France at a Glance
Expat Destinations in France
iStockphotoStrasbourg is one of France's most popular expat destinations.
Popular Destinations: Paris
Most people moving to France live somewhere in the Paris region. In fact, about one third of all foreigners end up there. Paris is the nation´s capital with a metropolitan area inhabited by over 12 million people. It is the seat of the central administration, dominating the country in the spheres of politics, culture, and economy.
In addition to accommodating the head offices of almost all major French companies, Paris is also the destination of choice for most multinational companies and foreign businesses. Situated on the banks of the River Seine, Paris is the center of France´s financial and service-orientated business sectors.
Traditionally, the Right Bank is famous for its commercial character and shopping facilities. The Left Bank, often referred to as the intellectual quarter, is home to most government institutions and famous places of learning, such as the Sorbonne.
Lyon
Lyon, a beautiful city close to the Swiss border in the east, is France´s culinary capital, and its second most important city in many other respects. It has overtaken Marseille, the leading national port, both in terms of economic significance and as far as the size of its metropolitan area is concerned. Lyon is home to numerous international companies, research ventures and export-orientated manufacturing plants, especially from the chemical, pharmaceutical and oil-refining industries.
The city of Lyon has a population of nearly half a million people, who enjoy a great quality of life in a vibrant environment. The Monts du Lyonnais to the southwest and Ecully and Dardilly to the northwest are popular and peaceful residential areas in the region. In Lyon proper, Brotteaux, north of the business district La Part-Dieu and close to France´s largest urban park, La Tête d’Or, is a really nice place to live.
Strasbourg
In the post-WWII years, Strasbourg became one of the centers of European unification as the seat of the European Parliament, the European Council, and the Court of Human Rights. Strasbourg’s choice as the location of so many EU institutions is at least partly due to its turbulent history as the Alsatian capital.
This region used to be the focus of German and French nationalist and geographic interests for centuries. Its major city was therefore chosen as a symbol for the new spirit of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Today, Strasbourg profits from a rich mix of French and German cultures and from the international atmosphere brought by the employees of the European Union.
In terms of banking and finance, Strasbourg is second in importance only to Paris. Other main industries include wine-growing, brewing, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, shipping, and tourism. The population of the city itself approximates 300,000 inhabitants, while the so-called Eurodistrict of Strasbourg accommodates nearly 900,000 people.
Getting around
France has very good roads and an extensive rail network. The railroads of the state-owned SNCF cover a large area, and there are high-speed train connections between Paris and major cities in France and other European countries, e.g. to Brussels, London, and Amsterdam.
Depending on where you come from, driving in France can seem a little chaotic or even aggressive, but in general driving conditions are good. There is, however, a relatively high toll for motorway usage, and resident parking in big cities is limited and often expensive.
If the owner has residence status in France, they must obtain a carte grise for car registration purposes. Car insurance is compulsory and includes third-party insurance, but additional policies should be taken out separately, e.g. to cover damages caused by faulty driving.
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