-
limit will incur substantial extra
charges. If you have the misfortune
to have your car towed away it will
be taken to a car pound (“fourrière”), which may often be a considerable distance from where you
left it. You will have to pay a fee to
recover the car (and you will still
have to pay the fine on the ticket!).
Accidents
In the event of an accident, both
parties should complete the
same declaration (“constat”).
They should both sign it and
send copies to their respective
insurers. If necessary, use a
“Constat” in your own language
as a guide, and make sure you
understand exactly what has
been written by the other party. If
you are in doubt, don’t sign it, or
better still add your own observations in your own language.
The emergency service (“pompiers”) must be called to the
scene of an accident if there are
injuries. In the case of minor
damage, such as broken lights,
the guilty party may offer to pay
the cost of repair on the spot in
cash, in order to avoid losing
his/her no-claims bonus. Before
accepting such an offer, make
sure that there is no hidden
damage to your vehicle!
TRANSPORT I BUS SERVICES
Theft
Never leave anything in your car
and always lock the doors and
boot (trunk). If you have to leave
objects in the boot of the car, try
to ensure that no one sees you
putting them there. Car radios /
CD players are attractive to
thieves, so if possible install
removable ones (and take them
with you). Certain cars are more
likely to be stolen than others,
particularly those without an
automatic disabling device, and
sporty or luxury ones. To minimise the risks, park wisely, and in
well-lit populated areas.
Compensation from
your insurance
company
No trace of forced entry. If,
once your stolen vehicle is found,
it exhibits no signs of forced entry
(anti-theft device intact, locks not
forced, etc.).
Your insurance company may
very well refuse to compensate
you as it considers that there is
no proof of theft.
The same applies if the vehicle has not been moved.
You must supply maximum
amount of proof (witness
accounts, expert reports).
As a last resort, if no agreement
can be reached, only a court can
settle the matter.
For all information, contact:
• Your insurance company,
• The Insurance Documentation
and Information Centre (“Centre de documentation et d’information de l’assurance”).
Breakdowns
It is wise to keep the phone
number of your garage or
breakdown service in your car
in case you have a breakdown.
Also check with your insurer:
many French car insurance
policies include breakdown
cover. Try not to break down
on an “Autoroute”: recovery
charges are high! If you do
need assistance, there are free
telephones at regular intervals.
5 I Bus services
céparou06.fr: For informations about public transport
Regular Services
Inter-City-Buses
In most of the Côte d’Azur towns
there is a regular local bus service. Timetables are available at
bus termini and in Tourist Information Offices. If you are a regular user of those services, you
may be eligible for special reductions season tickets, student
fares, elderly persons’ fares,
etc.), so ask for details. Contact
details for the various bus companies are given in the Addendum.
In addition to the local services,
there is also a network of intercity
buses serving the major towns of
the Côte d’Azur. These include
connections between Nice and
Cannes, Menton, Vence, Grasse,
Eze and Beausoleil.
The Cannes-Nice route also
serves Nice-Cote d’ Azur Airport:
some are direct links via the
“Autoroute”, others take the
coast road (RN7) and stop at
Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins and
Golfe-Juan.
Details are available from Tourist
Information Offices and the Yellow Pages under “Transports
urbains et régionaux de voyageurs.”
Ski Resorts
During the ski season, several
companies operate services to
ski resorts in the Southern Alps.
Tourist Information Offices can
give you the relevant details.
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TRANSPORT I TAXIS
6 I Taxis/carpooling
ottoetco.org:
Facilitate carpooling
on the Riviera
Taxis are plentiful on the Côte
d’Azur, but tend to be very
expensive. Taxi ranks abound in
towns and cities, but you can
also book a taxi by phone. The
cost of the journey is indicated by
the taximeter: bear in mind that
there may be supplements, such
as for baggage, animals, a fifth
passenger and for night journeys.
Tariffs between the airport and
local towns are fixed, so the
meters may be switched off for
such trips.
Numbers for local taxi operators
(Tel: 04 93 13 78 78) can be
found in the Yellow Pages under
“Taxis”.
Taxi coupons are available
from Nice Côte d’Azur
Airport. They are valid for one
taxi journey under the following conditions:
• 4 passengers only (including
babies),
• A maximum of 4 pieces of
luggage,
• 1 drop-off point only.
The coupons can be purchased
in advance from the transport
offices in each Terminal, and are
handed to the taxi driver. They
guarantee the price of the taxi
ride, however long it takes.
To purchase coupons, or for
further information:
Tel: (33)04 93 21 30 83
Coupons are on sale in the transport offices situated in the coach
station at Terminal 1 and outside
Terminal 2.
Approximate taxi fares from
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to:
Destinations
Antibes
Cannes
Grasse
Menton
Monaco
Mougins
San Remo (Italy)
Sophia Antipolis
St-Tropez
The centre of Nice
Ventimiglia (Italy)
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Distance from
the airport
15 km
31 km
38 km
39 km
37 km
32 km
65 km
23 km
100 km
7 km
55 km
Approximate Fares
In Euros*
50 €
70 €
75 €
85 €
70 €
60 €
150 €
50 €
250 €
25 €
130 €
TRANSPORT I TRAVELLING BY TRAIN
7 I Travelling
by train
Rail services in France are operated by the “S.N.C.F” (“Société
National des Chemins de Fer
Français”). On the French Riviera
there are frequent local and intercity trains between Cannes,
Antibes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Nice,
Villefranche, Monte Carlo,
Menton and Ventimiglia (Italy) .
Intercity services also operate to
various other parts of France.
The region is connected to Paris
via Marseille, by the high speed
“T.G.V.” (“Train à Grande
Vitesse”).
Various types of accommodation
are available for long journeys,
especially overnight journeys: a
seat, a “couchette” (bunk bed) in
compartment, with blanket provided or a sleeping car (more comfortable but also more expensive).
Tickets and information
The main “S.N.C.F” stations (“gares”) in the region have information desks that provide timetables, season tickets (“abonnements”) and reduced fares for families, groups and young people.
Staff at these desks generally speaks English.
Train schedules change from time to time, especially between
the summer and winter seasons, so keep an eye out for new
timetables.
There are electronic display boards at the head of each platform,
giving information about the next train due. As well as the traditional ticket windows (“guichets”) there are automatic ticket
machines at most stations: you can pay by cash or with a VISA
credit card.
In France, you punch (“composter”) your ticket prior to boarding
your train, using one of the machines (“composteur”) at the platform entrance: simply slide your ticket into the slot. Failing to
punch your ticket at all – can result in an on-the-spot fine (even if
you honestly didn’t have time to buy a ticket and even if you offer
to pay).
Train information and reservations are available at stations by
phone and on the Internet.
69
TRANSPORT I AIR TRAVEL
8 I Air travel
Airport
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is
France’s second busiest airport
after Paris. International flights
depart from Terminal 1, with most
Air France and domestic flights
leaving from Terminal 2.
The Nice-Paris route is the
busiest in Europe (carrying both
tourist and business traffic) and
there are hourly flights to Paris.
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is easy
to reach, just 7km from the centre
of Nice, with its own “Autoroute”
exit. There are shuttle buses and
taxis connecting it to Nice and
other main towns. There are
several car-parks (short and longterm), including guarded garage
parking, at both terminals.
There is also a small airport at
Cannes-Mandelieu, which is
mostly used for private flying and
for freight.
Helicopters
Regular services operate between Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and
Monaco, Cannes and St-Tropez. Charter flights are also available
from Terminal 1 & 2.
Nice-Monaco (twice an hour or more): 7 mn
Nice-Cannes (several flights per day): 10 mn
Nice-Sophia Antipolis: personal request. Ask at the information desk.
For the helicopter companies, see the Yellow Pages under
“Transports aériens” and in the Addendum.
