Archive for the ‘France’ Category

Artistic Paris, France

Friday, June 4th, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

Paris is the vacation destination of choice for those who appreciate all aspects of art. The city is world renowned for it’s incredible ability to inspire artists of all nationalities. Artists such as Toulouse Lautrec found incredible inspiration, towards the end of the eighteenth century, in the decadent aspects of Paris theatrical life and left us with the distinctive masterpieces which elegantly display the life of the Moulin Rouge in publicity posters of the day.

Today Paris remains a popular place for all manner of artists with many congregating around the area of Montmartre where many artists have studios, displaying their work in the street and many offering the opportunity to have your portrait painted. Salvador Dal

Tags: , ,
Posted in France | Comments Off

Relocating to France

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

More and more people are moving abroad these days and France is one favourite destination. Its not surprising people are choosing France as the country has a style and look of its own and is steeped in history, it is also well known for its love of the arts and architecture. The country has a population of 64.1 million with 51% being catholics the other half pretty mixed. Its economy is the sixth largest in the world, the currency being Euro or French Franc and the size of the country is 674,843km2.

France has a significant English speaking expat population, which mostly consists of retired and so called inactive expats which are people below retirement age but not working.

France has plenty to offer families and singles wishing to emigrate to the country. It is an exciting place to live but not easy unless you learn the language. The French take pride in their languages and foreign languages are not commonly spoken. There are bilingual schools but even so you should really be thinking about teaching your whole family the language. There are plenty of French language schools offering courses to foreigners.

With regards to employment there are plenty of opportunities however you really will have to learn the language. The French government (Unitary Republic) are very committed to encouraging the unemployed back to work. The French state benefit is one of the most lucrative of the developed world. The jobless in France are very well compensated for when out of work. If your planning on moving to France you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be looked after by the state if you were to lose your employment in the future.

If you are looking for property in France then you will find your money will go further. Property prices are on average substantially lower than property in the UK. Location makes a large difference on pricing as does the age of a house. Newer houses are a lot more expensive than older houses and property in the city’s are a lot more expensive than those in the country side. In fact you can live a good life in France for much less than it would cost you to have a similar lifestyle in the UK. That and the lower property prices are nothing but enticing.

France has an excellent healthcare system but you will have to register with their mairie within 3 months of living permanently in the country. This is to provide evidence that you have financial resources to live there. You will also need evidence of personal medical insurance.

While France has many attractions to foreign nationals looking to relocate, there are a number of areas which need to be addressed. While there are genuine gaps in the employment market which can be exploited by overseas workers, the downside is the taxation situation.

It is easy to see why France has the most foreign visitors of any other country in Europe and why more and more people are relocating there. However relocating to France requires careful planning and an appreciation of the cultures of this beautify country.

Over’s International offers Removals to France, Removals to Portugal and Removals to Spain.

Tags : Janet Meacham Ella Hester http://gregseaborn.onweblog.com/

Tags: ,
Posted in France | Comments Off

Doing Business in France

Sunday, May 30th, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

French Language

Tags: ,
Posted in France | Comments Off

Vannes France

Saturday, May 29th, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

In France you will find the city of Vannes. This city is located in the Morbihan department of Bretagne in the north west of France. Vannes came into existence over 2000 years ago. The city of Vannes can be found on the Gulf of Morbihan which is situated near the mouth of the Vannes River. As the town is closely linked to the sea you will often see this market town having a good trade being carried out with the river and the nearby sea.

For the people who choose to visit Vannes you will see there are many interesting places you can visit. These will include attractions like the medieval village in Vannes. Here you will see there are several pedestrian and vehicle entrances for people enter and leave the village without any problem. To find good parking space you will need to follow the posted signs on the roads which indicate the way to the port parking area where you will find ample parking.

Next to the Old Town you will see the port which can be accessed via the port side gate which part of the fortified ramparts of the Old Town. Just outside the walls of the Old Town you will find there are several cafes on the port-side. At these cafes you can refresh yourself and quench your thirst and hunger. Inside the Old Town walls, you will find many boutiques and Creperies to explore and shop in.

