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Shopping
in France
Shop
opening times:
The classic French shopping week comprises six days, Monday to
Saturday, with shops generally open from 9 a.m. to Midday, and 2 p.m.
to 7 p.m. In towns and villages, it is still the rule that shops close
at lunchtime.
However, things are changing, and the traditional two-hour break from
12 till 2 is under threat from all sides. In town centre shopping
areas, most large shops such as department stores now operate what is
called "la journée continue", and do not close at midday.
Depending on the town or district, other smaller shops are following
them. Many smaller shops have reduced their midday closing period, and
now shut from, for example, 12.30 to 1.45 - in order to catch office
workers who have free time during their midday break.
Out of town supermarkets and superstores do not usually close for
lunch. They generally open from 9 a.m. (or earlier) until 8 p.m. (or
later); other large stores in out-of-town shopping centres often close
a bit earlier in the evening, often at 7 p.m.
Sunday
opening:
Generally speaking, shops do not
open in France on Sundays; however,
there are exceptions in the runup to Christmas, and for shops in
tourist areas, in the tourist season. Some supermarkets also open on
Sunday morning, for food.
24-hour
opening in France:
Don't expect to find this. The idea runs contrary to the French
tradition, and there are very few shops indeed that remain open round
the clock.
Changing
trends:
France is gradually removing many old trading restrictions, and Sunday
opening is an issue that is very much in the limelight. For instance,
most outlets in a large suburban shopping centre near Marseille now
open on Sundays; but the courts regularly rule that this is illegal,
and the shops get fined. But with customers voting with their feet,
there is strong pressure for the law to change.
Bakeries often
stay open at the start of the midday break, and close
typically from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., though there is no rule, and each
bakery is free to decided its own opening times. similarly, many
bakeries stay open later in the evening, specially in towns, and if
they have bread left to sell.
Pharmacies (chemists)
open and close like other small shops; however,
in towns there is usually a "pharmacie de garde" or two open each
Sunday too, and sometimes even at night. In towns with several
pharmacies, a rota system usually operates, and it is easy to see a
pharmacy which is open, as its green cross will be lit.; but in small
towns, where there are perhaps just one or two pharmacies, it may be
necessary to ring the bell for service, particularly in the event of a
night-time emergency.
Supermarkets
(Supermarchés) and Superstores
(Hypermarchés).
The main national chains:
The giants: Carrefour, Auchan, E.Leclerc,
Géant Casino. These stores sell virtually everything useful
for
everyday living.
Supermarkets or neighbourhood "hypers": Super-U, Champion,
Atac, Cora, Casino, Intermarché
City-centre supermarkets / department stores: Monoprix ,
Galeries Lafayette
Hard Discount: Leader Price, Ed, Aldi, Lidl.
All food supermarkets and hypermarkets
- with the exception of some hard discount stores - carry a full range
of food, including masses of fresh vegetables, a big selection of wines
and spirits, and local specialities. Though for fresh vegetables and
fruit, the shopping experience is much more enjoyable in real markets,
which can be found in all towns and cities, though not necessarily
every day.
Main
national chains other than food, found in out-of-town
shopping malls:
Sportswear: Decathlon, Sport 2000
Computer equipment: Boulanger
Furniture, white goods: Darty, But, Conforama
Clothing: Kiabi, la Halle aux Vêtements
DIY : Castorama, Leroy Merlin, Brico Dépot, Monsieur
Bricolage, Weldom.
Where
to shop:
Central
Paris:
Rue de
Rivoli (running from the Place de la Concorde, past the
Louvre,
to central Paris) This the area with the most chic shops in Paris.
The
Champs Elysées: this has a few flagship
outlets for large chains or very chic shops, but beware of the prices.
On or near the Boulevard
Haussmann, near the Opéra. This
is the main boulevard for the big department stores, including Galeries
Lafayette, Printemps, la Samaritaine, C & A.
Left
Bank (Boulevard St. Michel): book stores, including
Gilbert, the biggest in Paris.
Les
Halles and the lower end of the Rue de Rivoli; fashionable
international chainstores, and trendy outlets.
Provincial
towns and cities: town centres remain among the principal
shopping areas, with the more select boutiques and shops, including
up-market and mid-market national chains and franchises. Out-of-town
shopping malls offer the big hypers, as well as a range of small shops,
mostly mid-market popular chains, in all fields from clothing, footwear
and music, to opticians and accessories.
Paying:
Virtually all but the very smallest shops, such as neighbourhood
convenience stores, accept credit cards, though often only cards with a
chip-and-pin. Large department stores in cities may take travellers'
cheques, otherwise most shops accept cheques as long as the customer
has ID. All shops accept cash (euros).
Markets: See the markets of France page
Vocabulary:
Here are the French words for common types of shop:
Supermarket: supermarché (soup-air-marsh-eh)
Grocery store: épicerie (eh-pee-siree)
Bakers: boulangerie (boo-lonje-euree)
Cake shop: patisserie (pat-ee-seurie)
Butchers: boucherie (boo-sheuree)
Chemists: pharmacie (farm-assee)
Cobblers, shoe repairer: cordonnerie (cordonn-eurie)
Tobacconists: un tabac (ta-back)
Bookshop : librairie (lee-brair-ree)
DIY store: magasin de bricolage (mag-a-zann de bree-co-large)
Clothes shop: magasin de vêtements (mag-a-zann de vet-mon)
Wine merchants: marchand de vins (mar-shone de van)
Estate agents: agence immobilière (a-zhonse ee-mo-bee-leeair)
Newsagents: maison de la presse (may-zon de la press)
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