The only one legal tender in the territory France as members of the European Union is Euro. Until 2002, the national currency of France was the French franc, divided into 100 centimes.
Euro(Euro), equal to 100 cents. Banknotes are in circulation face value in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Recommended take care of purchasing currency before entering the country. Most favorable rate exchange is offered by the Banque de France and exchange items with a sign "No Commission"(“no commission”) Kiosks at airports, hotels and train stations do not offer the most favorable rate, plus they charge a percentage for the transaction, but their opening hours are very comfortable. For exchange dollars Most exchange offices charge a 15% commission, although this is not stated anywhere.
The official currency of France is the European single currency euro (€). The banking rate in Russia at the beginning of 2012 was about 38.5 rubles per euro. The central bank of the state is the Banque de France, on whose website you can find the official exchange rate.
Some Russian banks operate on the territory of the French state. For example, VTB Group, which has a subsidiary in the country. Working days of French banks: Tuesday - Friday, in some branches Saturday. Opening hours from 9.00 to 17.00.
To avoid problems with cash withdrawal and to save money on commissions when transferring one currency to another, you need to open Russian bank currency account with an international account attached to it credit card(Visa, American Express, MasterCard).
Currency exchange in France is carried out at exchange offices. Some of them do not charge a commission fee. In places where there are large concentrations of tourists (train stations and airports, hotels), the exchange rate is overpriced, and for exchange at the bank an amount of about 6 € is charged. The easiest way to cash out is with a credit card at ATMs that operate 24 hours a day. Using the card you can pay for purchases in stores, hotel services, bills in restaurants and bars. A fee is charged for each transaction.
Road checks easily cash out at a bank or exchange office. Credit cards are widely used.
With checks in France, you can receive an amount at a time, not exceeding 60 euros, it is better to take checks in euro currency with you. Also profitable exchange currency through ATM machines.
VAT (TVA) is 20.6% (33% at items luxury) and is included in the price of many goods. Foreigners when purchasing goods in one store for an amount of at least 185 euros can get a tax refund.
The money is returned to customs when crossing the border by presentation check and goods, or the check is sent to the place residence And cashed out in the bank.
On January 1, 2002, the 12 member countries of the European Union introduced money turnover a new single currency called the euro. This European currency is intended for more than 320 million Europeans, and together with the territories of private circulation, for 500 million people. The European euro has the international designation EUR. One European euro is equal to 100 cents. Cash turnover includes banknotes in denominations of 5 euros, 10 euros, 20 euros, 50 euros, 100 euros, 200 euros and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. The European Euro is governed and administered by the European central bank, located in Frankfurt. Until the end of 2012 National Bank will exchange national banknotes for European euros free of charge. For almost all members of the European Union, the single currency of Europe has become the only monetary unit; in addition, the European euro is also used in a number of countries that are not members of the European Union, under the current agreement with the European Central Bank. Of these, the “first wave” included countries such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, France, Vatican City, Mayotte, Monaco, San Marino, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Somewhat later they were joined by Greece, Slovenia, the Republic of Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia. There are several countries and territories in which the European currency is used unofficially, these are: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Andorra, Kosovo, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin and Montenegro. European banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 13.00 (sometimes until 14.00 or 15.00), on Thursday - until 17.00 or 18.00 with an hour break for lunch. Branches of European banks at airports and major train stations are open from 6.30 to 22.30, including on weekends. Currency exchange (the European Euro exchange rate may vary in different places) is possible in European banks and specialized European exchange offices, as well as in hotels and at the main post office, in large cities they operate daily and around the clock. Credit cards accepted in almost all major stores. You can get cash using cards at European ATMs. The renunciation of national currencies and the transition to a single European currency took place gradually. It was preceded by a number of steps to bring economic and financial systems countries united in the European Monetary Union. One of the means of protection against counterfeiting of euros is the number on the banknote. The number itself consists of a letter and eleven digits. If you add up all the digits in the number, you get a two-digit number. Then, by sequentially adding the digits that make up the number, you can get a single-digit number. For example, having received the number 79, we add 7 and 9, we get 16 - we add 1 and 6, we get 7. This number, like the letter in the number, indicates the country in which this European currency was produced. It must correspond to the letter in the euro number, which is also assigned to this country. For example, if the letter in the number is X (Germany), and the resulting number is not equal to 2, then the bill is definitely counterfeit.
Banks are usually open on weekdays from 10.00 to 17.00 or from 9.30 to 16.00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and festive days. On the eve of holidays, only the first hours are open. half day.
IN provinces banks are open from Tuesday to Saturday. Break, as a rule, from 13.00 to 15.00, on the eve of holidays they also close earlier than usual. Exchange points currencies open daily from 9.00 to 18.00, closed - Sunday.