9 I Ferries
There are regular ferry services
from Nice to Corsica. Several
companies operate this route
plus services to other destinations such as Italy, Sicily and
Sardinia.
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Crossing time to Corsica is 5 to
10 hours on a traditional ferry
(depending on whether it is a day
or night crossing) and 4 hours on
the high speed “N.G.V.” (“Navires
à Grande Vitesse”)
For more details contact the Nice
Tourist Information Office, your travel agent, or see the Yellow Pages
under “Transports Maritimes”.
FRENCH
LIFESTYLE
1
2
3
4
5
- Politeness
- Personal relations
- Tipping
- Festivals and traditions
- Gastronomy
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75
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FRENCH LIFESTYLE I POLITENESS
1 I Politeness
One of the delights
of coming to another
country is the
opportunity to
observe and
participate in
unfamiliar traditions.
France has its own
traditions and
customs – some of
them may be quite
different to what you
have been used to.
Politeness is important to French people – as children are
taught at an early age – and it is helpful to learn the forms
of address and accepted codes of behaviour so that you
don't appear either too familiar or too distant.
In Public Places
When you enter a shop, an office or any place where you are
likely to have individual contact
with one of the people there, you
should say "Bonjour" without
addressing anyone in particular
(called in French “cantonade”).
So you would say, for example,
“Bonjour” or similarly, on leaving
you should say “Au revoir” or “Au
revoir Messieurs-dames”.
There's no need to say anything
when you enter a neutral place
such as a train or supermarket
though!
Meetings
& Greetings
When you are introduced to
someone, or if you introduce
yourself, it's customary to offer a
handshake. This gesture is used
each time you say “Bonjour” or
"Au revoir" to the person. Once
you know the person, it is usual
to greet them with a kiss on each
cheek (known as “bisous” or “la
bise”). People from other regions
of France may offer three or even
four kisses.
2 I Personal
relations
In France, the code of conduct
concerning relations between
adults is quite formal. The first
contact is made by a handshake
and the verbal address is “Vous”
(formal “You” – the use of this
form address is known as “vouvoyer”).
If the relationship subsequently
becomes more informal or
friendly, the form of address
becomes “tu” and “toi” (informal,
personal ‘You’ – tutoyer).
72
“Vous” & “Tu”
The use of “vous” is a sign of respect and of ‘distance’, “tu” is, by
contrast, a sign of friendship and closeness (it is also a gesture of
disrespect from or to someone such as a stranger).
If a person with whom you are dealing starts to use “tu/toi” towards
you, feel free to use it toward her/him also. If you would like to use
“tu/toi” towards someone, suggest it – out of politeness she/he will
probably accept.
An exception here is the case of children and teenagers, whom you
may address as “tu/toi” from the outset.
FRENCH LIFESTYLE I TIPPING
3 I Tipping
“Le Pourboire”
The French word for ‘tip’ is “le
pourboire”. Tips are quite common in France, given to those
who have been of service to you.
You are under no obligation to tip
(the recipients receive a salary
anyway) but give one if you are
pleased with the service and if
you expect to return to the establishment.
The principal places and services for tipping:
• Restaurants and bars,
• Hotel service,
• Home deliveries,
• Taxis,
• Hairdressers,
• Cinemas and theatres (only if
an usher or usherette shows
you to your seat),
• Public toilets. The attendant
who supervises the toilets
generally receives no salary
and is only paid in tips.
“Les Etrennes”
It is usual to give a Christmas tip
or Christmas box (“les étrennes”)
to those who have been of service to you throughout the year,
such as the “concierge”.
At Christmas time, the postman
(“facteur-factrice”) firemen (“pompiers”) and refuse collectors (“éboueurs”) will come to your door
offering calendars and asking for
donations. It is normal to give them
a tip at Christmas and you are free
to give whatever you wish.
4 I Festivals
& traditions
Feast Days &
Traditions
Numerous religious and historical
festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Some are public
holidays (“jours fériés”); therefore
non-working days, and others
are simply traditions. There is inevitably some form of gastronomic
content in each celebration.
Traditions
“Bonne fête!
Bon anniversaire!”
Each day of the year is associated with a particular saint (listed,
for example, on the calendar your
postman left you at Christmas!). It
is customary to wish a “Bonne
Fête” to anyone with the saint’s
Christian. Generally a verbal
greeting suffices, but children
often receive a greetings card
and perhaps a present. The
practice of celebrating birthdays
with a card and present is a
tradition in France. “Bon Anniversaire” means “Happy Birthday”.
Greetings
It is customary to exchange New
Year greetings. This is either
done by telephone or by sending
a card any time during the month
of January. Christmas cards are
not generally sent.
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FRENCH LIFESTYLE I FESTIVALS & TRADITIONS
Festivals & Traditions
January
6. “Epiphanie” or la “Fête des
Rois” is a religious festival, the
'Feast of the Three Kings'. Special
cakes called “galettes” are sold in
bakeries and contain a small surprise called a “fève”. The person
who finds it is crowned King or
Queen for the day with a paper
crown that comes with the cake.
February
2. “CHANDELEUR” – 'Candlemas'
or 'Lady Day' is a traditional festival
with religious origins. The tradition is
to eat pancakes (“crèpes”) on this day.
14. “SAINT-VALENTIN” – the day
for lovers: for exchanging presents
and/or a romantic evening in a restaurant.
“MARDI GRAS” is a religious festival, the last Tuesday before the
start of Lent 'Shrove Tuesday'. It
is celebrated with fancy dress
parades, carnivals, and the consumption of doughnuts (“bugnes”). The
world-famous “Carnaval de Nice”
takes place around this time.
April
1. “POISSON D'AVRIL” – April
Fool. A day of fun during which
people play tricks on their friends
and children try to stick paper fish
on the backs of passers-by.
March/April
“DIMANCHE DE PAQUES” –'Easter Sunday', a religious festival of
Judeo-Christian origin. Tradition dictates that families gather for a lunch
of lamb, and (March/April) chocolates
are given as presents. Adults arrange
a chocolate egg hunt in the garden
for the children. The following day
“Lundi de Paques”, Easter Monday,
is a public holiday. Note that 'Good
Friday' is not observed in France.
May
1. Fête du Travail" –'Labour Day',
a historical festival commemorating
the 1936 “Front Populaire” socialist
government, symbolised by bunches
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of Lily of the Valley ("muguet") bought
from street vendors and given to
friends and relations. A public holiday.
8. “VICTOIRE 1945”. A historical
festival and public holiday commemorating the end of the Second
World War.
“JEUDI DE L'ASCENSION”
(3rd Thursday in May).
A religious festival celebrating the
ascension of Christ. Public holiday
May/June
“La fête des Mères” – Mothers’
Day is usually celebrated on the last
Sunday in May (a different date from
many other countries).
Two other festivals of this type
to note, more commercial than
traditional:
“La Fête des Pères” – “Fathers’
Day” takes place on the 3rd Sunday
in June (again, different from some
other countries).
“La Fête des Grand-Mères”,
Grandmother’s Day on a Sunday in
early March.
“Dimanche de Pentecôte” – “Pentecost or Whit Sunday”, (end of May
or beginning of June) a religious festival, ten days after “Ascension”,
commemorating the passing of
Christ Holy Spirit to his apostles.
The following day (“Lundi de Pentecôte”) is a public holiday.
June
21. “Fête de la Musique”
A recent music festival (1982) instigated by the Ministry of Culture to
celebrate the start of summer. In the
evening, streets are alive with professional and amateur concerts
which go on well into the night.
July
14. “Fête Nationale”
A historical celebration commemorating the seizing of the Bastille by the
people during the French Revolution
in 1789. The day sees military
parades, concerts, street parties and
fireworks. There is a particularly spectacular (and very crowded) firework
display on the sea front in Cannes,
Nice and Antibes. Public holiday.
