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DISCOUNT CARDS

Museums, the national rail service SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer), ferry companies and other institutions give discounts to those aged under 26 (ie holders of the International Youth Travel Card, IYTC), students with an International Student Identity Card (ISIC; age limits may apply) and le troisième age (usually those aged over 60). Look for the words tarif réduit (reduced rate) or demi-tarif (half-price tariff) and then ask if you qualify. Those under 18 years of age get an even wider range of discounts, including free admission to the musées nationaux (national museums). Some 22 museums are free on the first Sunday of every month, though not necessarily year-round. For specifics, Click here.

The Paris Museum Pass (www.parismuseumpass.fr; 2/4/6 days €30/45/60) is valid for entry to some 38 venues in Paris – including the Louvre, Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay as well as the Musée du Quai Branly and Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine. Outside the city limits but still within the Île de France region, it will get you into another 22 places, including the basilica at St-Denis and parts of the chateaux at Versailles and Fontainebleau. The pass is conveniently available online as well as from the participating venues, branches of the Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau, Fnac outlets Click here, RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisians) information desks and major metro stations.

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ELECTRICITY

France runs on 220V at 50Hz AC. Plugs are the standard European type with two round pins. French outlets often have an earth (ground) pin in which case you may have to have a French adapter to use a two-pin European plug. The best place for adapters and other electrical goods is the Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville department store near Hôtel de Ville or any branch of the electronics chain Darty ( 0 821 082 082; www.darty.fr, in French; 10am-7.30pm Mon-Sat), which has a République branch (Map) 1 av de la République, 11e; République) and a Ternes branch (Map; 8 av des Ternes, 17e; Ternes).

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EMBASSIES

French Embassies & Consulates

Almost all of the French embassies and consulates listed following have information posted on the internet at www.france.diplomatie.fr.

Australia embassy ( 02-6216 0100; www.ambafrance-au.org; 6 Perth Ave, Yarralumla, ACT 26000); consulate ( 02-9268 2400; www.ambafrance-au.org; 26th fl, St Martin’s Tower, 31 Market St, Sydney, NSW 2000)

Belgium embassy ( 02-548 8700; www.ambafrance-be.org; 65 rue Ducale, 1000 Brussels); consulate ( 02-548 8811; www.ambafrance-be.org; 42 blvd du Régent, 1000 Brussels)

Canada embassy ( 613-789 1795; www.ambafrance-ca.org; 42 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, Ont K1M 2C9); consulate ( 416-847 1900; www.consulfrance-toronto.org; Suite 2200, 2 Bloor St East, Toronto, Ont M4W 1A8)

Germany embassy ( 030-590 03 90 00; www.ambafrance-de.org; Parizer Platz 5, 10117 Berlin); consulate ( 069-795 09 60; www.consulatfrance.de/francfort; Zeppelinallee 35 60325 Frankfurt am Main)

Ireland embassy ( 01-277 5000; www.ambafrance-ie.org; 36 Ailesbury Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4)

Italy embassy ( 06-686 011; www.ambafrance-it.org; Piazza Farnese 67, 00186 Rome); consulate ( 06-686 011; www.ambafrance-it.org; Via Giulia 251, 00186 Rome)

Netherlands embassy ( 070-312 58 00; www.ambafrance-nl.org; Smidsplein 1, 2514 BT The Hague); consulate ( 020-530 69 69; www.consulfrance-amsterdam.org; Vijzelgracht 2, 1000 HR Amsterdam)

New Zealand embassy ( 04-384 2555; www.ambafrance-nz.org; 13th fl, Rural Bank Bldg, 34-42 Manners St, Wellington)

South Africa embassy Apr-Jan ( 012-425 1600; www.ambafrance-rsa.org; 250 Melk St, New Muckleneuk, 0181 Pretoria); embassy Feb-Mar ( 021-422 1338; www.ambafrance-za.org; 78 Queen Victoria St, 8001 Cape Town)

Spain embassy ( 91-423 8900; www.ambafrance-es.org; Calle de Salustiano Olozaga 9, 28001 Madrid); consulate ( 93-270 3000; www.consulfrance-barcelone.org; Ronda Universitat 22b, 08007 Barcelona)

Switzerland