The French earn euros, and we rubles. In Paris, everyone needs euros, no one needs our rubles. What about dollars? Can they connect tourists with Parisians? Answers to such questions should be sought before the trip. To do this, it is important to find out how currency exchange is carried out in Paris.
At first glance it may seem that there is nothing complicated here. You take the money, go to the exchange office and change rubles for euros. This is exactly what we do at home. But Paris is France, and France is Europe. So here is the time to remember the wise words: “We calculated on paper, but forgot about the ravines and walked along them!”
"Gullies" that should not be ignored:
- where to change money - at home or in Paris;
- how to change - at an ATM, cash or checks;
- the amount of commissions - how much we are willing to lose on the exchange;
- How to pay - cash, ruble cards or eurocurrency.
It's not so easy anymore, is it? It’s not for nothing that the embassy requires proof of solvency when issuing a visa. This is not only a bank certificate, it is the most important part of preparing for the trip. Let's give it due attention.
Is it worth exchanging money before traveling?
You should start looking for solutions to this issue only after you have already decided on the tour, accommodation and air tickets. The amount for all these expenses must be reserved for your payment card, since you will pay for all this at home and, most likely, in rubles.
The main and largest expenses have already been made. Now let's take care of the remaining funds. If you have savings in rubles, then they should be exchanged for euros before the trip. In Europe, no one needs rubles; moreover, it’s even difficult to change dollars there. So the entire amount that you plan to borrow for running costs, it’s best to convert to euros at home. But don’t rush to convert everything into cash. Part can be put on currency card, opened in euros, and part of it turned into euro traveler's checks.
If your main savings are in dollars, then changing currency at home will cost more than in Europe. Here you will have to make a double exchange - first in rubles, then in euros. Losses due to exchange rate differences will be significant. In this case, take the money with you or put it on a dollar card if you have one. You can exchange currency in Paris at the direct rate.
Where to exchange money
When you fly to France with dollars, you will be surprised at how little they are valued here. Almost nowhere they are accepted, only in large shopping centers. Therefore, sooner or later you will have to part with your dollars, since you will need cash here. Exchange offices will come to the rescue, which in France can be found using bureaux de change signs.
Be prepared for the fact that French exchangers charge a hefty commission for their services, and each has its own commission. Because of this, the exchange rate varies greatly in different areas of the city. The most advantageous rates are offered on the Champs Elysees and in the La Défense business district. Here you can also find signs with the words Bureau de change sans commissions. Don't pass them by. On the contrary, look for these phrases. Such points exchange currency without commission. But you don’t need to go to some shabby exchange office that doesn’t inspire confidence, keep in mind that there are scammers everywhere, and in order not to fall for their bait, you need to use your brain when choosing a place to exchange currency.
You will not find the usual exchange in banks in Paris, the commissions are extremely high.
For tourists at the airport, in museums, near observation decks, and at train stations, there are special machines where you can quickly exchange dollars for euros. However, this service is very expensive. By using it, you may suddenly discover that the euro cost you less than the dollar.
Many hotels offer a service for exchanging dollars for euros near the reception desk. Here you will be offered the lowest rate, try to avoid this option.
Paying for purchases with a ruble debit/credit card
If you don’t have cash dollars or euros, but have a ruble bank card, you can safely use it. Paying for purchases in stores in this way is quite common in Europe.
Just remember that in such cases you will pay a commission for converting rubles into euros at the rate calculated by your bank. Therefore, find out in advance how much this service costs for your card. Usually they charge up to 5% of the amount for conversion. When ordering a card, look for banks with minimal fees.
ATMs
Having a bank card in euros, you don’t have to worry about how to cash out your funds. Find ATMs in Paris using ATM signs. They are no different in use from ours, only their menus are most often in only two languages - English or French. Remember, when cashing out, a service fee of at least 1% of the amount is charged. If you withdraw currency from a ruble card, then a commission is also charged for conversion.
If your card does not have a chip, it only has a magnetic strip, then not every ATM will suit you. Where can I withdraw money in this case? Look for branches of international banks or go to large shopping centers. There are always ATMs installed there that service cards different types. Remember that ATMs always charge a fee for servicing cards of other, and especially foreign, banks, even if you withdraw cash from a Euro account.
Tips
An surcharge for services (12-15%) is usually automatically included in the bill in hotels, restaurants and bars (not allocated as a separate line), so no additional payments are officially required, however, it is considered good manners to leave small change (change or simply rounding up) to the service staff bills upward) along with the score. In cafes and small bars it is also common to leave a small tip (20-50 cents for a cup of coffee, for example) even when serving at the counter. However, in different establishments both the size of tips and the procedure for their payment can sometimes change very significantly.