August
15. “Assomption” a religious festival and a public holiday. The
“Assumption of the Virgin Mary”.
November
1. “Toussaint” – ‘All Saints Day”.
Public holiday. Traditionally, families
visit family graves and lay chrysanthemums.
11. “Armistice 1918” – “Armistice
Day” a historical celebration commemorating the end of the First
World War, more generally considered as a commemoration of all of
the wars in which France has participated, and a public holiday.
December
25. “Noël”, “Christmas Day”. A public holiday: the Christmas meal is
traditionally taken on Christmas Eve
(“Le Réveillon de Noël”). Families
gather around a very rich meal
(Oysters, “Foie Gras”, etc.); for
some, this is followed by Midnight
Mass in Church. Children place
their splippers under the Christmas
tree and the next morning find presents left by “le Père Noël”.
Adults exchange presents whilst the
children sleep. Celebrations continue
over lunch on “Christmas Day”.
January
1. “Jour de l’An” – “New Year’s Day”.
A Public holiday. The “Réveillon de la
Saint Sylvestre” (New Year’s Eve) is
celebrated with family and friends, either at home or in a restaurant with
hugs and kisses as the clock chimes
twelve. The 1st of January is a day of
rest (!); the first occasion of the ‘New
Year’ for another feast…
Monaco has several additional
festivals/bank holidays:
• Jour de la Sainte Dévote (January)
• Jour de la Fête Dieu (Thursday in June)
• Sovereign Prince of Monaco
(November)
• Immaculate Conception (December)
FRENCH LIFESTYLE I GASTRONOMY
5 I Gastronomy
Enjoying good food is one of the great French traditions! Eating goes hand in hand with
just about every event imaginable and features prominently even in the daily routine.
French adults tend not to eat between meals (snacks are known as “en-cas”). Children
often eat a “gouter” (four o'clock), when they get home from school.
A Traditional Meal
A celebratory meal or a meal in a good restaurant will typically consist of the following:
“Apéritif”
Dessert
The aperitif drink is served with
various nibbles (“amuse-gueules”),
generally peanuts, olives and crackers, but you may also be given
small savouries such as “miniquiches”.
“Gâteaux”, tartes, fruit, icecream, etc.
Starter
(“entrée” or “Hors d’oeuvres”)
A light hot or cold course to start
the meal. This could be raw vegetables (“crudités”), soup, quiche,
smoked ham or sea food.
Main Course
Coffee
Water
Strong and closer to an Italianstyle espresso than ‘American’
coffee, considered weak.
Coffee is served without milk
unless you ask for a “café au lait”
(milky coffee) or a “noisette”
(strong coffee) with a very small
amount of milk).
Mineral water is very popular;
various types and brands (each
claiming particular properties)
cater for different tastes and
needs.
It is perfectly fine to drink tap
water in France, but the French
generally drink mineral water
(“eau minérale”).
Liqueur
Bread
(“digestif” or “pause-café”)
(“Plat Principal”)
A hot meat or fish course.
Salad
Typically a green salad, served
either with or before the cheese.
Cheese
A very strong alcoholic “eau de
vie” or “marc” usually know by its
region of origin (“cognac”, “armagnac”, etc).
Sometimes, especially in the
middle of a very full meal, a “calvados” may be served to help
things along – this is called a
“trou normand”.
(“Fromage”)
Wine
France possesses the greatest
number and the greatest variety
of cheeses in the world.
A cheese platter will often consist
of a sample of each variety: soft,
hard, with herbs, and so on.
France is, of course, the country
of wines. Each colour of wine
(red, white and rosé) accompanies a particular type of food, for
instance red with meat and
cheese, white with fish and rosé
with a light meal. To be sure of
making the right choice, you
could invest in a good book on
wines or consult your local wine
merchant (“caviste”).
Bread is an essential part of any
French meal. It comes in many
forms: “pains”, “baguettes”, and
so on. Bread making is still the
traditional craft of the baker
(“boulanger”). Bread sold in
supermarkets is often the result
of an industrial process and is
rarely as good as the traditional
product.
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FRENCH LIFESTYLE I GASTRONOMY
Provencal Cuisine
(«La Gastronomie provençale »)
As with all parts of France, Provence has its own specialities in the food and drink
line. The principal characteristic of Provencal cooking is its “fragrance” – the use
of distinctive and aromatic flavours derived from plants, herbs, etc. Here are a few
examples of what you can expect to find locally:
“Salade Niçoise”
“Tapenade”
A mixed salad containing tomatoes, lettuce, hardboiled eggs, tuna, anchovies, peppers and olives,
all doused in a vinaigrette dressing.
A purée of black olives and capers spread on
small pieces of toasted bread and served with
“aperitif”.
“Soupe au Pistou”
“Anchoïade”
This is a soup made of tomatoes, beans and
vegetables. Its distinctive flavour comes from
“pistou”, a blend of basil, garlic and olive oil. The
soup is topped with grated parmesan cheese.
A “purée” of anchovies in olive oil, served in the
same way as the “tapenade”.
“Pan Bagnat”
Not forgetting “Secco d’Entrevaut, ratatouille,
farcis niçois, beignets d’aubergine, beignets de
fleurs de courgette, bagna cauda, etc.”
The ingredients of “Salade Niçoise” served in a
large round bun.
“Pissaladiere”
Similar to pizza, but topped with onions, anchovies and black olives.
“Socca”
A pancake made from chick-pea flour and olive
oil. Hot “socca” can often be bought from pizza
stands and other street vendors.
“Tourte de Blettes”
This is a sweet tart made with “blettes” (a green
vegetable). The filling is sweetened with raisins,
currents soaked in rum, sugar and pinenuts, and
(as if that was not enough) its pastry crust is
dusted with icing sugar.
“Daube”
A beef stew flavoured with wine and cooked very
slowly, generally served with “ravioles”, small
ravioli.
Being so close to Italy, the local cuisine is also
influenced by some tastes from over the border:
notably, fresh pastas, pizza, parmesan and
mozzarella.
You will find these specialities, or their ingredients,
in local bakeries and on Provencal markets (see
the chapter on Shopping).
Look out for restaurants offering traditional
Provencal cooking!
Provence deservedly enjoys a good reputation for
its wines. The rosés are particularly renowned, but
the whites and reds can also be very good. Look
out for names like “Côte de Provence”, “Bandol”,
“Bellet” and “Ott”.
There are numerous books on the subject of
French and Provencal cooking, and many of them
are in English.
Use them to develop your appreciation of this
particularly agreeable aspect of living on the Côte
d’Azur!
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SHOPPING &
LEISURE
1 - Categories of shops
2 - Where to shop
3 - Policies
4 - Alternative methods of shopping
5 - Consumer rights
6 - Media
7 - Going out
8 - Sightseeing
9 - Attractions
10 - Leisure sports
11 - Meeting your compatriots
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79
80
81
82
83
85
86
86
87
88
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SHOPPING & LEISURE I CATEGORIES OF SHOPS
1 I Categories of shops
The Côte d'Azur is one of the richest regions in France in terms of leisure activities.
It has a temperate climate and the close proximity to the sea and mountains provides
the perfect setting for all kinds of sports. The region is very rich in history and tradition, so
there's lots of excellent sightseeing.
Food Shops,
Hypermarkets
& Supermarkets
The typical French house hold
will get its weekly shop at the
“Hypermarché” or “supermarché”.
Hypermarkets are immense out
of town superstores where you
can find just about everything
you need in terms of everyday
practical living: essentially food
and household goods, but also
clothes, books, gardening equipment, DIY, electrical goods, etc.
Supermarkets employ the
same low-price principal, but are
smaller and therefore stock
mainly food household goods.
