Out and About

French language classes while here and pre-inscription at a school is required
in order to get the visa.
There are several language schools that cater to au pairs and their schedules.
They include La Clef and Academie des Langues, both located in St Germain
en Laye.
• Declaring au pair to URSSAF
Once your au pair has arrived, immatriculation is required under the French
Social Security system with URSSAF within 8 days from the start of their work
as a Stagiaire Aide Familial. You will be required to pay social charges for
your au pair during the length of their work contract with you.
anywhere between 18.00 and 19.00, depending on the company, your level
and responsibilities.
How to find Anglophone companies in France?
Fortune 500 lists the top 500 American public corporations. The FUSAC
magazine could also help identify job openings reserved for English speakers
or natives www.fusac.fr.
How to sell a foreign experience?
Such an experience might enhance your adaptability, allow you to become
bilingual and multicultural by learning about another culture.
• Getting medical coverage through the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie
As their employer, you also need to sign up your au pair at the Caisse
Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) for their medical insurance coverage.
They will be assigned a temporary Social Security number.
FAQs:
What is the best time to look for a job?
The beginning of a fiscal year is generally a favorable time (companies have
approved their budget). The summer vacation period (July/August) can be
good to get interviews since people can be less busy, but decisions are not
generally made during that period. Other school vacations are not good timing
either, as everything tends to slow down.
How long does it take on average to find a job?
It can vary dramatically (3 months, 6 months, a year…). The recruitment
process in large corporations is generally longer than in small companies.
Where to find employment or training events relevant to your sector?
The APEC and ANPE as well as the job search websites advertise most
employment events in France and keep up-to-date calendars. You should
consult them regularly. See also the “Chambre de Commerce” (for example in
Paris or Versailles) for training events.
What about part-time work in France?
Working part-time is possible in France but usually not compatible with high
profile jobs with high responsibilities. Depending on the sector, employers are
more or less open to part-time work. It can be negotiated. There is no general
rule. The same comments apply to home-based work.
When does a typical day of work start and finish in France?
An average day of work in France starts at 09.00 or 09.30 and can finish
36
Working in France
7
Out and About
a Dinner out - Restaurants in the area
Children Friendly
Hippopotamus (www.hippopotamus.fr) in Louveciennes.
Chez Clément (www.chezclement.com): in Bougival is an excellent place for
lunch with young kids, especially on Saturdays as there’s a ‘babysitter’ with
colouring-in activities and bags of sweets when you leave.
Courte Paille (www.courtepaille.com).
Restaurant des Ibis, on Ile des Ibis in Le Vésinet: the kids can play outside
(www.pavillondesibis.fr).
Les Rives de la Courtille sur l’Ile de Chatou (www.lesrivesdelacourtille.com).
How much do I tip the waiter in a restaurant?
A 15% tip is already included in the bill. However, depending on the quality of
the service you may leave an additional tip.
Here are a few examples to be used as a guideline only:
In a café (coffee and croissants) you may leave a few cents
In a café (bill totals about 30€) you may leave about 1.50€
In a restaurant (bill totals about 80€) you may leave about 4 to 5€
In a nicer restaurant (bill is about 230€) you may leave about 7 to 12€
What should I bring when invited to dinner by a French colleague/friend?
When you don’t know the person well, flowers are always nice (except for
chrysanthemums which are used for funerals, and carnations which are associated with bad luck), a box of chocolates or a chilled bottle of champagne.
Out & About
37
b Tourist Tips (Tourism)
The local Tourist Office (Office de Tourisme) is a good place to start when you
first arrive in a town. Here you can get maps and lots of valuable information
and leaflets.
Departmental Tourist Office: www.ot-saintgermainenlaye.fr
Info. Tourism Paris-Ile-de-France: Tel. 08.03.81.80.00: www.paris-ile-defrance.com.
Pariscope www.pariscope.fr and l’Officiel des Spectacles, weekly guide to
what’s on in Paris and suburbs.
Parigrammes guides in French and English written by and for Paris lovers
www.parigramme.com
78 (Yvelines)
Routes Touristiques en Yvelines: La Route des Ecrivains/des Musiciens/des
Peintres www.jedecouvrelafrance.com
38
Out & About
All (all ages), M (Maternelles), P (Primary), S (Secondary)
78 Yvelines
All: Museum
St Germain en Laye
Museum Départemental Maurice Denis Le Prieuré
www.musee-mauricedenis.fr.
