Sarlat – Capital of the Périgord Noir

December 1, 2007

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Sarlat the geographical centre of Périgord-Quercy, is by far the most important tourist site in the region Over a million visitors discover or re discover this medieval jewel every year. This town of l0,000 inhabitants today occupies top spot in terms of tourists and culture. Although this is basically a cultural town, industry is also represented, mainly by food processing firms, many of which produce foie gras. This foie gras, one of the most highly rated in France has contributed to the great culinary reputation of the Périgord in general and the town in particular.

Sarlat

Although it has one of the largest medieval urban areas (13th to 16th centuries) in the world, Sarlat cannot claim a very distant past. The initial Sarlat abbey was most probably founded between 820 and 840 AD by Duke Pepin of Aquitaine. Saint Bernard stopped off in Sarlat in 1147 during his journey through the South of France to spread the gospel to the many Cathars. The plague was predominant at the time. He gave the sick consecrated bread to eat and healed them. This event, this miracle even was commemorated by the building of the strange graveyard lantern which, still today, remains one of the towns symbols.

Lost in the heart of the distant Périgord, Sarlat could have sunk into oblivion if it was not for the Malraux Act of 4th August 1962. Perhaps the minister of culture (Andre Malraux) recalled having taken to the macquis (The name given to some French Resistance groups during World War Two) in the heart of the Sarlat woodlands, when he signed the act of renovation and restoration. The works carried out from 1964 onward have revealed a veritable treasure trove of Medieval and Renaissance art to the public. Tourists and film directors then took charge of bringing this corner of the Earth “which is the closest things to heaven” according to Henry Miller, to the attention of the whole world. The 1978 film version of “Les Miserable” was filmed extensively in Sarlat, but also in nearby Domme, with the stunning Beynac Castle standing in for the famous Toulon Jail. Sarlat’s wonderful architecture and medieval style buildings and stone roofs have made a backdrop for a score of other top motion pictures since, which has added to it’s fame an it’s fortune.

Sarlat

A warren of alleyways, virtually unchanged since the middle ages, lined with warm ochre stone houses, each with its own distinctive facade and ornately sculptured window embrasures, set off by the stone roofs and turrets, make Sarlat a must for any tourist visiting the Dordogne. Sarlat’s Saturday market is excellent, teaming with life, an unforgetable experience from the street artists that throng there, to the wonderful fresh local produce. Sarlat comes to life in summer with its Drama Festival and Film Festival as well as non-stop street shows in the old quarter. Sarlat is an artists paradise with many small galeries including the famous “Herdin”, student of Salvador Dali. Out of season there is also a well packed programme of cultural events, concerts, drama, films (often in the original language), a visit at Christmas is like stepping into a Fairy Tale, with piped christmas carols and Santas scaling buildings everywhere, there truly is something for everyone.

Written by admin · Filed Under Towns & Villages 

History of the Dordogne

December 1, 2007

Quiet and tranquil now, the Dordogne region has had a tumultuous past. This history has left its mark all over the region, so before any visit to the region it is useful to have a brief understanding of the history of the area, so that the caves and dwellings,the castles and the bastides, the culture and the heritage, are set in context.

There are several significant stages to the history of the Dordogne region:

PREHISTORY

There is evidence across the region of the prehistoric activity, most clearly seen in the numerous cave paintings. The caves at Lascaux are perhaps the finest example anywhere, and date from approximately 15,000 years ago. But man had lived in the area for perhaps 400-500,000 years prior to this high point. Initially as Homo erectus, but he gave way later (100,000 years ago) to Neanderthal man, who was more capable at making tools.

The caves of the area provided ‘quality accommodation to these individuals trying to escape the cold of the last ice age, and also enabled them to hunt for reindeer and mammoths. It is likely that when the ice age ended, and the reindeer moved north, this first early period of semi-civilisation came to an end.

It was about 35,000 years ago that humans ‘as we know them’ arrived – homo-sapiens, as Cro-Magnon man. They co-existed with Nenderthal man for about 5,000 years. It was Cro-magnon man who brought hunting and painting skills to the region. This period, which lasted until approximately 10,000 years ago, was the period in which the paintings of Lascaux caves etc were created.