For addresses, look in the Yellow
pages under “Supermarchés et
Hypermarchés” (Mini-Markets
and Grocers).
In town centres, the food stores
are either small branches of the
supermarket chains (“superette”)
or independent grocers.
Specialised Stores
For non-food shopping (clothing,
DIY, household furnishings, etc.)
a good variety of products are
available at specialised stores,
either independent stores (in
town centres) or out of town
superstores, usually chain stores.
78
Superstores offer a wide choice
of products at good prices, but
they’re generally self-service.
Smaller shops are more expensive with less stock; they do,
however, generally provide a
good quality service including
advice and alterations.
the products you require.
Small retail outlets
Local shopping is a taste of real
French life and provides an
opportunity to try out your language sills! You will find your local
shopkeepers a great source of
knowledge on fresh good quality
food.
Markets
Provencal markets
Visiting a “Provencal” market is
an event!
Antibes, Grasse, Cannes and
Nice have permanent markets,
principally selling food and flowers, and most other towns and
villages have at least one market
day (Vence, Sospel, Vallauris,
Cagnes-sur-Mer).
Fruit and vegetables at a market
are not cheaper than in the
supermarkets, but are usually of
superior quality.
The flower market “Marché aux
Fleurs” in the “Cours Saleya” in
Nice is famous for its vast array
of flowers and plants. In addition
you'll find vegetables and fruit,
wild mushrooms, olives, etc. It
takes place every day except
Mondays, when there is an
antique market.
Antiques and
“Bric-à-brac”
You can find high quality antiques
(“antiquités”) at regularly organised markets and fairs. “Bric-àbrac” is available from flea
markets (“marché aux puces” or
“brocante”).
There are several markets selling
both in the region. For a list of
market days, contact the town
hall (“mairie”) or the local Tourist
Information Office (see the chapter on Leisure). You can also look
in the “Nice-Matin” newspaper.
Markets in Italy
Just over the border in Italy there
are two markets worth visiting:
Ventimiglia market on Fridays is
known for its cheap prices for
clothes, fabric, leather goods,
jewellery, watches (beware of
customs officials checking for
counterfeit brands). It is crowded
with tourists who go for the food
in nearby restaurants as well.
While you're there, you might
want to take the time to buy spirits in a local supermarket, which
you'll find much cheaper than in
France.
Slightly further along the coast
(about 25 kilometres from the
French border) is San Remo,
SHOPPING & LEISURE I WHERE TO SHOP
which has a market on Tuesday
and Saturday mornings. You'll
find some good quality clothing
shops in San Remo. It is a good
idea to plan a leisurely lunch in
one of the excellent restaurants
when visiting Italy. French and
English are widely spoken in Vintimiglia and San Remo.
Department Stores
and International
Shops
You'll find these shops in the
main town centres (Nice,
Cannes, Antibes) and in shopping malls. Look in the Yellow
Pages under “Centres commerciaux et grands magasins”.
Books, magazines and newspapers
The Côte d’Azur has a good
selection of English language
bookshops where you can also
buy greeting cards, difficult to
find elsewhere. (See chapter
entitled “Leisure” for details).
Here Is a Glossary of the Most Common Local Shops
• “Boulangerie” (Bakery): most bake their own
bread on the premises, and have a house
speciality which is worth finding out about.
• “Fromager - Crèmerie”: dairy products, including the French speciality – cheese.
• “Primeur” (green grocers): fruit and vegetables.
• “Boucherie” (Butcher): French butchers are very
knowledgeable about their trade. If you buy your
meat here rather than from a supermarket, you'll
get some tips to help you cook it to perfection.
• “Charcuterie - Traiteur”: Cooked meats and
delicatessen.
• “Poissonnerie” (Fishmonger): your “poissonnier” can be very helpful with advice on cooking.
• “Cave” (wine store): your wine merchant
(“caviste”) may let you taste some different wines;
the region produces some excellent wines.
• “Tabac” for cigarettes, newspapers, magazines;
they often double up as a “café” and lottery ticket
outlet.
• “Fleuriste” (Floriste): flowers and plants.
2 I Where to shop
Town Centres
All retail shop (food and specialist) are in town centres, as are
markets. Head for the busiest
areas of town (“avenue Jean
Medecin” in Nice, “Rue d’Antibes” in Cannes) for the department stores.
Shopping Centres /
Malls
Smaller shopping mails are called “galeries marchandes”. Look
in the Yellow Pages under “Centres commerciaux et grands
magasins”.
The two most famous are Cap
3000 in Saint Laurent du Var and
Nice Etoile in the city center of
Nice.
Out of Town
Superstores
(“Zones commerciales”)
These are immense centres
located outside towns, with
plenty of parking space, one or
more hypermarkets, specialized
superstores and fast food restaurants. They are up to ten
times the size of shopping malls,
and even retail shops there are
the size of supermarkets.
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SHOPPING & LEISURE I POLICIES
3 I Policies
Opening times
General retail stores are open
from 9-12 in the morning and
2-7 in the afternoon. Closed Sundays. Many shops will have an
annual closing period out of the
tourist season, so it is worth
checking if they’re open before
making a special journey.
Food stores
They have longer opening hours:
they stay open all day and later in
the evening, are open on Mondays and even Sunday mornings
and public holidays. The exception is May 1st – Labour Day –
where everything is closed, even
bakeries.
Other shops
The larger shops, particularly
those in shopping malls, hypermarkets and department stores
are usually open all day, from
around 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., especially those located in business
areas. They are closed on Sundays – the exception being the
period leading up to Christmas,
when most shops open.
Payment
Payment can be made by cash,
cheque or credit/debit card
depending on the amount. It is
common to pay by “carte bleue”
– a visa card. Not all retailers
accept credit cards, and there is
often a minimum amount. As a
rule, sums less than 15 euros
must be paid cash.
Foreign credit and debit cards
are accepted in most supermarket and hypermarkets; you will be
80
asked for proof of identification
(passport or “carte de séjour”).
You will also need identification
when paying by cheque.
Several stores offer their own
payment card which opens up
certain advantages such as
finance, extra services. You will
also be offered extended credit
terms for large purchases.
Guarantees,
Exchanges
and Refunds
You are protected against defective goods: that is, if you get
home and realize that your new
electrical equipment doesn’t
work, or a garment is faulty, you
can ask for an exchange (you’ll
need your receipt).
This is not possible for some
goods – e.g.; sale items clothes
that have been worn. If a replacement isn’t available, you may
be given a credit not to use in the
store for the value of the returned
product.
A cash refund is less common,
but some shops and hypermarkets have a no quibble cash
refund policy as long as you keep
the receipt. Electrical goods often
carry a one-year guarantee called “S.A.V”, “Service après
vente” (after sales service).
Measurements
and Standards
Clothes
Don't worry if you have to buy the
next size up in clothes and shoes,
sizes tend to be smaller in France
and Italy as manufacturers base
them on national averages. To
convert English and American
sizes into continental European
sizes, see the Appendix.
Electronic goods
• All electrical equipment operates on 220 volts but adapters
are available to convert existing
plugs,
• Temperatures on equipment
such as cookers are indicated
in degrees Celsius. See the
Appendix for a conversion
chart from Fahrenheit,
• In France, the television standard is Secam, although lots of
sets are multi-standard (PAL
and SECAM). The American
NTSC standard is not compatible. However, ask for advice
before purchasing a set if you
want to use it outside France.
Reductions
and Sales
Sales
Sales traditionally take place in
January and July for a maximum
period of six weeks. Sale dates
are determined by “the Préfecture” and are published in “NiceMatin”.
It's the only time in the year when
shops have the right to sell
merchandise at a loss. Shops
announce their sales with a
“Soldes” sign in the window.
