France

• Population: 61 million
• Area: 547,030 square km, 547,030 square miles.
• Language(s): French
• Capital City: Paris
• Major Cities: Lyon, Marseille.
• Local Time: From 28 Mar 04 to 31 Oct 04 GMT +2, From 31 Oct 04 to 27 Mar 05 GMT +1
• Currency: Euro (EUR 1 = 100 Cents)
• Notes: EUR: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500

Passport & Visa Info
The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate.

Passports
Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of National Identity Cards or passports issued to nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain & Switzerland

Scattered throughout the enchanted forests of Fontainebleau, France, lie thousands of fantastically shaped sandstone boulders demanding such subtlety and skill to climb that the area has become known as the "laboratory of movement." For aspiring rock climbers throughout the world, a pilgrimage here has become almost mandatory. No outfitters currently run trips here, so hire a guide or go solo. There are some free campsites in the area and hotels in the nearby artsy village of Barbizon.

For five years, France was first in the world, in terms of quality of life but also in top rankings of the countries with most tourists, so it is no wonder that a lot of tourist attractions are located in most visited in the world rankings. Among them, the Louvre museum holds supremacy in the category.

Louvre Museum in Paris is the most visited institution of its kind in the world, recorded annually over the past four years, over 8 million visitors, and in 2009, a record 8.5 million tickets sold, according to Le Figaro newspaper.

France is a developed and stable democracy.

CRIME: France has a low rate of crime.

MEDICAL FACILITIES Medical facilities are widely available

Arthropod borne diseases:

• None

Water- or food borne diseases:

• Travellers diarrhoea

Other diseases:

• none

Vaccination recommendation:

• A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within the last 10 years.

Climate: The north and northwest has a maritime climate which is changeable. Winters are usually mild, summers are moderate and rainfall occurs throughout the year. Southwestern France has a markedly warmer summer although it can be rather wet, and winters are usually mild. Central and eastern areas have a more continental climate with colder winters and a little warmer summers. Rainfall is usually low and tends to fall in summer. The Mediterranean coastlands have a warm/hot summer period when rainfall is scarce.