From that period, until 2500 years ago there were fundamental changes in lifestyle. Hunting gave way in part to raising cattle for food, and food-gathering gave way to agriculture and the planting of crops. Decorative pottery was made, and towards the end of this period copper implements were also made.

History of the Dordogne after 2000 BC – the Celts and the Romans

Life in the Dordogne continued to improve. Bronze implements were made, horses were trained and used for hunting, and more sophisticated dwellings were constructed from rock – there are many dolmens in the region that remain from this period.

The wheel was invented, and when used with animals that could pull carts, will have had a substantial impact on the lifestyle of early man. But meanwhile greater, more efficient civilisations were developing elsewhere and these wre to change the Dordogne (and the world) for ever.

The Celts moved across France and reached the area about 2500 years ago. Much more sophisticated than the inhabitants at that time, they were skilled at metalworking, and developed trade routes across France and Europe. They lived in towns, usually constructed on hilltops for defensive reasons, where a complex administrative function was established.

They created the first cities, including the city that is now Perigueux.

The Romans arrive in the Dordogne

The life of the celts – gauls as they were known now – was soon to be disrupted by the arrival of the Romans. 2,200 years ago, in 56 BC, they moved into the Dordogne under Publius Crassus, a lieutenant of Caesar, and rapidly conquered the gauls.

In AD 16 Aquitaine was born, as Aquitania, covering a large part of South West France. The fertile land rapidly attracted new Roman settlers, who brought ever more advanced agricultural techniques to the region, and constructed buildings, towns and cities that were very sophisticated.

The chief Roman towns in the region were at Perigueux and Cahors.

Romans also brought their language and culture to the Dordogne, and introduced the first vines to the region. The rich among them lived in splendid villas, at the centre of large farming complexes.

Numerous remains from the Roman period exist in the region, although not in the scale that they are found.

Vandals , Francs and Moors

Constant attacks on all fronts weakened the Roman empire, and these intensified after about 300 years of occupation. Various tribes from eastern europe invaded the region, constantly attempting to take the fertile lands from the Roman occupiers.

The Vandals and Visigoths were the most successful at displacing the Romans. Many of the fine villas and towns that had been established were destroyed, and new towns started to be developed with defensive walls and fortifications. There are many examples of fortified towns to be seen in the Dordogne region.

The vandals and visigoths had a short lived victory, because by the beginning of the 6th century they too were defeated by the Francs.

The Moors from the south were soon to follow, and took control of the area in the eighth century, before being themselves defeated. A tumultuous time of change in the Dordogne region of France, with Charlemagne expanding the boundaries further.

The Vikings then invaded from the north during the 10th century, burning villages and destroying everything else in their path as they moved along the Dordogne and Isle rivers.

The vikings too were eventually repelled. As part of the repulsion of the Vikings, four ‘baronies’ were established – Beynac, Biron, Mareuil and Bourdeilles. This provided the backdrop for much of what happened in the region over the following centuries, with powerful central families controlling much of the Dordogne.

By 1000 AD a number of towns that we still recognise had been established across the region.

The Middle Ages

During the Middle ages many of the bastide towns in the area were founded. Many are still in existence nowadays (see Towns’).

Eleanor of Aquitaine was next to cause problems in the area. She inherited much of Aquitaine, and married the King of France, Louis VII. But this marriage was annulled after 15 years, and Eleanor married Henry Plantagenet. Henry then became king of England, and a large part of France thus fell under English rule. Not surprisingly this caused some tensions! The problem was to cause rivalries that lasted hundreds of years. The problem was compounded when Eleanor and Henry had a troublesome son – Richard the Lionheart. When King Henry died, Richard inherited the throne of England and all its French lands.

In 1328, following the deaths of the 3 sons of Philippe le Bel, the French selected Philippe Count of Valois to be king, in place of Edward III. Edward III was the king of England and was also the nephew of the deceased French king.

Later, things got worse still, and in 1337 Philippe VI ordered that the lands of Aquitaine be taken from the English. In 1340 Edward III declared himself King of France. Thus the Hundred Years War began. During the Hundred Years war there were numerous ‘famous’ battles including the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The war was all but lost for the French, and it was agreed that Henry V was the heir to the French throne. But then Henry V died unexpectedly, leaving only a baby as his heir.