In addition to seeing these sights of Vannes you might be interested in visiting other places like the Chateau Gaillard which is an archaeological museum, Tour du Connetable which is part of the old city walls, the Musee de la Cohue which is the city of Vannes’s cultural museum and Hotel de Ville to name but a few interesting places you can visit.

Once you have taken the time to absorb these delights you may wish to head over to the Eglise which can be found in the old village at the top of the hill. As with many parts of Vannes you will see the square in the Eglise is often the site where local musicians come and entertain passing visitors. The cobblestone streets are used for costumed parades which have been part of Vannes’s culture for many centuries now. Among these various festivals you will find the Bastille Day in Vannes is celebrated on a grand scale.

Here you will see a fabulous spectacle where there are many colorful horse-drawn carriages and where the men, women and children are clad in lively and interesting costumes. And as part of the parade you will see a small zoo of live animals being taken along the procession route.

With so many interesting and lively events happening here in Vannes you will see why this city is so popular with the many visitors who come here. To make your dreams of seeing this city come alive don’t wait any longer, just pack your bags and head over to Vannes in France.

For accommodation in Vannes check this list of Vannes hotels.

Related : Anita Langston Joanne Treadway Laurie Berrios http://erikhallinan.bandarperda.com/ http://julielanham.bonsaibloggeries.com/

Tags: ,
Posted in France | Comments Off

Nice, France – A Gloriously Tasty Destination

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

While many French regions will claim their cuisine is the finest in France, there’s something about Provence and the Cote d’Azur that gives it an edge. Almost certainly the climate plays a part, for who can resist sitting outside a Provencal restaurant and eating a selection of the region’s famed dishes. Shopping in the local markets is an experience too. One of the most famous, the Cours Saleya market in NIce, for example, is an experience that will delight any lover of fine food.

A short city break in Nice offers so many culinary delights that it’s worth a trip at any time of the year, although August does find the city so packed that the best restaurants may be difficult to get into. August is famously the time the French enjoy a month of relaxation, although the traffic, noise and bustle makes Nice somewhat less relaxing than normal.

Cheap flights to Nice make it a very easy to get to while the superb French railway network, with half a dozen fast trains a day from Paris, mean you can enjoy Nice without having to fly. There’s probably a wider choice of hotels and apartments than any French city, with the sole exception of Paris. And while Paris may have now installed its artificial beach on the banks of the Seine, it cannot compare with the delights of Nice’s beach and the Promenade des Anglais.

Eating on the beach can be a delight too. Many of the ‘private’ beaches not only offer the comfort of an umbrella and pair of sunbeds, their restaurant would put many city centre establishments elsewhere to shame. They are not cheap, but for sheer pleasure, sitting on the beach, sipping a chilled Provencal ros

Tags: , ,
Posted in France | Comments Off

Buying Antiques in France

Thursday, May 20th, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

France is great country to find antiques at bargain prices. Every town there has many places where you can purchase antiques. Driving though the French countryside will give you the opportunity to find many different places where you can examine and buy antiques. In fact, many collectors from other European countries like the UK travel across the channel and across the border to find bargains.

France is renowned for its antiques markets, but you can also find a great variety of shops selling antiques. But you will find the most benefit in visiting the antique fairs, where great bargains can be found. The best time to go is during is during spring, summer and also the autumn. Even in the winter you can find such events and you are probably more likely to find better bargains as during that time there will be less tourists and hence more possibilities to strike a better deal.

When you go over to antique fairs in France it is a good idea to have some working knowledge of the French language. You will find that some dealers have some knowledge of English but French people are very proud of their language and do appreciate you making the effort to speak it. Even if you take a phrase book with you to aid you in finding the right things to say it will come in very handy when haggling for an antique piece that has taken your fancy as well as winning over the vendor who will appreciate your efforts to speak French.