In cafes, bars and some restaurants it is cheaper to eat and drink at the counter than at a table. Usually two prices are indicated: au comptoir (at the counter) and a salle (at the table), and lunch at outdoor tables near a restaurant or cafe usually costs even more (10-20%) than indoors.
Since wines and drinks are usually not on the menu, they are served through the bar. Accordingly, these components will be separated in the bill, and payment for wine, for example, can be made through the bar. Local bartenders and waiters have a whole system for indicating payment to a client. In some bars, they place a plate on the table (the client has paid and is waiting for change) or an inverted plate (the client has paid and is not waiting for change), in others they fold the corner of the bill in a special way or put a mark on it... Understanding this system is quite difficult, since Each area has its own rules, and the establishments themselves do not always clearly inform about payment methods, so it is recommended to seek advice from a guide or local residents. Non-cash means of payment are accepted in almost all bars and cafes without restrictions, but preference is clearly given to “real money”, especially if the staff sees a foreigner in front of them.
Often the local press organizes noisy campaigns against shortchanging tourists in cafes and restaurants. This problem does exist, especially in places with a large flow of foreign visitors, so it is recommended to carefully check the invoice before paying. However, this is typical for the most part in large cities - in the provinces such petty scams are still considered degrading the reputation of the establishment and are suppressed quite harshly. In any case, with good service and no complaints about the bill, an additional tip will not be superfluous, especially if you have to visit this establishment more than once.
Price level
Oddly enough, France is not the most expensive place in Western Europe, especially if you evaluate the price level in numerous street restaurants and private shops. average cost a hotel room in Paris, for example, is 189 euros per night, which is cheaper than in London, Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam and Geneva. However, even within one settlement prices for the same product or service can vary quite significantly depending on the area and level of the outlet, and often there is no obvious relationship between the establishment and the price. You can only bargain in markets and private shops - and then within reason. And at the same time, there is a whole system of discounts (seasonal, holiday, and so on), as well as all kinds of markups (for example, from July to August, prices in all hotels and most restaurants in tourist areas are guaranteed to increase by a third), so you should always get acquainted with conditions of purchase as carefully as possible.
Almost all establishments in Paris and large resort areas are always more expensive than in the provinces. If you focus on comfortable accommodation with breakfast and lunch in restaurants and visits to some museums, it will cost approximately 90-100 euros per day per person. A more modest holiday with accommodation in hostels or motels, with meals in small cafes and trips to public transport will cost 50 euros per day or less (even in Paris, with some skill, you can find a hostel with breakfast for 18-20 euros per day). But prices for high-category hotels have practically no upper limit - it all depends on the level of the establishment, its location, the season and the guest’s requests.
You can have lunch in a small cafe for 5-15 euros, in higher-level establishments - for 15-35 euros, in an upscale restaurant - from 40 euros and above (all without wine, with it prices will start from 50-70 euros, including service surcharge). At the same time, breakfast or lunch for one person in a decent Chinese restaurant in Paris can cost from 6 to 12 euros, but such establishments must be chosen carefully - not all of them are equal in the quality of food and service (as elsewhere in Europe, a simple rule can be used here - where the locals dine, it will be good for tourists too). You should beware of establishments located around “iconic” tourist sites - they offer excellent views, but they cannot boast of being cheap. A small bottle of water will cost approximately 50 cents, a cup of coffee - from 1 to 2.5 euros, a baguette with jam - 4.5 euros, a bottle of ordinary wine - from 4 euros, a ten-minute taxi ride - 10 euros, and so on.
By the way, the French call eurocents in the old manner - centimes. And only US currency is called cents, pronouncing them in the American manner - “sents”.
Visiting museums can add significantly to costs, although many (especially public ones) set aside one day a week for free admission or at half the price of a regular ticket. Also, certain benefits are provided for young people under the age of 18 (for students - up to 26 years old) and elderly people (over 60 years old), however, to confirm your status you will need a passport or student card. Entrance to museums and exhibitions is almost always free for children under 4 years of age and often up to 12 years of age. At the same time, many regions offer the use of specialized cards and passes (the names and prices are different in each region), with the help of which you can visit several cultural institutions at once with a decent discount or completely free. Various “open days” are also common, during which you can visit cultural sites for free. They usually occur in the off-season and do not have the most convenient schedule, but often this is the only opportunity to visit certain museums without extra costs.
