Shopping at any destination brings fabulous experiences to you. And if the place is France, your experience is going to multiply by numbers. Tourist’s shopping in France includes so many local specialties. Lace, crystal glass, cheeses, coffee and, of course, wines, spirits and liqueurs are some of the special item people do purchase. You can head for Arques, which is the home of Crystal D’Arques situated between the St Omer and Calais to have the shopping pleasure. France is known for its textile qualities.
Most towns have fruit and vegetable markets on Saturday. Hypermarkets, enormous supermarkets which sell everything from foodstuffs and clothes to hi-fi equipment and furniture, are widespread in France. Antiques are in abundance for those who like to collect such items. Antique centers like Louvre des Antiquaires, Village Suisse, etc are where you will find amazing stuff. In Paris the Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette near the Opéra; the Bazar Hôtel de Ville (BHV) and the Samaritaine on the Right Bank are most famous department stores. Variety of Flower market in the country is also a great charm of shopping. The inhabitants of France are bibliophile too. So you are going to have a number of book stalls over there.
Department stores are open from Monday to Saturday 7 to 7.30 in the evening. Food shops also follow the same timings. Euro is the official currency for exchange. Notes are denominated in terms of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Some of the hotels have the right to exchange the foreign currency. Shops and hotels are prohibited from accepting foreign currency by law. Travelers should check with their banks for details and current rates. You can use debit cards, credit cards or cash to purchase items. Travel cheques are also accepted. |