The best way to collect antiques in France if you live in Europe is if you take with you a vehicle large enough to carry the antique you have bought. Obviously this might not be as practical if you live over the Atlantic. In such a case it is best to go for smaller items like jewelery, ceramics and other various ornaments that you can put on the shelf of you home, and that can be packed in a suitcase. Either that or find out in advance what it would cost to have bigger items like antique furniture shipped over.

Finding out venues where antique fairs are held in France is not difficult as France like many southern countries in Europe like Italy has buzzing markets every weekend. Although such markets include other items like food and clothes, you will often find a large number of vendors selling antiques. A lot of these vendors also include who set up stalls to sell items of their home that they want to get rid of. This offers the best opportunities to get the best deal possible. In fact many car boot salesmen and women who do so professionally or semi-professionally in the UK travel a lot to France to get such bargains on antiques to re-sell at their equivalent venues, turning over a tidy profit even after factoring in the cost of travel and shipping the antiques across the Channel.

Buying and selling antiques has become really competitive and limiting yourself to your country could still be a profitable and enjoyable experience. However travelling to places like France has made antique collecting even more enjoyable and profitable. The fact that you can travel around European Union members countries without a passport avoiding the hassle of through customs has indeed made it much easier and more popular and yet still novel enough to provide you with many great antique bargains for years to come.

James Ross is the web master of AntiquesAppraisal.info – The Number One Site For Antiques a website totally dedicated to antiques and antique furniture. For more articles and information please find out more at http://www.antique-appraisal.info

Tags : Pauline Mcpherson http://karisadowski.punter2punter.com/ http://ceciliaspires.moviesbysmsblogs.com/ http://janiefast.temeculacountryliving.com/

Tags: , ,
Posted in France | Comments Off

Versailles Facts For the Visitor to France

Sunday, May 16th, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

Versailles is located at the western edge of Paris, the capital of France. It now belongs to the large metropolitan area of the Ile France region. Versailles is best known for being where King Louis XIV built his royal palace and gardens on the site of what was once the royal hunting lodge.

It is one of the major facts about Versailles that it is one of the richest neighborhoods in the area of Paris. The Palace of Versailles has been the area of many events of history, the best being the signing inside the Hall of Mirrors for the treaty of peace between Germany and the Allies.

The signing of the treaty that brought the First World War officially to an end is one of the most important historical events that took place at Versailles. This signing mirrored the 1871 proclamation of the German Empire under the Prussian King, later the Kaiser, which took place in the same long hall.

It is easy to get to the Palace on the train and you can buy tickets for the attractions when you get there. If you want to see one thing in particular or even if you just want to look around the huge gardens, that is the finest approach.

Also try the audio guide tour of the Chateau which is available in various languages from the several reception points within the palace and grounds. The audio tour is included also in the day pass price. During summer, there are many interesting activities like a train ride, rowing boat, and cycle hire too.

If your time is limited, and you are looking for a view of the entire estate, your best bet would be to try the mini train. The alternative is an hour walk, which does not include a trip to the two separate palaces. The mini train includes a break at the main canal, which includes both a restaurant and lighter fare. Alternative transportation rental was recently added in the form of golf carts for rent.

Several internet websites are various to information on the Eiffel Tower. It is built of iron and is on the Champ de Mars in Paris, and has become an icon of France and is one of the most recognized structures globally. There are also many fascinating pieces of information about Paris France. These facts about Paris are sure to aid a visitor learn more about France.

No place in the world can prepare a tourist for Versailles. One of the Versailles facts is that it is best known for being the site of the vast royal palace and gardens built by King Louis XIV within what was previously a royal hunting lodge. When you are in Paris you also have to see the Eiffel Tower. Except for the Statue of Liberty in New York, no other symbol in the world is as well-known as the Eiffel Tower. Check out http://cheapairlineticketspro.com for more information about cheap airline tickets to Paris France.

Friends Link : Gina Speer Lucy Kohn http://ludyblog.luso-blogs.net/ http://priscillastowell.takeielts.com/ http://my.plast.org.ua/mariannemalinowski/

Tags: , ,
Posted in France | Comments Off