It doesn't mean, however, that all
items in the shop are on sale.
Genuine sale articles will have the
original and the sale price marked on the ticket.
Other retail promotions reductions
SHOPPING & LEISURE I ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF SHOPPING
Promotions outside the official
sales period are determined by
the shopkeepers.
The window sign says “Promotions”. Reduced and 'end of line'
goods are marked "braderie". If a
shop is closing down, it will
usually offer reductions and the
sign “Liquidation” is displayed.
Deposits, Downpayments and Credit Notes
(“Arrhes”, “Acomptes”, and “Avoir”)
“Arrhes” and “Acomptes” refer to sums laid
down when an order is placed or a sales
signed.
A deposit (“les arrhes”)
Unless otherwise stated in the contract, you will
lose your deposit if you cancel an order or back
out of a contract. But you cannot be forced to go
through with the contract.
Keep this in mind. It's worth trying to come to an
amicable arrangement. If the vendor fails to deliver, he or she can be ordered to pay you twice the
amount you laid down as a deposit.
A downpayment (“un acompte”)
A downpayment implies the firm commitment of
the two parties and, consequently, the obligation
of purchasing (for the consumer) and of sup-plying
(for the trader) the merchandise. A downpayment
is in fact the first instalment of payment.
There is no chance of forfeit and you can be ordered to pay damages and interest if you renege.
The trader cannot withdraw either, even if he or
she reimburses your downpayment. The trader
could also be ordered to pay you damages and
interest.
A credit note (“un avoir”)
A credit note corresponds to the value of returned
goods. It can be used for a purchase at a later
date. If the vendor is in the wrong (faulty goods,
delivery after deadline, etc.), you are not obliged
to accept this arrangement. If the buyer changes
his or her mind, the vendor can, as a commercial
gesture, grant a credit note.
4 I Alternative
methods
of shopping
Mail-Order
Mail-order (“Vente par correspondance – VPC”) is mainly for
buying clothes, household equipment and leisure goods. Some
mail-order catalogues are sold in
newsagents.
You can join a catalogue mailing
list by an introduction from
someone who is already a client.
Adverts often appear in magazines such as TV programme
guides.
If you’re a mail-order client, don’t
be surprised if you receive mail
from other companies, as companies often exchange client files.
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SHOPPING & LEISURE I CONSUMER RIGHTS
5 I Consumer
rights
General principles
The law protects consumers
against possible unscrupulous
retailers and companies selling
goods and services. It is particularly strong in the area of mailorder and purchases made from
tele-salespeople and canvassers.
For instance:
• You have a 7-day “cooling-off”
period after you’ve signed an
order from a sales person who
visits your home,
• You have the right to return any
article purchased by correspondence (mail-order and teleshopping).
Furthermore, every vendor must
respect certain rules governing
the display of prices and adhere
to advertising standards.
Consumers also have a responsibility in the eyes of the law.
Buying counterfeit goods is an
offence. If you buy counterfeit
goods, you risk a heavy fine and
possible imprisonment if stopped
by customs or the police.
Consumer Organisations
If you would like to know more about commercial
legislation, if you have consumer issues that you
cannot resolve directly with the vendor, or if you
have a complaint about misleading promotional
material from a shop etc.
There are a number of state and private organisations that you can contact:
• “D.G.C.C.R.F.” – “Direction Générale de la
Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la
Répression des Fraudes” (Fraud prevention and
regulation of consumer laws). Part of the Ministry of Finance, this organisation receives complaints, ensures that consumer laws are applied
and gives free advice on consumer litigation.
Details are given in the Addendum,
82
• “I.N.C.” – “Institut National de la Consommation”
(National Consumer Institute). A public organisation that informs consumers and consumer
defence association through research and comparative studies of products and services. The
“I.N.C.” publishes a magazine called “60 millions
de consommateurs” sold in all newsagents in the
monthly magazine or special interest section,
• Consumer associations
There are several national organisations that
represent consumers and defend their rights.
They all have regional offices. To find out the
nearest one to you, contact the head office
(given to you by the “INC”), or the “C.T.R.C.” –
“Centre Technique Régional de la Consommation” (regional consumer centre that you belong
to).
SHOPPING & LEISURE I MEDIA
6 I Media
As a popular holiday destination,
for French as well as foreign tourists, the Côte d'Azur is abundant
in culture and has some superb
facilities for leisure pastimes.
To find out about what's going
on, it's a good idea to buy the following local magazines, which
you'll find very useful:
• “La Semaine des Spectacles”,
comes out every Wednesday
and has all local listings for
films, theatre, concerts etc.,
• “Nice-Matin”, the daily paper
for Nice, Antibes, Cannes and
surrounding districts, has film,
concert and event listings.
Watch out for the free supplement “Loisirs” (usually Wednesday or Thursday) which is a
weekly ‘What’s on’ guide,
• “Le Pitchoun” is published
annually and has listings of restaurants, bars and shops in
Nice and the region.
In addition, there are some
foreign language publications
(mentioned in more detail later):
“Cote”, “Riviera Reporter”,
“Riviera Côte d’Azur Zeitung”etc.
Radio
There's a wide choice of radio
stations on the FM band. French
songs, talkshows, non-stop
news. Some are local and are a
good source of local information:
Kiss FM (non-stop dance music),
Radio Azur (easy listening style)
and Radio Antibes Juan-Les-Pins.
‘Riviera Radio' is aimed at Englishspeaking residents on the Côte
d’Azur. As well as a comprehensive 'What's on' guide, you can
buy and sell household items. You
will find this a good way of finding
out about the region, and the
BBC World Service news is
broadcast regularly. During the
summer holiday period news bulletins in English, Italian and German are often broadcast by
French radio stations.
News of the economy is available on “Team Côte d’Azur” website every week,
www.investincotedazur.com and
on Riviera Radio (106.3 et 106.5
FM), each Tuesday from 7pm8pm, and on Saturdays from
1pm-2pm, in “The Riviera Business Report”. For more details of
programmes and frequencies,
refer to “La Semaine des Spectacles”.
Television Channels
There are six national channels
broadcast through the French
network:
• “TF1”,
• “France 2”,
• “France 3”,
• “Canal Plus”,
• “France 5”,
• “M6”,
• “Canal Plus” is a pay-channel,
scrambled most of the time,
but transmitted free of charge
at certain hours in the day.
For foreign and special interest
stations such as the ‘BBC’,
‘EuroSport’, etc, you need cable
or satellite TV.
La “T.N.T” – “Télévision Numérique
Terrestre” is free and offers you
access to twelve new channels,
but you may need an adaptor.
“Télévision, videos”.
Regional channels
• “France 3” has regional programmes on Saturday afternoons and local news at noon
and 7pm,
• “CANAL 40” is a local station
broadcast from Nice and available on cable.
Programmes
There is a multitude of TV guides
available in “Tabacs”, news-agents
and kiosks, and they cover all of
these stations. Programme schedules for the six French channels
are also published in “La Semaine
des Spectacles” and “Nice-Matin”.
Programmes are categorised
according to their suitability for
children; i.e. sex and violence is
monitored.
A warning appears at the bottom
of the screen during films.
•
: parental discretion,
•
: suitable for children over
12 years,
•
: suitable for persons over
16 years,
•
: suitable for persons over
18 years
Warning: some pay-channels use
different codes. Foreign films are
sometimes broadcast in their original language, with French subtitles (flagged by “V.O.S.T.” or
“V.O.” in the guides), on the
French stations – notably “Arte”
and “France 3”. Digital satellite
channels often offer a choice of
language.
83
SHOPPING & LEISURE I MEDIA
Reading
Newspapers
and magazines
Newspapers and magazines are
sold in kiosks at the side of the
road and in retail outlets. For the
widest selection, look for a newsagent. Other outlets are listed in
the Yellow Pages under “Joumaux, presse, revues (detail)”.
