Shopping in France

More and more excursion tours to France are supplied with a small shopping program. And full-fledged shopping tours are rapidly gaining momentum. And it’s not surprising, because France is the country where the most fashionable and stylish things in the world are produced. Despite the fact that the shops here are considered some of the most expensive in Europe, many people are willing to pay for quality and exclusivity.

French sales

It is known that People come to France not for discounts, but for unique things. However, there is also a sales season here. In winter, sales start in mid-January, and in summer - at the end of July. At this time, discounts reach 70%. Often the percentage is set for a specific product.

The discount amount is indicated on the round sticker at the bottom of the label. Moreover, there can be several of them on one thing. The following terms are also found:

1. Promotion. The sign informs about ongoing promotions that last no more than a week and does not depend on the sales season.
2. Soldes. Indicates that there is a seasonal sale.
3. Degriffes. Offers discounts on designer items without labels.
4. Magasins d'usines. This means that you can purchase items at the manufacturer’s price, without a trade markup.

Important! You need to choose carefully, since in most cases it will not be possible to exchange or return an item purchased on sale.

Secrets - what and where to buy

It is better to prepare in advance for shopping in France. Let's reveal a few secrets of successful purchases:

• shopping malls Galery Lafayette, Au Printemps, Montparnasse Shopping Center are suitable for lovers of department stores with a wide variety of goods;
• luxury goods are worth going for on a quiet street in Faubourg-Saint-Honoré: shopping here can become some of the best memories in life.
• antiquest are sold in the Louvre des Antiquaires stores located near the Palais-Royal metro station; Also worth a visit at flea markets (budget option);

• the best jewelry stores located on Place Vendôme - products purchased here are inherited and do not lose their value immediately after purchase;
• outlets are located outside the city, and at a considerable distance; the most famous of them is La Valle Village.

Attention! Having purchased expensive items, you can return the value added tax when leaving the country. And this is about 20% savings.

Trading houses and boutiques

Most famous brands are based in Paris, this is the so-called “golden triangle”. Luxury boutiques are located on the Champs Elysees. Along the street there are shops of famous brands - Gucci, Dior, Cartier, Chanel, Hugo Boss.There are also many boutiques on Rue Saint-Honoré, where the largest Chanel store in the country is located.

Not every traveler is ready to wander through fashionable neighborhoods in search of the right thing. It is much more convenient to go to universal shopping malls, which are open even on Sundays. The Galeries Lafayette is considered the center of the French lifestyle. There are boutiques, cafes and restaurants there.

Jewelry

The stores offer a large selection of gold and silver jewelry. You can find beautiful earrings, a chain with a pendant and bracelets. One of the conceptual decorations is bracelet with the word "Mercy". The store that sells them has the exact same name.

Cosmetics, perfumes

Are extremely popular french perfume. Therefore, leaving the country without a bottle is simply unforgivable. To avoid buying a fake, it is better to choose specialized stores. Famous cosmetic stores are «Sephora" and «Marionnaud".

A true Parisian exclusive will be the exquisite perfume with the scent of roses “Les parfums de Rosine”. The oldest brand Fragonard organizes excursion tours for tourists. Of course, Grasse will be a real haven for perfume lovers. This is where many authentic perfume manufacturing houses are concentrated.

Reference! In addition to perfume, you can bring Handmade soap with different smells.

Fabrics

It is worth paying attention to the famous textiles from Biarritz. If difficulties arise during the selection process, you can buy a piece of fabric and find a use for it later. Espadrilles, table linen and curtains are in demand made of cotton fabric with bright stripes. Also attracts the attention of tourists sophisticated lace.

In Nice at the markets popular souvenirs are painted silk scarves, which have long been produced in small batches. Provencal textiles are famous (Indian cotton was brought there in the 17th century). Most famous market − Cours de Saleya, where they sell everything your heart desires.

Dishes

Among tableware, Limoges porcelain is of greatest interest. The products are made of snow-white porcelain and decorated with paintings with colored and gold paints.

In Nice you can buy the finest products made from Provencal clay - local ceramics.

Souvenirs

In addition to the famous postcards from Nice, men like to bring crafts with maritime symbols. These are luxurious frigates depicted on fabric, copies of compasses, flags and other attributes associated with the sea. A marine-themed gift will delight both a boy and an adult man in love with the sea.

Food and sweets

France − the birthplace of famous delicacies and is famous for its incredibly delicious cheese (hundreds of types of cheese, especially in Nice). While in the country, you need to try as many cheeses as possible. In stores you can find factory-made products. The markets offer unique products from private cheese dairies. Average the price varies from 15 to 35 euros per kilogram, elite cheeses cost about 80 euros. Particular attention should be paid to confitures and meat delicacies.

From big variety of chocolate Literally my eyes widen. It is worth paying attention to chocolate, made in Bayonne. You can choose anyone, but the most exotic would be the spicy dark Espelette with red pepper.

Popular among tourists and unusual caramels made from cream and salted butter. This product is already familiar to many, but for the first time it invented in Brittany. It's inexpensive and delicious.

Shoes

Moccasins are one of the most comfortable types of shoes for walking and traveling. Rivieras moccasins are considered the most popular.In terms of convenience, they are superior to the legendary flip-flops. In the middle of the last century they were worn by Spanish fishermen in the Costa Blanca.

Alcohol

The stores offer a large assortment French wines. The French themselves recognize wines from 5 euros per unit as good.

Advice! To surprise a loved one, it is worth looking for products that are not exported. To do this, it is better to visit one of the local wineries, where you can taste the product. Also buy a bottle of the legendary Grande Dame Rose champagne, but this is not a cheap drink here. In the north, a strong apple brandy, Calvados, is popular. It is produced in the province of Normandy.

Each country has its own special products that cannot be found in other parts of the world. Shopping lovers will definitely not return from France empty-handed. Here you can buy authentic items from big-name manufacturers.