P: Theme Park
Elancourt
France Miniature
www.franceminiature.com
All: Museum
St Germain en Laye
Museum of National Antiquities
www.musee-antiquitesnationales.fr
P: Farm - pick your own fruit and animal farm
Saint-Cyr, Ferme de Gally
www.gally.com
M-S-A: Museum
St Germain en Laye
Museum Claude Debussy
www.ot-saintgermainenlaye.fr
All: Museum, Animal farm
Rambouillet Park,
Bergerie Nationale, train museum
www.bergerie-nationale.educagri.fr
S-A: Museum
St Germain en Laye
Museum Vera
www.ot-saintgermainenlaye.fr
All: Forests
St Germain en Laye
Marly-le-Roi
Rambouillet
All: Museum, Castle
Marly le Roi
Museum Château de Monte-Cristo
www.chateau-monte-cristo.com
All: Museum
Croissy-sur-Seine
La Grenouillère
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/grenouillere/
pages/french.htm
M-S-A: Painter’s house
Chambourcy
La Roseraie, Maison André Derain
www.yvelines.fr/culturel/musees/3_musee.htm
All: Museum
Vicq
Musée d’Art Naif
www.midan.org
All: Castle
Choisel
Le Château de Breteuil and Park
www.breteuil.fr
All: Museum and Park
Marly le Roi
Musée promenade
www.marlyleroi.fr
All: Castle
Maisons Laffitte
Château de Maisons
www.maisonslaffitte.net/chateau.htm
All: Museum
Jouy en Josas
Museum of printed fabric
www.jouy-en-josas.fr
All: Castle, Park, Museum
Versailles
Château de Versailles, Trianons and le Petit Hameau
www.chateauversailles.fr
All: Museum
Poissy
Toy museum
www.ville-poissy.fr
M-S-A: Museum
Versailles
Musée Lambinet
www.musee-lambinet.fr
All: Wind Surfing Lake
St Quentin en Yvelines
Base de Loisirs
www.bases-loisirs-iledefrance.fr
All: Animal Park
La Queue les Yvelines
La Serre aux Papillons, butterfly aviary
www.infoparks.com/flashfr/r_parcs/france/parcs/
F78003/frameset.htm.
All: Wildlife Park
Thoiry
Parc de Thoiry
www.thoiry.net
Out & About
39
All (all ages), M (Maternelles), P (Primary), S (Secondary)
All (all ages), M (Maternelles), P (Primary), S (Secondary)
75 Paris
94 Val de Marne
P: Bateaux Mouches
“Croisière Enchantée & Les Lutins
Parisiens” www.bateauxparisiens.com
All: Museum + botanical garden
Musée d’histoire naturelle (evolution gallery)
Jardin des Plantes
www.mnhn.fr
All: Castle
Vincennes
Château de Vincennes
www.chateau-vincennes.fr
All: Aquatic Park
Aqua Boulevard/Forest Hill
www.forest-hill.eu/aqb/
P: Animal Park
Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
www.hominides.com/html/lieux/menageriezoo-jardin-plante-paris.html
P: Zoo
Vincennes
Zoo de Vincennes
www.boisdevincennes.com/site/zoo.php3
All: Museum
La Villette, Cité des Sciences and music
www.cite-sciences.fr
All: Mosque
Mosquée de Paris (+ tea-room and hammam)
www.mosquee-de-paris.org
95 Val d’Oise
P: Museum
Musée de la Poupée (dolls)
www.museedelapoupeeparis.com
All: “Mme Tussaud”
Musée Grévin
www.grevin.com
P: Museum
Musée de la Curiosité et de la Magie
www.museedelamagie.com
92 Hauts de Seine
M-P: Castle
Rueil Malmaison
Josephine’s château
www.chateau-malmaison.fr
All: Park and Circus
Villeneuve la Garenne
Chanteraines park
Journée au cirque
http://www.villeneuve92.com/cadre-de-vie
M-P: Museum
Chatou
Maison Fournaise
www.chatou.fr/chatou/ch060603.asp