Daily newspapers
• National: “Le Figaro” “France-Soir” - “Le Monde” “Libération”, etc.,
• Regional: “Nice-Matin” - international, national and regional
news. Good source of local
information, with a classified
section for jobs, property, etc.
The main foreign daily papers
(English, American, German, Italian and Spanish) are easy to find
in paper shops. Tourist areas,
railway stations and airports offer
the best selection of foreign
papers.
Magazines
Main foreign titles can be found
in English, German and Italian in
“tabacs” and “librairies”.
Foreign magazines
There are magazines specifically
dedicated for foreign residents on
the Côte d’Azur. These can be
found in kiosks and popular tourist points, such as hotels, foreign
shops, etc – or you can take out
a subscription.
• Riviera Reporter: an English
magazine published every two
months. Full of information for
all English speakers. There is a
list of associations for expatriates, and news and gossip
amongst the foreign community. It also has a classified
section,
84
• Riviera d’Azur Zeitung: a
monthly newspaper in German
for the Côte d’Azur region
aimed at a local readership of
German residents in the French
and the Italian Riviera, as well
as inhabitants of Germany
attracted to the Mediterranean
lifestyle. News on the economy,
tourism, culture, real estate,
events and attractions, reports,
etc. Practical information (doctors, lawyers, etc.) for Italian
and German residents.
This magazine is also distributed in Bavaria (Munich) and on
the Italian Riviera,
• Côte: a magazine edited in Italian, Russian, German, French
and English.
For more French and foreign
press, look in the Yellow Pages
under “Journaux, revues, bulletins “édition”.
Books
Foreign bestsellers are on sale in
the region, and French works are
translated into several languages. You'll find guides on life
in France and the Côte d’Azur
aimed at tourists, e.g. “Cuisine
Provençales” things to do in the
region. You can buy books from
book-shops, hypermarkets and
department stores.
“Librairies”. Foreign bookshops
sell magazines in your own language and are a good source of
information on French culture
and local tourism.
SHOPPING & LEISURE I GOING OUT
7 I Going out
Cinema
Entertainment
Films are generally released in
French, but there are plenty of
cinemas in the area that have
“version originale (V.O.)” films in
the original language, usually
with French subtitles. These films
will still have the title in French.
Look in “La Semaine des Spectacles”, “Nice-Matin”, on the
Internet for film summaries,
cinema addresses and screening
times (eg.:www.allocine.fr)
The main towns – Nice, Cannes
and Monaco – offer the widest
choice. There are opera houses
in Nice and Monaco as well as
theatres and frequent concerts
offering a good range of music.
Look in “Nice-Matin” and “La
Semaine des Spectacles” for
details.
Note that “Riviera Radio” broadcasts an English language film
guide in its 'What's On' section.
Nightlife
Nice, Cannes and Monaco have
a rich nightlife all year round, with
bars open well into the small
hours of the morning. This is to
cater not only for local residents
but also delegates attending the
numerous international forums,
seminars, exhibitions, etc. “Le
Pitchoun” and “La Semaine des
Spectacles” have listings of bars,
clubs, concerts, etc.
Foreign Celebrations
Because there is such a cosmopolitan population living on the
Côte d’Azur, foreign events such
as Halloween, July, Thanksgiving,
etc. are celebrated, especially in
restaurants, which will often
organise theme evenings.
For more information, read the
foreign magazines listed in the
media section page 72 or ask at
your Consulate or one of the cultural associations for foreigners
(see the chapter called “Miscellaneous contacts” for details of
these).
Restaurants
Dining out is one of the favourite ways for the French to spend an evening.
Apart from gastronomic restaurants, the region
has restaurants with many different themes:
• Traditional French cuisine,
• Regional specialities,
• Foreign food.
There are some foreign restaurants (e.g. Mexican,
Chinese, Japanese, Indian) but not as many as in
other countries, probably because the French have
so much good cuisine at home! Being so close to
the border, you'll find many restaurants that make
authentic Italian pizza and pasta. You'll find a good
selection of restaurants in “La Semaine des Spectacles” and “Le Pitchoun”.
Meals
Meals are presented either in a fixed menu (three
courses for a fixed price) or “à la carte”, where you
choose what you like from a selection.
There is always a recommended main course (“plat
du jour”), which changes every day.
Some restaurants organise evenings at a fixed
price with dinner and entertainment included. This
is common, for instance, on New Year's Eve and
St-Valentine's night.
Prices
Prices quoted on the menu generally include service.
If you are pleased with the service however, it is still
customary to leave a tip.
Opening times
The French observe meal times very keenly: restaurants generally serve lunch from 12 p.m. – 2:30
p.m. and dinner from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., although
they are practically deserted before 12:30 p.m. at
lunchtime and 8 – 8:30 p.m. at night. It is advisable to book in advance if you are with a group, if
you plan to eat late, or if it's a special occasion (ex:
St-Valentine, Mother's Day, New Year's Eve).
85
SHOPPING & LEISURE I SIGHTSEEING
8 I Sightseeing
Culture
The Côte d’Azur has been home
to many celebrated artists, notably Picasso and Matisse. With its
rich and cultivated population,
there are a lot of cultural activities
such as conferences and exhibitions as well as a wealth of
museums and art galleries.
Nice is second only to Paris for
its museums – there are around
fifty!
• To find out about activities in a
particular town, go to the local
Tourist Information Office.
• To find out about conferences
and exhibitions, look in “La
Semaine des Spectacles”,
• Museums are listed in the
Yellow Pages under “Musées”,
The addresses are in the Yellow
Pages under “Offices du
Tourisme”.
Tourist Background
The history of the region began around 600 B.C.
when the Greeks brought their civilisation to the
Côte d’Azur. Over successive centuries the region
has been subject to many different foreign influences
that are particularly noticeable in architectural terms:
the Romans occupied Antibes in 43 B.C., and Nice
and surrounding areas were part of Italy for 5 centuries. In 1730 the Côte d’Azur became a fashionable winter residence for the English, a tradition that
has carried on and extended to the Americans.
The area has been the stage for some of the greatest historical events in France (“Napoléon”, “Louis
XIV” and the “Iron Mask”). Consequently, there are
many places of interest to visit including fortresses
and “châteaux”.
Many traditional crafts have survived in the area,
and there are still plenty of opportunities to see
artisans at work, such as the glass-works in Biot
and the potteries in Vallauris. There are industries
that are well over 100 years old; the perfume factory in Grasse is a good example of this.
The topography of the region and its landscapes
are varied: there is the coastline and the beaches;
inland villages built on top of hills, like Saint-Paulde-Vence and Saint-Jeannet; the mountains of the
“Alpes-Maritimes” to the north, etc.
It's worth investing in the “Guide Michelin Côte
d'Azur” which you'll find in any bookshop and
going along to the Tourist Information Offices to
really discover the region.
9 I Attractions
Because the region is full of tourist attractions, there are
many parks and leisure facilities to visit.
Look out for:
• Zoos, floral parks,
• Aqua parks, amusement parks
in Antibes, there is an aqua
park, mini-golf and the Marineland sea-park,
• Exotic gardens – a chance to
see some beautiful vegetation
from around the world.
86
Check before you go that the
park is open, as several only
open for the summer season.
“Parcs d'attraction et centres de
loisirs” or in “La Semaine des
Spectacles” for details.
SHOPPING & LEISURE I LEISURE SPORTS
10 I Leisure sports
The close proximity of the sea and mountains means
that outdoor sports are easily accessible.
Mountain Sports
Several winter sports stations are
within easy reach, so it’s possible
to go for the day as well as for longer periods. Ski stations within
easy reach include: Valberg, Auron,
Isola 2000 and several others.
