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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
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Ambulance (Samu)
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15
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Police (Gendarmerie)
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17
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Fire Service (Pompiers)
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18
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EMERGENCY SERVICE IN
ENGLISH
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112
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Anti-Poison Centre
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05 56 96 40 80
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Drugs, alcohol and
smoking information
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113
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Guéret Hospital
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05 55 51 70 00
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Aubusson Hospital
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05 56 83 50 50
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Bourganeuf Hospital
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05 55 54 50 50
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Red Cross
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05 55 83 60 00
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BLOOD DONATION
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0810 150 150
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EDF
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0810 333 223
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GDF |
05 55 52 95 95 |
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THE TIME
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We are one hour
ahead of the UK in
time and the clocks
in France change at
the same time twice
yearly as in Great
Britain.
SPRING
FORWARD------------FALL
BACK
In 2005 this will be
at 1am on Sunday the
27th of March
(forward one hour)
and 1am on the 30th
of October (back one
hour)
In 2006 this will be
at 1am on Sunday the
26th of March and
1am on Sunday the
29th of October 2007
25th March and 28th
October
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ON THE ROAD
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In France we drive
on the right hand
side.
Always carry your
driving license and
insurance documents.
If you are stopped
by the gendarme
without them you
face an on the spot
fine.
Always wear your
seat belt and do not
use your mobile
phone whilst
driving.
NEVER DRINK AND
DRIVE
If you are
stopped by the
gendarme always be
courteous and
polite. Do not
trivialise the
situation.
We now have speed
cameras on some
stretches of
motorway around
Limoges |
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SPEED LIMITS
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Motorways – 130/110
km/h (81/69 mph)
Dual Carriageways –
110/100 km/h (69/62
mph)
Other Roads – 90/80
km/h (56/50 mph)
Built up areas/towns
– 50km/h (31mph) or
as shown |
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The second
figure (above )
shows the reduced
speed limit in
severe weather
conditions. |
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Watch out for other
vehicles pulling out
from the right on
country roads. On
roads showing the
following sign,
vehicles coming from
the right at the
next entrance have
priority.
The sign above warns
that you do not have
priority.
When you see this sign (above) you have the priority.
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In main towns when
you park on a white
square it is free
but if you park on a
green square you
have to pay. Parking
is free between 12
noon and 2pm
Some towns still
have old laws
regarding parking on
only one side of the
road on certain days
of the month. Rule
is – copy a local
and park on the same
side as they do! |
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TRANSFERRING YOUR CAR TO
FRENCH PLATES
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If you intend to
transfer your
English car to
French plates make
sure you have all
the documentation
from the day you
purchased the
vehicle. By law,
plates must be
transferred within
three months of the
car being in France.
You may have
difficulty if the
car is old and you
do not have the
relevant paperwork.
You do not need to
pay road tax as this
was abolished
several years ago.
Cars over four years
old require to have
a Controle Technique
(MOT) every two
years. The cost is
49 euros (2005) |
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SHOPPING
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Legal tender
in France is the
Euro.
1 Euro = 6.55957
francs
Most shops close
between 12 noon and
2pm
Many small shops and
banks etc close all
day on Mondays. The
larger supermarkets
such as Carrefour in
Guéret or Leclerc
and Champion in La
Souterraine are open
all day, every day
except Sundays. Some
smaller supermarkets
and garden centres
open on a Sunday
morning but remain
closed if the Monday
following is a bank
holiday. Many petrol
stations close early
in the evening and
on Sundays are only
open in the morning,
but most will accept
French credit cards.
If you need petrol
out of hours and do
not have the
required credit card
ask the next
friendly face who
drives in for petrol
to fill your tank
too and give him
cash. Most are only
too happy to oblige. |
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HOUSE HUNTING
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If you are looking
for property to buy
it is useful to
bring with you a
torch and a compass
and if you are
buying property to
renovate, sturdy
shoes or wellingtons
are essential as the
ground may be very
overgrown and wet
under foot. We do
also have grass
snakes, adders and
ticks so it really
is best to cover
your feet!
In summer the days
can be very hot so
we recommend that
you bring a bottle
of water with you to
drink to avoid
dehydration. |
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BUYING PROPERTY
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Have your finances
in place before you
leave home as 10%
deposit will be
required if you find
your “dream home”.
The first contract
is different if you
are paying cash or
requiring a
mortgage. You cannot
revert your choice
once the contract
has been signed. It
is also a good idea
to bring copies of
your passport, birth
certificate(s),
marriage and divorce
papers, if relevant,
as they will be
required by the
notaire before the
final signing.
If you purchase
property with more
than 2500m2 land, by
law it must be
offered to the
SAFER, the
agricultural dept
who have priority to
buy the land but
only at the same
price.
When you take
possession of your
property it is
polite to visit the
gendarme and the
local mayor to
introduce yourself.
When you leave your
property always make
sure that the
shutters are closed.
Your insurance claim
may not be upheld if
you have a burglary
and the shutters
were found to be
open for more than
twenty-four hours.
If your house is a
holiday home and you
are leaving it empty
throughout winter it
is also a good idea
not just to turn off
the water but also
to completely drain
the system, as you
will find that
French plumbing is
not the same as in
the UK and normally
the pipes are not
lagged! |
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LAND MEASUREMENTS
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When buying property
in France, land is
usually quoted in
hectares.
1 Hectare = 10,000
square metres+ 2.5
acres
8,000 square metres
= 2 acres
4,000 square metres
= 1 acre
2,000 square metres
= 0.5 acres
1000 square metres =
0.25 acres
All measurements are
approximate |
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FOOD
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If you
decide to go
mushroom picking
make sure you know
which ones are
edible and which
ones are poisonous.
If you are not sure
take a trip to the
local pharmacy where
they will help you.
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WALNUT PICKING
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Around the beginning
of October walnuts
hang in abundance
from the trees along
the hedgerows and
picking them off the
ground to take home
to dry can be great
fun, but beware!
Always wear gloves
as the stains left
on your fingers can
last for days!
(PS- you’ll have to
be quick when
collecting your nuts
as the red squirrels
will also be
collecting their
supply for the
winter!!) |
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MISTLETOE
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This weed hangs in
abundance along the
lanes and hedgerows
and it seems to
especially like old
apple trees
entwining itself
around the branches
and literally
squeezing the life
out of the tree. It
is not popular with
the local farmers
who make cider each
year. |
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WASP NESTS
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If you find a
hornets nest in your
house contact the
local pompier who
will remove it for
you.
If you would like
any tips of your own
to be added please
do not hesitate to
contact me –
sheena@centralfranceinfoguide.com |
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