Soon after the young Joan of Arc appeared on the scene and remotivated the French king – now Charles VII – and his armies. It was in 1451 at the Battle of Castillon the English were finally defeated (a battle now spectacularly recreated each year for the enjoyment of tourists).

The 16th century led to further troubles, with numerous sieges, battles and unlimited cruelty during the Wars of Religion (between the catholics and the protestants) that ravaged the region. Several massacres of entire towns took place, and much of the earlier heritage of the Dordogne was destroyed.

It was only in 1598, when the Edict of Nantes granted certain freedoms to the protestants, that the battles came to an end.

The 17th and 18th centuries

Across the whole of France the 17th and 18th centuries were an unsettled time.

Centuries of battles had weakened the region, the Black death was rampant, and there were many years in which the harvests were poor. Food shortages, price rises and falling wages all made life very difficult for the poor, while the rich appeared to get ever richer, based in part on a series of unpopular taxes. Meanwhile the region experienced enormous population growth, further compounding the problems.

It is hard to imagine the desperation of a people who can simply see no escape from the terrible poverty, the high mortality rate and the daily struggle to survive.

The final straw was the imposition of a heavy salt tax on the region, and many people were living in constant destitution, virtually enslaved to the landowners and state.

This poverty also encouraged bands of ‘pirates’ to cross the countryside, pillaging villages as they went. The villagers were especially aggrieved that the landowners, despite receiving large amounts of tax, were unable to prevent these attacks.

This was more than could be tolerated and in 1594 there was a peasant revolt, touching much of the region between Bergerac and Sarlat.

A small victory was obtained, with a slight lifting of the taxes, but the victory was short-lived and for many years there were frequent uprisings against the landowners, almost always met with excessive force and reprisals. The revolts usually pitted peasants armed with pitchforks and agricultural implements against much better armed forces, so the outcome was not surprising.

These uprisings continued more or less sporadically until the time of the French Revolution.

Revolution, Napoleon, and after

Things reached a head in 1789, although more in Paris than the rest of the country.

The French Revolution overturned the existing regime and led to a time of great troubles in France, known as the Great Terror, which lasted until 1794 with much death and witch-hunting. The moderate Girondins based in Bordeaux suffered greatly during these years.

Only 10 years later, in 1804, Napoleon had leapt to power and been crowned emperor, to enormous popular support from the people. His fame and reputation relied largely on his great victories in wars with neighbouring countries, but he also had great success with a new legal code, the Napoleonic Code, which is still the foundation of the modern French legal system.

Many people from the Dordogne region joined the armies of Napoleon, which continued to enjoy success until the disastrous march on Moscow in 1812. This defeat was followed by others and napoleon was finally removed at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Poverty in the south-west of France increased still further, helped by the abolition of the slave trade which had formed an important part of Bordeaux revenues. But as the 19th century progressed some semblance of normality returned and the poverty levels decreased significantly.

Towards the end of the 19th century two new trends were seen that continue to this day. The first is tourism, and the second is rural depopulation. Unfortunately it took tourism another 100 years to catch up with the exodus of the young from the area, and to start to rebuild and reconstruct some of the long abandoned buildings and villages.

Finally it must be noted in tribute that many French from the region lost their lives at war during the 20th century, albeit that the battlefields were far away in northern France. Almost all villages in the Dordogne have a war memorial commemorating the young people of the region lost in the war.

The people of the Dordogne region also played an active role in the resistance movement during the second World War, and there are several locations that you will come across where there are memorials and tributes to these events.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Historic Dordogne 

Sarkozy’s Inheritance Tax Laws

December 1, 2007

Nicolas Sarkozy has kept his promise to revolutionise the French inheritance tax laws – and the changes are sweeping, as Bill Blevins reports…

France has updated its antiquated succession tax regime completely, abolishing inheritance tax between spouses and PACS partners. The succession tax system has been reworked to include other generous allowances to inheritances, particularly between close family.

The improved succession tax rules are part of a package of radical new tax legislation that came into force as France’s new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, celebrated his first 100 days in office. During his presidential campaign he had promised revolutionary changes to France’s tax system and a batch of reforms amounting to around €13.8 billion (£9.4 billion) in tax cuts was passed in August.

This will be welcome news to Living France readers who are planning to move to France. It brings the legislation in line with the UK’s tax-free exemption between spouses and civil partnerships. However, where inheritance tax in the UK is paid by the deceased’s estate, in France it is calculated for each beneficiary depending on the amount inherited and then paid by the individual beneficiary.

