Additionally, under local law, Good Friday (i.e. the Friday before Easter Sunday) and December 26 (the feast of St Stephen) are also official holidays.
France is divided into three administrative zones, each having slightly different school holidays in order to avoid tourism congestion. Alsace is part of zone B (Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg).
Further information: Ministry of education
The electrical standards in force in France stipulate an electrical current of 220 V.
There are many French and foreign banks in Alsace's towns. These are generally open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Friday. Most closed for lunch between half past noon and 2 p.m.
If you need to change currency, you can either go to a bank or a bureau de change. These establishments are free to set their own exchange rates, which fluctuate on a daily basis. In addition to the exchange rate, you also need to pay a commission which varies according to the establishment concerned.
The many ATMs (cashpoint machines) enable you to withdraw euros 24 hours a day using your international bankcard. The machines provide a choice of languages, including French, English, German and sometimes other languages. Please check with your bank to find out how much commission they will charge and details of any withdrawal limits which may apply.
Service is already included in the restaurant and hotel bills. However, if the service has been satisfactory then a tip equal to around 5 to 10 % of the value of the bill will certainly be appreciated.
To rent a car in France, you will need to bring along your national and international driving licence. Additionally, you must also be over 21 years of age and have held your driving licence for more than one year.
Drink-driving is severely punished in France. The maximum tolerated blood alcohol concentration is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, which is equal to approximately 3 glasses of beer or two glasses of wine.
If you live outside the EU and you have purchased items for a value exceeding €175, you can take advantage of duty-free shopping to obtain a refund of the VAT you have paid. When purchasing your items, the sales assistant will give you an export sales slip. You should then have this approved by the customs office.
In order to benefit from the possibility of duty-free shopping you must
For further information: Please visit the French customs department's website
If the Alsatian climate doesn't have a particularly good reputation, this is chiefly due to the region's harsh winters. However, the presence of winegrowing here clearly demonstrates the high levels of sunshine to be enjoyed in Alsace during the summer.
For further informations regarding the period of your arriving in Strasbourg please visit this page.
www.tourisme-alsace.com
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