France
Country
Schengen
France
France with its area of about 550 thousand km2 (mainland only) is one of the largest countries in Europe and at the same time, thanks to its rich history and culture, with many monuments it is one of the most visited destinations in Europe. In addition, its coast is washed by the Atlantic Sea in the west, the English Channel and the North Sea in the north, as well as the Mediterranean Sea in the south. Popular coastal regions with high attendance include Brittany, Normandy, Aquitaine or Provence and the Côte d‘Azur. In the south of the territory lies the French Alps with the highest point in Western Europe Mont Blanc 4,810 m.n.m. Other mountainous regions include the Pyrenees, the Central Massif, the Jura or the Ardennes and others. The largest French rivers are the Loire, Rhone, Seine and part of the Rhine. The longest French river is the Loire. The capital Paris is one of the largest metropolises on the entire European continent and has a population of 12 million, incl. agglomerations. Other large and well-known French cities are Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and others.
FRENCH CUISINE
France is also a culinary power, where their cuisine is considered one of the most cultured and elegant styles of cooking in the world. The way food is prepared has significantly affected many cuisines of Western countries. The French are famous gourmets and are very passionate about good and quality food and wine. The most popular ingredients in cooking are fresh dishes in the form of processed meat, fish, vegetables, rice and pasta, as well as seafood and other specialties such as frog legs, truffles, sausages, dried ham and delicious cheeses. From the dishes typical of the whole of France, we can mention the popular snails, which are a national delicacy, as well as pâtés, which are served warm, and of course, no meal should be missing from any dish. It is customary to cut it into pieces that are offered to guests on a tray. Famous is the roquefort cheese or roquefort, named after the town of Foquefort – sur – Soulzon, in whose huge cellars the mold Penicillium rocqueforti used to make cheese thrives.
Famous wines, calvados and cognac
After we had a nice meal, it would be good to have a drink. French wines are world famous, such as red Beaujolais villages, Bordeaux, SaintEmilion or white Pinot-blanc, Sancerre or pink Côtes de Provence and Sancerre rosé. The French are great connoisseurs and consumers of wine, it is customary to give it to every meal, often diluted with water, supplied for this purpose on the table separately in glass carafes. The French calvados brandy is also famous. It is made from apple cider in Normandy. French cognac is famous. His birthplace is the city of Cognac, after which he received the name, today a strictly guarded brand.
Names of celebrities
The French musical tradition contains many famous names. From the classical music of C. Debussy, M. Ravel‘s operetta represents J. Offenbach and the French chansons E. Piaf and G. Bécaud. France is the cradle of film art. On December 28, 1895, the Lumiére brothers screened the first films in Paris. The gallery of important actors is rich: J. Gabin, G. Philipe, J. Marais, A. Delon, G. Depardieu or B. Bardot. In literary work, the French have been the bearers of progress for many generations: F. Voltaire, Molière, H. de Balzac, V. Hugo or JP Sartre (won the Nobel Prize in 1964), S. Beckett (1969), C. Simon (1985). The most famous literary figures are the three musketeers A. Dumas (st). French painting has been at the forefront of European affairs since the end of the 19th century (C. Monet, P. Gauguin). Paris was the Mecca of artists from all over the world (M. Chagall, A. Modigliani, P. Picasso). A. Rodin became the father of modern sculpture.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to France under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in France. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
Passport validity - You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa - If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the French Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance - Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for France and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to France that fulfil French Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by French Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
Except for EU nationals, all citizens require a passport with three months’ validity to enter France. EU nationals may present a valid national ID card instead. Visa procedures for France are complicated and, as with all countries, changes do occur. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is your best source of current, detailed information. Holders of American, Canadian, British and other EU passports do not need visas for stays in France of up to three months. EU nationals do not need visas to live or work in France. Other passport holders may need to apply for appropriate visas. Visas and working papers must be obtained before you leave your home country. Residence cards are obtained after your arrival in France. Together, these papers represent the terms under which you may reside and work in France. Be aware that documents needed for official purposes often have to be translated into French. A work visa is required if you are being sent to France by an overseas employer, and your anticipated stay is longer than your passport alone would allow. The employer usually must initiate the application process through the French Ministry of Labour. If the application is approved, the French Consulate in the country of origin will notify the assignee to continue the application process. The full process takes two to three months. Materials required for application are extensive and subject to change: for current requirements, contact your nearest French consulate