P: Theme park
Jardin d’Acclimatation Bois de Boulogne
www.jardindacclimatation.fr
All: Indoor rock climbing
Pantin and Issy-lès-Moulineaux
MurMur
www.murmur.fr
93 Seine-Saint Denis
All: Stadium
Saint Denis
Stade de France
www.ville-saint-denis.fr
All: Church
Saint Denis
Basilique de Saint-Denis
www.ville-saint-denis.fr
40
Out & About
M-P: Castle
La Roche Guyon
Château de la Roche-Guyon
www.chateaudelarocheguyon.fr
28 Eure et Loir
All: Castle
Anet
Château d’Anet
www.chateaudanet.com
P: Theme park
Jardin d'Acclimatation Bois de Boulogne
www.jardindacclimatation.fr
All: Museum
Le Bourget
Air museum
www.mae.org
P: Park
Vincennes Parc Floral
www.parcfloraldeparis.com
All: Chapel
Dreux
La Chapelle Royale
www.ot-dreux.fr
All: Chartres
Town + cathedral
www.chartres-tourisme.com
Malcolm Miller, expert guide 02.37.28.15.58
60 Oise
All: Castle
Compiègne
Museum du Château de Compiègne
www.musee-chateau-compiegne.fr
All: City
Beauvais cathedral + town
www.cathedrale-beauvais.fr
All: Museum
Chantilly
Musée Condé
www.chateaudechantilly.com
All: City
Senlis
Cathedral + picturesque town
www.ville-senlis.fr
All: Museum
Chantilly
Horse museum
www.museevivantducheval.fr
All: Theme park
Parc Asterix
www.parcasterix.fr
All: City + art
Auvers-sur Oise
van Gogh’s town
www.auvers-sur-oise.com
www.chateau-auvers.fr
P: Theme park
Ermenonville
Mer de sable
www.merdesable.fr
Out & About
41
Bike Tours
• Paris à Vélo c’est sympa! 01 48 87 60 01, 22 rue A. Baudin, 75011 Paris.
• Paris à Vélo: biking tour in Paris (day or night): Rita de Cloe (also speaks
Dutch)Tel: 01 42 54 74 51 or 06 29 51 21 85.
• www.Velib.paris.fr FR UK SP: 20 000 cycles in Paris.
• www.velo.sncf.com: take your bike on the train!
• www.rouelibre.fr: bike rental and biking maps in Paris (by RATP).
All (all ages), M (Maternelles), P (Primary), S (Secondary)
02 Aisne
80 Somme
M-P-S: Museum
Blérancourt
Franco-American museum
www.museefrancoamerican.fr
All: Town
Amiens
Cathedral + Town
www.amiens.fr
27 Eure
All: Town + museum
Giverny
Maison de Monet + town
www.fondation-monet.com
www.tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/giverny
All: Town
Rouen
www.rouentourisme.com
14 Calvados
All: Beach
Deauville
www.tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/deauville
All: Beach
Cabourg
Memory of Proust
www.tourisme.fr/tourist-office/cabourg
All: Beach
Trouville
www.trouvillesurmer.org
All: Beach
Honfleur
Picturesque harbour
www.ot-honfleur.fr
• Families & beginners rando-rollers on Sundays afternoon 14.30 from la
Bastille
• www.rollers-coquillages.org: experienced skaters on Friday evenings from
22.00 till 01.00 starts place Raoul Dautry near Tour Montparnasse
• www.pari-roller.com Ideas of day-outs with your family
• Saint Germain: the castle, walk or bike on the Terrace with a view onto
Paris, the French and the English Park, the ‘Hôtels Particuliers’.
• Versailles: the park, the Castle, the Trianon, Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet.
Picnics possible + restaurants at the Petite Venise (Grand Canal).You can use
your own bike or rent one. Don’t miss the market in the city, on Sundays.