Out of the ski season there are
plenty other sports: hiking, rafting, canyoning, mountain climbing, etc.
There are clubs that organise
weekends and holidays, or you
can make your own way there.
“Stations de sports d'hiver” and
“Sports et loisirs d'hiver et de
montagne (associations et
clubs)”. The “Conseil Général”
edits brochures on mountain
biking, hiking and canyoning.
Water Sports
During the summer there are lots
of places along the coast where
you can water ski, jet ski, paraglide, etc.
And there are clubs that organise:
• Scuba diving – look in the Yellow Pages under “Plongée
sous-marine, sports et loisirs
subaquatiques”,
• Sailing and water-skiing – look
in the Yellow Pages under
“Voile, navigation, sports nautiques et aquatiques”.
The Best Catered
For Sports In
The Region
Some sports are almost an institution in this area of France and
have many good facilities.
• “Pétanque” or “boules” the traditional local pastime; a true
symbol of Provence. Every village has an area set aside for
“pétanques”,
• Horse-riding,
• Golf (there are golf brochures
edited by the regional Tourist
Board (“Le Comité Régional du
Tourisme” - C.R.T.),
• Sailing,
• Skiing,
• Tennis.
Look on Yellow Pages under
“Boules”, “Equitation”, “Golf”,
“Voile, navigation, sports nautiques et aquatiques”, “Ski”,
“Tennis”.
Traditional Sports
These sports are currently
enjoying a lot of popularity;
they can be practised either
individually or in a group:
• Athletics,
• Swimming,
• Cycling,
• Basketball.
You can find clubs and associations that belong to the French
Federation for each of these
sports (for example, “Fédération
Française de Basketball”).
“Sport (associations et clubs)” or
contact your local town hall
(“Mairie”).
Insurance
If you're a member of a club, insurance will generally be included in
membership fees.
If you practise a sport individually however, contact your insurance
company to find out if you're covered.
87
SHOPPING & LEISURE I MEETING YOUR COMPATRIOTS
11 I Meeting your
compatriots
Leisure pastimes are just as ideal a means of meeting
people as keeping fit.
Foreign Sports
There are clubs for sports not
seen as conventional in France.
Baseball, cricket, etc.
“Sports (Associations et Clubs)”.
Restaurants
and Bars
There are plenty of bars and restaurants frequented by Americans and Northern Europeans
where you’ll be greeted in
English. See the Yellow Pages.
Assocations
International associations such as
the “A.V.F.” (“Accueil des Villes
Françaises”) often organise sports
such as hiking, and cultural
events, which give you the chance
to meet you fellow compatriots.
See the “Miscellaneous Contacts” chapter for details.
12 I Events
The Côte d'Azur is host to some of the most celebrated sporting, cultural and spectator events
in the world:
January
• The Monte Carlo Car rally
(“Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo”)
• “International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo”
February
• Nice and Menton Carnivals
June
• The Nice-France International “Ironman” Triathlon
July
• The International Jazz Festivals in Nice and Juanles-Pins and Monaco
March
• The Paris-Nice Cycle race
July/August
• The International Fireworks Festivals in Cannes,
Antibes-Juan-les-Pins and Monaco
• Hercules Athletics Meeting in Monaco
April
• The International Nice Semi-Marathon
• Monaco Open Tennis Tournament (Open de Tennis de Monte-Carlo)
September
• The “Régates Royales” - Cannes
May
• The Cannes Film Festival
• The Monaco Formula One Grand Prix
88
October
• The Antibes-Côte d’Azur Rallye
November
• International Dance Festival - Cannes
APPENDIX
1
2
3
4
- The metric system
- Speed
- Temperature
- Time and date
90
91
91
91
89
APPENDIX I THE METRIC SYSTEM
1 I The metric
system
Distance
Liquids
The basic unit is a metre (“mètre”):
• millimetre (mm) = 0.001 m
1 mm = 0.039 inch
• centimetre (cm) = 0.01 m
1 cm = 0.389 inch
• decimetre (dm) = 0.1 m
1 dm = 0.328 foot
• metre (m) = 1 m
1 m = 1.094 yard
• decametre (dam) = 10 m
• hectometre (hm) = 100 m
• kilometre (km) = 1000 m
1km = 0.621 mile
The basic unit is a litre (“litre”) divided and multiplied
by 10, but often 1/2 litre and 1/4 litre are referred to.
• Millilitre (ml) =
0.001 l
• Centilitre (cl)=
0.01 l
• Decilitre (dl) =
0.1 l
• 1/4 litre =
2.5 dl /25 cl / 250 ml
• 1/2 litre =
5 dl / 50 cl / 500 ml
• 3/4 litre =
7.5 dl / 75 cl / 750 ml
• Litre (l) =
1.67 pint / 1.06 gallon
Reverse conversions
• 1 inch =
• 1 foot =
• 1 yard =
• 1 mile =
2.54 cm
30.48 cm
0.914 m
1.609 km
Area
The basic unit is a square metre (“metre carré”). The
measurements are the same as for distance, the most
common being:
• Square centimetre (cm2)
1 cm2 = 0.152 sq. inch
2
• Square metre (m )
1 m2 = 1.197 sq. yard
2
• Square kilometre (km )
1 km2 = 0.386 sq. mile
2
• Hectare (ha) = 10 km
1 ha = 3.86 sq. mile
Reverse conversions
• 1 sq. inch = 6.452 cm2
• 1 sq. yard = 0.836 m2
• 1 sq. mile = 2.589 km2
1 sq. foot = 929 cm2
1 acre = 4.046 m2
Volume
The basic unit is a cubic metre (“metre cube”). As
with m3, the most frequently used measurements are:
• Cubic centimetre (cm3)
1 cm3 = 0.061 cubic inch
• Cubit metre (m3)
1 m3 = 1.309 cubic yard
Reverse conversions
• 1 cubic inch =
• 1 cubic yard =
90
Reverse conversions
• 1 ounce =
• 2 oz – 1/4 cup =
• 5oz – _ cup =
• 1/2 pint – 1 cup =
• 1 pint – 2 cups =
• 1 us quart =
• 1 us gallon =
30ml
60ml
15 cl
30 cl
60 cl
0.946 l
3.785 l
Weight
The basic unit is a gram (“gramme”).
• Milligram (mg)
1 mg = 0.001 g
• Centigram (cg)
1 cg = 0.01 g
• Decigram (dg)
1 dg = 0.1 g
• Gram (g)
1 g = 0.035 ounce
• Decagram (dag)
1 dag = 10 g
• Hectogram (hg)
1 hg = 100 g
• Kilogram (kg)
1 kg = 1000 g = 2.21 pounds
Reverse conversions
• 1 ounce =
• 2 oz – 1/4 cup =
• 4 oz – 1/2 cup =
• 6 oz – 3/4 cup =
• 8 oz – 1 cup =
• 1 pound =
28.35 g
56.70 g
113.4 g
170.1 g
226.8 g
453 g or 0.453 kg
16.387 cm3
0.764 m3
SHOPPING & LEISURE I SPEED
2 I Speed
Miles per hours (mph) / kilometres per hour (km/hr)
• Km/hr
• Mph
mph x 1.61
km/hr x 0.621
Km/hr
• 50
• 80
• 90
• 110
• 130
Nautical mile and knot :
• 1 knot (kn)
• 1 nautical mile
31
50
56
69
81
1 mile/hour, or 0.514 metre/second
1.852 m = 1.852 km
3 I Temperature
Fahrenheit degrees (°F) / Celsius degrees (°C) :
Over Temperatures
°F
°C
Gas Mark
250
120
1/4
275
140
1/2
300
150
1-2
325
160
3
350
175
4
375
190
5
400
200
6
425
220
7
450
230
8
475
240
9
Description
very low
low
warm
moderate
mod hot
hot
very hot
4 I Time & date
The 24 hours clock is used, not am/pm.