FRENCH CUISINE
France is also a culinary power, where their cuisine is considered one of the most cultured and elegant styles of cooking in the world. The way food is prepared has significantly affected many cuisines of Western countries. The French are famous gourmets and are very passionate about good and quality food and wine. The most popular ingredients in cooking are fresh dishes in the form of processed meat, fish, vegetables, rice and pasta, as well as seafood and other specialties such as frog legs, truffles, sausages, dried ham and delicious cheeses. From the dishes typical of the whole of France, we can mention the popular snails, which are a national delicacy, as well as pâtés, which are served warm, and of course, no meal should be missing from any dish. It is customary to cut it into pieces that are offered to guests on a tray. Famous is the roquefort cheese or roquefort, named after the town of Foquefort – sur – Soulzon, in whose huge cellars the mold Penicillium rocqueforti used to make cheese thrives.
Famous wines, calvados and cognac
After we had a nice meal, it would be good to have a drink. French wines are world famous, such as red Beaujolais villages, Bordeaux, SaintEmilion or white Pinot-blanc, Sancerre or pink Côtes de Provence and Sancerre rosé. The French are great connoisseurs and consumers of wine, it is customary to give it to every meal, often diluted with water, supplied for this purpose on the table separately in glass carafes. The French calvados brandy is also famous. It is made from apple cider in Normandy. French cognac is famous. His birthplace is the city of Cognac, after which he received the name, today a strictly guarded brand.
Names of celebrities
The French musical tradition contains many famous names. From the classical music of C. Debussy, M. Ravel‘s operetta represents J. Offenbach and the French chansons E. Piaf and G. Bécaud. France is the cradle of film art. On December 28, 1895, the Lumiére brothers screened the first films in Paris. The gallery of important actors is rich: J. Gabin, G. Philipe, J. Marais, A. Delon, G. Depardieu or B. Bardot. In literary work, the French have been the bearers of progress for many generations: F. Voltaire, Molière, H. de Balzac, V. Hugo or JP Sartre (won the Nobel Prize in 1964), S. Beckett (1969), C. Simon (1985). The most famous literary figures are the three musketeers A. Dumas (st). French painting has been at the forefront of European affairs since the end of the 19th century (C. Monet, P. Gauguin). Paris was the Mecca of artists from all over the world (M. Chagall, A. Modigliani, P. Picasso). A. Rodin became the father of modern sculpture.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to France under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in France. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
Passport validity - You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa - If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the French Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance - Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for France and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to France that fulfil French Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by French Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
Except for EU nationals, all citizens require a passport with three months’ validity to enter France. EU nationals may present a valid national ID card instead. Visa procedures for France are complicated and, as with all countries, changes do occur. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is your best source of current, detailed information. Holders of American, Canadian, British and other EU passports do not need visas for stays in France of up to three months. EU nationals do not need visas to live or work in France. Other passport holders may need to apply for appropriate visas. Visas and working papers must be obtained before you leave your home country. Residence cards are obtained after your arrival in France. Together, these papers represent the terms under which you may reside and work in France. Be aware that documents needed for official purposes often have to be translated into French. A work visa is required if you are being sent to France by an overseas employer, and your anticipated stay is longer than your passport alone would allow. The employer usually must initiate the application process through the French Ministry of Labour. If the application is approved, the French Consulate in the country of origin will notify the assignee to continue the application process. The full process takes two to three months. Materials required for application are extensive and subject to change: for current requirements, contact your nearest French consulate