Can’t wait for Halloween? ‘Mysteries of Paris’ offer a Paris Ghost Tour, a
walking tour in English around the center of Paris where you will learn about
ghosts, vampires, serial killers and other little-known details about the darker
side of the City of Light. Not for the faint-hearted, suitable for adults and older
students. More information from their website www.mysteriesofparis.com
All: Beach
Etretat
www.tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/etretat
Tours, Guides, Art Tour Groups
Ideal playground parks for children in St Germain
Alceis, Marielle Eichwald, tour guide
[email protected]
06.80.61.33.52
Dr. Kelly Spearman tour guide
01.48.78.01.90
Paris Walks
[email protected]
www.walks.com, www.paris-walks.com,
www.parisbalades.com
01.48.09.21.40
AWG’s Friday Tour Group, Nancy Burke
[email protected]
01.47.41.97.82
Out & About
Roller blading trips in Paris
Paris Ghost Tour in English
76 Seine-Maritime
42
Good to know: Paris River Seine banks are closed to cars every Sunday from
11.00 to 17.00 from Concorde to Pont Paris. So enjoy!
• Close to Schnapper Primary school, rue Schnapper.
• La Charmeraie: take Avenue de Maréchal Foch D190, off St Germain en
Laye: the park is on your left.
• Roller Park: opposite the Administrative Center (Centre Administratif), rue
Leon Desoyer.
• Skateboard Park: rue Claude Chappe, close to the RN13.
• Parc du Château: in Spring and Summer: swings, carousels, pony rides…
• ‘Parcours santé’ in St Germain forest, starting close to the ‘Piscine’.
Out & About
43
c
Top 10 places to visit in Paris
Start with a general view with the red buses (from Place Charles de Gaulle Etoile) and the Bateaux Mouches on the River Seine (by the Eiffel Tower).
Biking and roller blading is allowed on Sundays on ‘Les Quais”.
Don’t forget your RATP map + Paris “l’indispensable” and off you go!
1. Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, la Grande Galerie de l’Evolution
(Entirely renovated museum of natural history) www.mnhn.fr + eat at la
Mosquée de Paris (delicious couscous, tajines, hamman for adults)
www.la-mosquee.com + play at Le Jardin des Plantes Ménageries (old zoo) +
look at the plants.
2. Musée du Moyen Age Cluny (Middle Ages museum)
www.musee-moyenage.fr + eat at ‘le Square de la Sorbonne’ + play at ‘le
Jardin du Luxembourg’. Possible puppet show for children.
3. Musée Jacquemart André (private house, 18th century collection)
www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com + eat there at the beautiful ‘salon de thé’
or at La Durée (delicious macaroons), Avenue des Champs Elysées
www.laduree.fr + sun-set on the terrace of the Arc de Triomphe
www.arc-de-triomphe.monuments-nationaux.fr.
4. Musée Grévin www.grevin.com
Entirely renovated museum containing wax sculptures depicting famous
characters, similar to Madame Tussaud’s in London + eat at Hard Rock Café
14 bld Montmartre + Panoramic View over Paris at the Printemps Shop Blvd
Haussmann 9° floor - Printemps de la Maison + view of the Coupole 19th
century, 6° floor Printemps de la maison
www.printemps.com/magasins/haussmann.
5. Musée Gustave Moreau www.musee-moreau.fr
Visit a 19th century artist’s home and atelier + eat
Place Saint Georges with a stopover at Square Biscarre or walk to
Montmartre via rue Blanche + Place du Tertre + view over Paris from
Montmartre, it feels just like being in the Amélie Poulain movie.
6. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature www.chassenature.org
Entirely renovated museum, old architecture, new presentation, special tours
for kids + eat rue des Archives or at le Marché Antillais near rue de Bretagne/
rue de Beauce + play at square du Temple.
44
Out & About
7. Sainte Chapelle back to the 12th century
Religious and royal architecture: www.sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr
+ eat at Châtelet + walk along les quais de la Mégisserie for animals and book
sellers (bouquinistes).
8. Musée Beaubourg - Centre Georges Pompidou www.centrepompidou.fr
Modern art + eat on top floor, view over Paris look for the cat tags! + play in
Forum des Halles gardens + have a drink at ‘Le Pied de Cochon’ brasserie:
www.pieddecochon.com.
9. Musée du Louvre www.louvre.fr
Anything you like, great for Egypt + eat at one of the 14 Carrousel’s
restaurants www.universal-resto.com + play at the Jardin du Palais Royal with
Les Colonnes de Buren (say hello to Molière at la Comédie Française as you
pass by).
