Travelling By Road
Travelling By Train
Renting habitable boat
Automobile renting
Travelling with children
Travelling By Road: The Rules of the Road
Unless indicated otherwise, the following speed limits are applicable: 50 kph in urban areas, 80 kph on the Paris beltway, 90 kph on roads, 110 kph on fast roads and 130 kph on highways.
- Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory for the driver and all passengers whether they sit in the front or the back of the vehicle.
- Children must be secured in the appropriate type of safety device: child seat facing backwards for babies, child seat for children 9 months of age to 4 years old, height adjusting cushion up to 10 years of age.
- On motorcycles and scooters, wearing a helmet is mandatory.
- Automobiles are forbidden in bus lanes.
- The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.5 grammes per liter of blood.
- A valid drivers license, an international insurance card and a vehicle registration card must be produced upon request during traffic stops.
Roads of France
The automobile is a comfortable means of getting around France. The roads are perfectly maintained and the French road network is among the densest in the world. There are also 8000 km of highways (most are toll roads) connecting Paris and the major cities of France in a star-shaped network.Roadside Services
Every 10 kilometers there is a rest area for a picnic. Every 30 to 40 kilometers there is a petrol pump and food service. Every 100 kilometers there is a motel for an overnight stay.When should you leave? What itinerary should you select? The price of tolls, total distances, restaurants, petrol stations, hotels along the way are all types of information available. You can chose from over 13 million different intineraries for trips to and from 3600 cities. You can also get to know cultural areas and gather information about the historical heritage of the region you cross.
Before You're on Your Way
In order to find out about the state of the roads, obtain information from regional information and coordination centres:Paris region / Centre: 33 (0) 1 48 99 33 33
Northern region: 33 (0) 3 20 47 33 33
Eastern region: 33 (0) 3 87 63 33 33
Western region: 33 (0) 2 99 32 33 33
Rhône-Alps / Auvergne region: 33 (0) 4 78 54 33 33
Mediterranean region: 33 (0) 4 91 78 78 78To get information about roads throughout France:
Highway Information 33 (0) 8 36 68 10 77There is calendar of road traffic and "bis" itinerary advice maps. These are free of charge and widely distributed throughout France in tourism offices and petrol stations.. Green and yellow signs marked "bis" show where they're available.
Road Maps
You can obtain road maps in bookstores or in all petrol stations. IGN maps have the most detailed coverage of France. Michelin maps cover the main itineraries and also regional roads.
Peak Hours
In Paris and all large cities of France traffic is more congested during peak hours. These times correspond to when the French travel to and from their jobs: between 7:30 and 9:00 in the morning and between 17:30 and 19:30 in the evening. Due to motorists leaving for the weekend, traffic is also congested starting around 16:00 especially at the gates of Paris. Outside these times, traffic is quite fluid., even in Paris despite rumours to the contrary.Parking
- In urban areas, parking is strictly regulated. Dotted markings on the ground outline parking spots. Please note that you can only park on white markings marked "Payant" If the parking slot is free, it carries no marking. Yellow markings denote reserved slots for commercial vehicles. Other markings are for specially authorised persons. A yellow dotted line on a sidewalk indicates discharging and loading pasengers is authorised.- Parking meters: these are automatic machines to collect fees for parking your automobile. They may be found along sidewalks. You can pay for a minimum period of 15 minutes and up to 2 hours maximum. (5f to 15F per hour) If you wish to park for a longer period of time, you will need to add a ticket when your time expires. Your ticket must be clearly displayed inside your automobile. In case of non-payment or exceeding the authorized time, you risk getting a ticket under your windshield wiper (75F).
- Many parking lots have been dug in city centres. Their prices are higher than surface parking but you are guaranteed a spot and can set your own schedule. Parking lots are increasingly more modern and safe.
In France, trains are a convenient, punctual and comfortable means of transportation. All major cities in France are served by the extensive SNCF network which includes the stylish high speed TGV trains. And it's easy to travel to other countries (UK with Eurostar, Switzerland with TGV, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands with Thalys, and more).
Travel throughout Europe can be booked through RailEurope or agencies. Friendly and knowledgeable staff will be able to tailor make your itinerary and book your journey to wherever you wish to go in Europe.
How much does travelling by train cost?
Train ticket prices vary according to the class of service you choose. There are 2 classes on all trains in France: first and second (standard) class. Travel on high speed and night trains require additional reservation fees, prices depend on departure dates and times. Ask for prices at the time of booking. Rail Europe does offer promotional fares available dependant on the time of year. There are also many competitively priced passes available to all customers which can be purchased through Rail Europe. These give you the freedom and flexibility to explore the country of your choice.
For Information and Reservations
S.N.C.F, représentée par Grandes Lignes International SA.
The SNCF runs the French rail network. SNCF serves 1,400 French towns with more than 31,000 km of lines.SNCF is represented abroad by his subsidiaries Rail Europe.
Don't forget to punch your train ticket before you travel!
In France all tickets must be punched to validate them before you board the train, otherwise you will be liable to a fine. Ticket punching machines are located at the entrance to train platforms or in the ticket office area. The ticket must be punched on the first day of travel to validate it.
Once on board, your ticket will be checked by the ticket conductor.
T.G.V. (the high speed train)
The TGV is the world's fastest train. Travelling at speeds over 300 km/h (186 mph), journey times between major cities have been slashed. This has been further enhanced by the introduction of the new high speed TGV Med link, completed in June 2001, which whisks you silently and safely from Paris to the French Riviera in only 3 hours! Reservation on these trains is compulsory.
The on-board service is equally as impressive as the speed and frequency of the trains. Benefits include the possibility of having a meal served at your
The Shuttle
To reach Paris or Lille from England via the Chunnel, you can travel in your own vehicle on board the train. This is called the Shuttle.
The services offered by SNCF in France
- Porter assistance at rail stations
- Reservation of meals on some TGVs
- Left-luggage facility at all stations
Renting an habitable boat: Discover our coasts and rivers by boat
The Federation of Nautical Industries (La Féderation des Industries Nautiques, tel :33 01 44 37 04 00, fax: 33 01 45 77 21 88) brings together about 80 maritime and river rental specialists. Their list is available upon demand. France has a particularly rich network of 8500 km of canals and rivers, allowing you to discover it in depth from lock to lock. Incredible discoveries await you like the Canal du Midi (classified part of World Heritage), the Bridge-Canal of Briare or the Inclined Plane of Arzwiller.
In order to rent an automobile in France, you must be at least 20 years of age and have had a driver's permit for at least one year. It is mandatory to choose insurance coverage as offered in the rental terms. The principal rental agencies have offices in all rail stations and airports as well as offices in the cities. It is recommended to reserve a vehicle in advance from your country of origin.
Travelling with children: Always Well Accompanied!
If you require a child (no younger than 3 years old), an adolescent or a handicapped person to be accompanied during a trip by train, plane, underground railway or by bus, contact the organization "les Compagnons du voyage" Tel.: 33 (0) 1 45 83 67 77.For a fee they will provide you with a qualified helper.
Airlines offer free care for children over 4 years old travelling alone on domestic itineraries.
The SNCF offer their 'JVS' service on their main lines subject to a surcharge.