Am is “matin” (morning) and pm is “après-midi” (afternoon) ou “soir” (evening).
For example:
8 am = 8 heures / 8 pm = 20 heures
12 noon = midi /* 12 midnight = minuit
The date is always written: Day – month- year
For example : 25th December 2000 = 25 décembre 2000 or 25.12.2000 or 25/12/00 or 25/12/2000.
91
SHOPPING & LEISURE I CLOTHES & SHOE SIZES
5 I Clothes
& shoe sizes
Women
Dresses
sweaters
shirts
Europe
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
USA
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
UK
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Shoes
Europe
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
USA
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
UK
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Men
92
Shirts
Europe
36
37
38
39
41
42
43
44
USA - UK
14
14 1/2
15
15 1/2
16
16 1/2
17
17 1/2
Suits
Europe
46
48
50
52
54
56
USA - UK
36
38
40
42
44
46
Shoes
Europe
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
USA
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
UK
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
INDEX
93
INDEX I
A
ACCIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,26,27,28,55,58,63,66
ACCIDENT DE TRAVAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
ACOMPTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
AGENTS IMMOBILIERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
AIRPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,67,68,70,84
ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,24,50,54
ALLOCATIONS DE RENTREE SCOLAIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
ALPES MARITIMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,3,4,9,13,14,15,16,35,40,86
AMBULANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
ANIMALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,10,68
A.P.E.C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
APERITIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,76
ARRET DE TRAVAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
ARRHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
AUTO ECOLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,64
AUTOROUTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,66,67,68
AVOIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
A.V.F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,42,49,88
B
BABY SITTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,42,54
BACCALAUREAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,47,48,49,50
BAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
BANKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,24,28
BILINGUAGE SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
BOURSE SCOLAIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
BREAKDOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,58,67
BROCANTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
BUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
C
CAFÉ AU LAIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
CAISSE ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,24,50
CAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,62,63,64,65,66,67,69,70
CARNET DE MATERNITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
CARTE BLEUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,80
CARTE ASSURE SOCIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
CARTE DE SEJOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,17,18,23,64,80
CARTE GRISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,64
CARTE VERTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,63
CAUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CAVISTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,79
CERTIFICAT ASSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,14,31,35
CHEQUE EMPLOI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
CHILDCARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34,43,42
CINEMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73,85
CODE DE LA ROUTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
CODE DU TRAVAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
COLLEGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,47,48,50
COMMISSARIAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,55,64
COMMUNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12,13,14,17
COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,57,58
COMPTE D’EPARGNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
94
CONSEIL GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,14,34,87
CONSEIL REGIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
CONSTAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,66
CONSULATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,16,17,38,85
CONTROLE TECHNIQUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18,19,62,63,64
CONVENTIONNE (médecin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,57
CONVENTIONS COLLECTIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
C.P.A.M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CRASH HELMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
CRECHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,42
CREDIT NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,32,48,49
CUSTOMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,10,18,19,24,78,82
D
DEPARTMENT (Alpes Maritimes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13,14
DEPARTMENT STORE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,79
DEPOSITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
DISTANCE LEARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
DOWNPAYMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
LICENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,18,62,63,64,65
E
E111 FORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,56
ECRIVAIN PUBLIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
EDF – GDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
EDUCATION . . . . . . 9,13,14,24,31,34,41,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50
ELECTRICITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18,23,25
EMERGENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,55,66
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17,36
ESTATE AGENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,26
ETAT DES LIEUX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ETRENNES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
EXTRA CHARGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,66
F
FAMILLE / FAMILY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,9,16,23,24,27,50,54,74
FEUILLE DE SOINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,59
G
GARAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,64,67,70
GARDERIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
GAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,91
GOUTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
GRANDES ECOLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
GREETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,73
GREY CARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
H
HELICOPTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
HOSPITALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,54,55
HIGHWAY CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
HYPERMARKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,79,80,84
INDEX I
I
Q
INCOME TAX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,25,28
INDEMNITES JOURNALIERES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,9,18,21,26,36,56,57,58,62,63,67,87
INTERNET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,31,39,62,65,66,69,85
INVENTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,26
QUITTANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
L
LA POSTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
LEASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,21,26
LOAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,22,24,25
LOCATION DE VOITURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
LYCEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,46,50
M
MAGAZINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,63,79,82,84
MAIRIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13,16,17,27,39,42,45,78,87
MEDECIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52,55
MEDECIN DE GARDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
MEDICINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,47,52,53,56,58
MIDWIFE (MIDWIVES) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,52,54
MOBILE PHONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,55
MOTORWAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,66
MUSEUM/MUSEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
MUTUELLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,57,58
N
NANNY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
NEWSPAPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,31,33,55,78,79,84
NIGHTLIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
NOTAIRE/NOTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17,22,27,40
NTSC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,80
R
RADIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,38,63,67,83,85
RESIDENCE CARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,15,16,17,18,64
RESTAURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74,75
ROND POINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
S
SAGE FEMME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52,54
SAMU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
SCHOLARSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . 9,13,14,24,38,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,75
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,80
SECURITE SOCIALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,23,51,52,55
SICK LEAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SKI RESORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
SNCF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
SOCIAL SECURITY . . . . 8,17,23,27,28,36,43,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58
SOLDES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
SOUS PREFECTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,18
SPEED LIMITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
SUPERETTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
SUPERMARKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,72,75,78,79,80
T
OBSTETRICIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
TAXE D’HABITATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
TAXI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68,70,73
TELEVISION 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,83
TEMPORARY ACCOMODATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
TGV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
TOWN HALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,13,16,24,27,28,39,42,45,64,78,87
TRAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69,72
TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,15,16,29,32,33,34,43,47
P
U
O
PACS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
PAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,80
PARKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19,21,66,70,79
PEAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
PETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
PHARMACIE DE GARDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,55,79
PÔLE EMPLOI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,17,28,30,31,32,33,34,35
POLICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,17,55,65,82
POMPIERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,66,73
POST OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,28,39,43
POURBOIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
PREFECTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,9,16,18,19,62,64,80
PREFET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
PRIORITE A DROITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
PROMOTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,81
HOLIDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,56,73,74,80
UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,47,48,50
V
VIDEO RECORDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
VIGNETTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,63
VISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,9,16,18,42
VISA CARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,69,80
VITALE CARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
V.P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
W
WINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,76,79
WINTER DRIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
WORK PERMIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,16,33
95
▶ I Facts & Figures
about the
Côte d’Azur
Economy
High tech poles of competence
… their economic importance
Information Technologies
3.8
billion d’€
in turnover
20,655 jobs
1,459 companies
Life Sciences including Fine Chemistry
2.6
billion d’€
in turnover
9,655 jobs
250 companies
96
Côte d’Azur
July 2014 - Photos: IS/ E.Elisseeva, O. Prikhodko, I. Terekhov, J. Bryson, M. Barsse, M. Clarke, Office de tourisme de Nice, J. Kélagopian
TEAM CÔTE D'AZUR / PARIS
TEAM CÔTE D'AZUR
Patrick GEORGES
400, Promenade des Anglais
pgeorges@cdid.fr
BP 3185
06204 NICE CEDEX 3 - FRANCE
Tel: 33 (0)4 92 17 51 51
info@investincotedazur.com
TEAM CÔTE D'AZUR / USA
Yves KRAEMER
ykraemer@aol.com
www.investincotedazur.com
Team Côte d'Azur is a joint initiative of the Alpes-Maritimes County Council
and the French Riviera Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

1 - e-DRH

Transcription

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