The inheritance tax exemption extends to sisters and brothers who are single, widowed or divorced providing that at the time of succession they are aged over 50 or they are suffering from an illness which prevents them from working and were living with the deceased during the five years preceding the death.

The allowance for children and parents (who inherit from their children) is tripled from €50,000 (£33,935) to €150,000 (£101,805) per person. The allowance between brothers and sisters is increased from €5,000 (£3,394) to €15,000 (£10,181).

The allowance for nieces and nephews (which is currently only available for lifetime gifts) increases from €5,000 (£3,394) to €7,500 (£5,090) and also applies on death. The allowance of €15,000 (£10,181) for brothers and sisters will apply where a niece or nephew inherits by representation (because their mother or father is dead or has renounced the inheritance).

The specific allowance of €50,000 (£33,935) for the disabled is also tripled to €150,000 (£101,805) and can be cumulated with other allowances (eg the €150,000 [£101,805] allowance for a child).

As the allowances have been dramatically increased, the new legislation has abolished the €50,000 (£33,935) global allowance which applied where children or spouses inherited. From now on, the rate bands will be automatically increased each year in line with inflation.

Lifetime gifts
Lifetime gifts made to children over a six-year period are subject to an allowance of €150,000 (£101,805) instead of €50,000 (£33,935). A child can therefore receive up to €300,000 (£203,611) (€150,000 [£101,805] from each parent) tax free every six years.

Although inheritances between married couples can now be made completely tax free, this is not the case for gifts. The allowance of €76,000 (£51,581) remains in place for lifetime gifts between spouses. For PACS partners the current allowance of €57,000 (£38,686) is increased to €76,000 (£51,581) in line with that of spouses. However, the allowance will be withdrawn if the PACS agreement is broken within the same year or the following year for a reason other than marriage to each other or the death of one of the partners.

Cash gifts

The specific exemption for cash gifts has increased from €20,000 (£13,574) to €30,000 (£20,361) where the gift is made to a child, grandchild or, if there are no direct line descendants, to nieces or nephews. This is provided the donor is more than 65 years old and the donee more than 18 years old. In addition, the gift should be declared and registered by the donee at his/her local tax office within one month of the gift.

This exemption can be cumulated with other allowances, (ie the €150,000 [£101,805] for children, €30,000 [£20,361] for grandchildren and €5,000 [£3,394] for nieces and nephews). However, it does not renew after six years and can only be used once.

The new legislation will revolutionise the French housing market, according to property specialist Trevor Leggett.

‘Inheritance tax, like so many outmoded ideas such as wealth tax, has long been a sticky subject in France,’ he says. ‘But now, with changes to the inheritance tax threshold, Nicolas Sarkozy is set to revolutionise the economy and boost investment in the housing market. It is estimated that with the new changes, as many as 95 per cent of the population of France will no longer pay any inheritance tax at all upon the death of their parents. These changes will be of interest to British homeowners in France as they will also benefit.’

The new tax changes will affect British expatriates if they are resident in France at the time of death or, if non-French resident, where the asset being gifted or bequeathed is located in France. A gift is also taxable if the recipient is resident in France and has been resident for at least six of the ten tax years prior to the year in which the gift is received.

The six out of ten years rule usually also applies to inheritances received by individuals resident in France. However, under the special UK/France Inheritance Tax Treaty, inheritances (not gifts) from a UK domicile to a French resident recipient are not liable to succession tax in France, even where the recipient has been resident in France for more than six years. The treaty also stipulates that if you die a resident of France and have any assets based in the UK they will be subject to UK inheritance tax, as well as French inheritance tax, although any inheritance tax paid in the UK will be credited against the French tax due.

There are various ways to reduce or avoid French succession tax and one is to take out an assurance vie which is the French term for an insurance bond, such as a personal portfolio bond, which allows you to hold your own choice of assets, excluding property, within a tax ‘wrapper’. If an assurance vie is set up before you become a French resident there is no succession tax liability on death. Setting up an offshore discretionary trust can also avoid French succession tax, although specific advice should be sought.

The succession tax reforms in France are good news for taxpayers. However, it is advisable to review your tax planning and tax mitigation arrangements on a regular basis regardless of changes in the law.