10. Cité des Sciences - La Villette www.cite-sciences.fr
Everything to do with science + eat there + bike or walk or roller for 4 Kms
along the Canaux de l’Ourcq, Saint Martin …from Métro Portes de Pantin until
you reach the Métro République (tour ‘Au Long des Canaux’. Paris Buissonnier
Collection Parigramme).
d
Leisure / Sports / Associations / Birthday Parties
After school activities (Sports Associations/Music, etc)
Just before school starts again in the fall, go to the Mairie of your city or town
and ask for information about all sports and activities available during the year.
Register early! Classes fill quickly and it is first come, first served.
Look for the ‘Forum des Sports’ and ‘Forum des Associations (La Fête des
Associations) organized by your town in early September. You should know
that very often, you register for the whole school year for each activity, and not
by term (trimester). So be sure that your child is motivated enough to stick with
it until the end of June!
See page 82.
Birthday Parties: some popular places for you to organize your child’s
birthday party:
Close by:
JumpFun (Marsival 78): 3 - 8 years, www.jumpfun78.com
Ludimax (Villepreux 78): 3 - 8 years, www.ludimax.fr
Piscine de St Germain en Laye: www.piscine-stgermain.com
Out & About
45
Ferme de Gally in Bailly: 3 - 10 years. Great for morning or afternoon sessions
with kids - visit the farm or book an activity. www.gally.com
Acrochats (Plaisir 78) 0 - 8 years, www.acrochats.com
Petits Gateaux (St Germain en Laye 78): 6 - 12 years. Cooking classes.
e-mail: [email protected]
2011
1st January (Saturday)
New Year’s Day
Nouvel An
24th April
Easter Sunday
Pâques
25th April
Easter Monday
Lundi de Pâques
Further indoor:
1st May (Sunday)
Labour Day
Fête du Travail
Kapla Center (Paris 11): 4 - 10 years, www.kapla.com/centre_kapla.html
Musée de la Magie (Paris 4): 4 - 12 years
www.museedelamagie.com/h_pages/anniversaires.html
Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris 1): 4 - 6, 7 - 10 years. Activity/art sessions
for children including during school vacations. www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
Chateau La Roche-Guyon: 5 - 12, years www.chateaudelarocheguyon.fr (95)
Playmobil Funpark (Fresnes 94): 5 - 10 years, www.playmobil-funpark.fr
8th May (Sunday)
Armistice Day
‘L’Armistice 1945‘
2nd June (Thursday)
Ascension Day
Ascension
13th June (Monday)
Pentecost
Lundi de Pentecôte
14th July (Thursday)
Bastille Day
Fête Nationale
15th August (Monday)
Assumption Day
L’Assomption
Further outdoor:
Annual Events
Jardin d’Acclimatation (Paris 16): 3 - 12 years, www.jardindacclimatation.fr
Herouval: great outdoor play park (bouncy castles, mazes, mini farm, karts,
mega slide, and a paddling pool). www.herouval.com
For older children:
Lazer Quest (Trappes 78): 10+ years. tel: 01 30 49 05 50
www.laserquest78.fr.st
Bowling (Orgeval + Montigny le Bretonneux 78, Paris 16) 5+ years,
www.bowling- foch.com
Bowling: www.teaser.fr/~jmpocheau/bowlidf.htm
Aquaboulevard: (Montigny le Bretonneux 78, Paris 15):
www.aquaboulevard.com
8
September
• Journée du Patrimoine 3rd week of September: free entry to many cultural
sites (like Le Palais de l’Elysée, President’s residence)
www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr
• Journée des Associations: Forum des Associations
• L’Estival + L’Estiv enfants: Music Festival, St Germain en Laye (end of September/ beginning of October) www.lestival.net
October
• Les Grandes Eaux Musicales de Versailles from 22 march to 26 October
• www.chateauversaillesspectacles.fr/gem.htm
• White Night in Paris
November
Others
• La Toussaint: families visit cemeteries
a Public Holidays 2010-2011 (Fêtes Nationales - Feriés)
December
• Christmas Lights: see specific subsection
January
2010
• Galettes des Rois, (special cake for Epiphany) January 6th
1st November (Monday)
All Saint’s Day
Toussaint
recipe on www.marmiton.org
11th November (Thursday)
Armistice Day
‘L’Armistice 1918’
• Sales ‘les Soldes’!
25th December (Saturday)
Christmas Day
Noël
February
• Crêpes de la Chandeleur (pancakes) recipe on www.marmiton.org
46
Others
Others
47