Written by admin · Filed Under News, Useful Info 

Selling Property in France

December 1, 2007

When you come to sell your house in France make sure you deal fairly and squarely with your potential purchasers, warns Elizabeth Berry…

The French Civil Code puts a heavy responsibility on the sellers of a property. First they must clearly describe what they are selling, any ambiguity being interpreted in favour of the buyers. Careful attention must therefore be given when preparing the detailed description of a property and its surface area which is always included in the compromis and acte de vente. Then, the property must be delivered to the buyer; this takes place by handing over the keys and documents and title.

But the most onerous duty, of which not all sellers may be aware, is to guarantee that the property is free of hidden defects existing at the time of sale. The defects must be such that they would either render the property completely unfit for the purpose for which the buyers intended it or would seriously interfere with their enjoyment of it, so that if they had been aware of the defects they would not have bought it at all or would have offered a lower price.

Examples of such defects are structural cracks, a basement liable to flooding, woodworm infestation in an area where a survey is not compulsory. Selling land described as a building plot can even constitute a warranty by the seller that building on the plot will be authorised.

The seller will be bound by the guarantee even if the defects were so hidden that they themselves were genuinely not aware of them, although, if the contract is between two private (ie non professional) parties, the contract can stipulate that the sellers will not be liable for hidden defects of which they were unaware themselves. The nature of the defect must be specified; attempts to exclude liability for hidden defects altogether may be unsuccessful.

As is well known, in many areas of France the sellers have a statutory duty before a sale to carry out searches for some hidden defects and to disclose the results to the buyers; such matters are the presence of lead and asbestos, termite and other wood-boring insects, or natural and technological risks affecting the property.

But the law in these matters is not all in favour of the buyers. The sellers will not be responsible for apparent defects and the buyers must therefore carefully inspect the property for these. It goes without saying that the sellers must act in good faith, and not try to conceal such defects for example by growing climbing plants over structural cracks.

The apparent defects must be capable of being discovered by someone with a normal concern for their own interests. There is no need for an expert to be consulted, but buyers would be expected to make reasonable efforts to discover the defects, eg by going up into an accessible roof space to inspect the state of the timbers.

However, if the buyers are themselves experts or professionals concerned with immovable property, such as agents, developers or architects, they will be presumed to be aware of all apparent defects, provided the sellers acted in good faith.

To enforce the seller’s guarantee, the buyers will have to start court proceedings within two years of discovery of the defects and the remedy would be either the annulment of the sale or a reduction of the purchase price.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Useful Info 

Having a baby in France

December 1, 2007

Giving birth in France involves plenty of admin, so if you are thinking of moving or are living here already then there are some things that you should know.

Covering the costs
If you haven’t yet left the UK the first thing to do is to get hold of an E112 available from the NHS international services (number below). This entitles you to medical care abroad for a pre-existing medical condition, such as pregnancy. It is a passport to free scans, X-rays, consultations and ultimately childbirth and postnatal care. The only thing it doesn’t cover is the cost of a private room, though in some hospitals you are in a private room anyway. If you are moving permanently you should also look into getting an E104, which is basically a statement of all your contributions in the UK and will mean you can transfer onto the French system. You can get this from the Department of Health (number listed below).
Basically all costs should be reimbursed, you just have to fill in the feuille de soins (normally brown) and send it to your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie).
If you live here and are already on the French system, then your costs should be covered automatically. It may be worth signing up to a private top up-insurance (a mutuelle) company to cover anything the social security doesn’t fully reimburse, such as private rooms, TV, an extra bed for the father etc… You can sign up for one even after becoming pregnant, there is no waiting period.

Prenatal care
If you get pregnant in France and you want to have a baby within the French social security system, then the first thing to do is to go to your doctor and fill in a déclaration de grossesse. This will normally take place towards the end of the third month of pregnancy and gets sent around to the various authorities and means your pregnancy is registered. You can choose any doctor as long as he/she is linked to the state health scheme (conventionné).
If you have a specific clinic in mind which is not where your doctor would automatically send you, it is always a good idea to book a room at the beginning of your pregnancy. Note that not all gynaecologists are allowed to practise in the local hospital or clinic, so you may not have the gynaecologist who has followed your pregnancy at your birth. Bear this in mind when choosing your gynaecologist at the beginning of your pregnancy.
Usually the local doctor can recommend a gynaecologist who carries out all the monthly checks. This includes monthly blood tests to check for toxoplasmosis, measles etc. You take the blood tests to a laboratory of your choice – to find one look under Laboratoires d’analyses de biologie médicale in the yellow pages. It is also a good idea to get your blood group identified at the same time.
You will also have three scans (écographies) during your pregnancy. Very early on they will be able to determine the sex of the child, but if you don’t want to know you should tell them.
Whatever your age, the baby is now automatically checked for Down’s syndrome and other genetic disorders (nuchal fold and blood tests) and you will be offered an amniocentesis – amniocentèse – if you are considered high risk due to the results of the preliminary tests (which is reimbursed by the social security).
Towards the later stages of pregnancy you will also have to meet the anesthetist who will talk to you about the kind of pain relief you are likely to require – note that for deliveries in France pain relief tends to be all or nothing: epidurals (péridurales) are freely available and popular, even encouraged. The French are not big on natural childbirth, and very few women opt for a home birth, though this is an option provided you can find a midwife who is willing to do so.

Midwives
A midwife is called a sage femme and once your pregnancy declaration is in the system you should sign up for pre-natal classes (séances de preparation à l’accouchement) at the hospital where you will give birth. It is a good idea to attend these courses, even though you may not be expecting your first baby, partly to have a contact to call in case of problems and also because it familiarises you with the appropriate French vocabulary.

Giving birth
You will give birth in a clinic or a hospital and are liable to pay only for extras like having a single room, TV and phone (unless you have signed up for a mutuelle – see above). The average stay is five days and eight to ten for a cæsarian. Don’t forget to bring all your social security papers with you to the birth; the whole system thrives on bureaucracy and the first thing they ask you for as you come panting into the clinic is your social security status.

Breastfeeding
If you want to breastfeed your baby you must tell the midwives and doctors at the hospital beforehand, who, in most hospitals and clinics, will help you and give you a list of names and addresses of mothers who are breastfeeding in you area. You may find that some people around you will not approve of breastfeeding. Don’t let them spoil a special time between you and your baby. Below is the website of the La Lèche League in France, which also has pages in English.

Admin for the child
You cannot register the baby’s birth if you have not officially recognised the baby beforehand. Whether married or not you must recognise your child (preferably before the birth) at the mairie. If the mother (unmarried) recognises the baby on her own first, the child will bear the mother’s surname. Since January 1st 2005, parents can choose whether the child will bear the mother’s or father’s surname or both. In all cases each parent must present valid ID.
You are legally obliged to register the birth of your child within three days at the local mairie, so it is advisable to have a name ready. If the child is born on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, you have up to the following Monday to declare the birth. Anyone who was present at the birth can declare it. You will need to provide the livret de famille (if you have one) and the certificate issued by the midwife or doctor. But often the hospital or clinic will register the baby for you. Declaring the child is free. One of the reasons for the registration is to make sure the child isn’t given a ridiculous name, although nowadays almost any name is tolerated unless the officer in charge considers it to be harmful for the child. You are no longer required to choose a first name from the Saints’ calendar!
At the hospital, or sometimes at the mairie, you will be given a Carnet de Santé for your baby. This is a book that contains the child’s health records: vaccinations, check-ups, operations, illnesses etc.
Your baby will have a check-up once a month by the doctor of your choice (this is compulsory if you wish to receive child benefits). Your child has to have certain inoculations (like TB) in order to be admitted in a crèche or school. However, if you are against these vaccinations, you may refuse to have them done, but you will need to write a letter stating that you do not wish your child to be vaccinated.
Homeopathic doctors can give you more advice on this; they are more likely to provide health grounds for recommending against vaccination for your child if they feel this is appropriate.

Postnatal care
You will have a check-up two months after giving birth and your doctor can then prescribe ten sessions of pelvic re-education usually carried out by a kinésithérapeute (physiotherapist). The aim is to get your nether regions back into shape after childbirth and avoid unpleasant complaints such as incontinence at the age of 50.

Maternity/paternity leave for working parents
If you have less than two children you are entitled to sixteen weeks’ maternity leave (six before childbirth and ten after). If you have more than two children this goes up to 26 weeks (eight before childbirth and eighteen after it). In case of twins, you are entitled to twelve weeks before the birth and 22 weeks after
the birth. A recent change in the law allows you to shorten the leave before the birth and add on the missed days to your leave after the birth
If your prenatal maternity leave is shortened (premature birth), you are entitled to add the days remaining before the birth on to the end of your maternity leave. Your maternity leave can be lengthened in case of illness before or after and due to the birth: by two weeks before the birth and four weeks after. In both cases you will receive the sickness benefit (indemnités journalières de maladie).
In any case, you are obliged to stop work for a minimum of eight weeks, six of which after the birth. You may choose to shorten your maternity leave within those limits. Fathers are entitled to a leave of eleven consecutive days to be taken within four months of the birth and eighteen days for a multiple birth.

Benefits
In order to be eligible for family allowance, you have to provide the CAF (Caisse d’allocations familiales – www.caf.fr) with the déclaration de grossesse within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. After the first compulsory prenatal appointment, you must have six other check-ups after the end of your third month of pregnancy (basically one per month). All this is clearly indicated on your guide de surveillance médicale, so you can’t go wrong). After each test, you must send the appropriate form to the CAF.
Allowances depend on your personal circumstances and you should contact your local CAF for more information. However, the most frequently provided one is: the Prestation d’acceuil du jeune enfant (PAJE) which includes a prime à la naissance paid once during the seventh month of pregnancy and is generally given to those on low incomes.
The allocation de base (basic benefit) starts from the first day of the month of the baby’s birth and until the child’s third birthday. It is also given under certain conditions. To obtain this allowance your child must undergo a number of medical checkups (on the 8th day, 9th or 10th month and 24th or 25th month.
If you have two or more children and they reside in France, you are entitled to the allocations familiales. This allowance does not depend on your income and is paid until the child’s 20th birthday and providing he is not earning more than 55% of the minimum monthly wage (Smic).

Nationality
When both parents are foreigners (say British) the baby takes on their nationality. When the child is 13, providing she/he has lived here for at least five years (since the age of eight), the parents can ask for French nationality on his or her behalf but they must have the child’s consent. When the child is 16 she/he can ask for French nationality, providing again she/he has lived in France for a continuous period of five years since the age of 11. The child does not need his/her parents’ authorisation. At 18, the child automatically becomes French, providing she/he resides in France at that date and has lived in France for periods of time totalling at least five years since the age of 11. If the parents are British, he/she also retains British nationality.

Useful associations and addresses:
NHS International Services Team +44 191 225 4811
Department of Health +44 207210 4850
Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) – www.caf.fr The government fund for family and related benefits. Contact your local one for information on your rights.
Protection maternelle et infantile (PMI) – a service provided by your département’s Conseil Général where social workers, midwives, doctors and pediatricians answer your questions.
Mouvement français pour le planning familial – www.planning-familial.org – the French family planning organisation with 67 branches throughout the country. Confidential and free information on contraception, abortion, sexual violence etc.
Centre d’information et de documentation femmes et familles www.infofemmes.com 01 42 17 12 00. Free and confidential advice on women’s rights, legal help and so on.
Breastfeeding: La Lèche League www.lllfrance.org

Useful vocabulary
Amniocentesis – une amniocentèse
Baby – un nourrisson/un bébé
Birth/delivery – un accouchement
Breastfeeding – allaitement
Breech – une présentation par le siège
Formula milk – du lait en poudre
Forceps delivery – un accouchement aux forceps
Incubator – une couveuse – On va mettre le bébé en couveuse
Maternity – la maternité – je rentre à la maternité
Maternity benefit – l’allocation de maternité
Maternity leave – le congé de maternité
Pregnant – enceinte
Pregnancy test – un test de grossesse
Prenatal – prénatal
Postnatal – post-natal
Postnatal depression – la dépression post-natale
She is three months pregnant – elle est enceinte de trois mois
She’s overdue – elle a dépassé le terme
The baby was two weeks overdue – le bébé avait deux semaines de retard
To be pregnant – être enceinte
To get pregnant – tomber enceinte
Twins – des jumeaux
When is it due? – C’est prévu pour quand?

By Helena Frith-Powell,

Written by admin · Filed Under Useful Info 

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