Immediately after Christmas (usually starting from January 4-7) and at the end of June (usually the last Wednesday of the month), all stores in France hold huge sales of goods at reduced prices. In some large retail networks discounts can reach up to 70% (don’t forget the possibility of a 12% VAT refund when leaving the country), but on average they fluctuate around 30-50% (during the rest of the year, stores are prohibited from massively reducing prices on goods). The usual duration of sales is 5 weeks. The exact dates (and times) for the start and end of sales are set by the government; in different departments of France they may differ by a couple of days or even a week. Tourist offices and bureaus even publish specialized directories for each year, which indicate the sales schedule, addresses and descriptions of stores. In addition, many hotels and restaurants also offer discounts and Special offers, which allows you to save some extra money.
Banks and currency exchange
Banks are open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00. On the eve of weekends and holidays, banks close early (usually at noon); sometimes they remain closed all day after the holiday. In Paris, bank offices are usually open on weekdays from 10.00 to 17.00 or from 9.30 to 16.00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. In the province, banks are open from Tuesday to Saturday. The break is usually from 13.00 to 15.00; on holiday eves they also close earlier than usual. Currency exchange offices are open daily from 9.00 to 18.00, closed on Sundays.
Money can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices (bureaux de change, located at train stations, airports, tourist offices and on the main streets of most major cities, are almost never found in the provinces), in most transport agencies, hotels and travel agencies. According to local law, shops and hotels are not allowed to accept foreign currency. Bank exchange offices must have a notice outside. The exchange rate and commission in each bank are different - often the office declares a free (no commission) currency exchange, compensating for it with a low exchange rate, or vice versa. Post offices can also exchange currency and cash travel checks and sometimes even offer best course exchange than large banks. Exchange offices at airports, hotels and train stations do not offer the most favorable rates, plus they usually charge a certain fixed percentage for the transaction, but their opening hours are very convenient. Exchange of US dollars has recently become much more difficult - most exchange offices charge up to 8-15% commission for transactions with them, although this is not indicated anywhere.
Cheapest and convenient way currency exchange in France - through ATMs (here they are usually designated DAB, Distributeur, or Point argent), which usually accept cards from all major international payment systems and bank cards. It is generally recommended to use a credit card for purchases and a debit card for getting cash from ATMs, however this is not universal so advice should be sought regarding terms and conditions international maps with bank employees on site. Since a transaction fee is charged for almost all actions with the card, it is more efficient to make one-time withdrawals large sums instead of many small seizures. Many local ATMs only work with four-digit PIN codes and are often unable to process transactions with multiple accounts at once (especially foreign ones), so it is better to consult the terms of service of the card at the office of the issuing bank before traveling.
Almost all shops, restaurants and hotels accept French (chip) cards and their foreign equivalents as payment (Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere, American Express is usually only accepted in upscale establishments). French bank cards have a special smart chip that allows you to instantly identify the cardholder and the status of his account, which is why many banks and institutions prefer to work with such cards. And many vending machines (ticket, transport, etc.) almost universally accept only cards with a microchip for payment. In addition, most cashiers are so accustomed to their system that they may simply not know that a foreign Visa or Mastercard must be swiped and the client must sign the receipt (while most cards issued in France itself require the client to enter a PIN- code instead of a signature on a check). Some small establishments also do not accept foreign (without a chip) cards at all or only work with them up to a certain amount.
Travel checks can be easily cashed at any bank or exchange office, especially in big cities and tourist centers. Many banks also offer a noticeably more favorable rate for them than for cash currency. Post offices that also exchange travel checks usually offer the best rates. By the way, in France you should pay close attention to post offices. In many small towns they often perform banking functions, have ATMs and cash registers, as a result they allow you to work with foreign credit cards and checks even far from large cities.
VAT and tax-free
VAT (TVA) in France ranges from 5.5% (food) to 19.6% (average rate), although on luxury goods it goes up to 33%.
A VAT refund for citizens of non-EU countries is possible when purchasing goods worth more than 175 euros in one Tax Free store (at the entrance there must be an announcement of Global Refund Tax Free Shopping or Tax Free For Tourists). When purchasing, you must present a passport and write down the purchased goods for individual items in a special receipt or check (bordereau de d'tax, issued by the store) indicating the price and amount of tax. In the receipt (usually issued on three sheets and valid for three months after the date purchase) must be signed and stamped by the store. Then it is attached to the goods at customs upon departure, where a special stamp is also affixed.
Most often, the tax refund itself is carried out in a separate window with the announcement of TVA, Global Refund Office, Cash Refund Office or Tax Free Refund at the airport or other border crossing point. The VAT refund procedure is quite lengthy; in some cases, you will need to present all purchased goods along with receipts, so you need to allow some time for it. Refunds are made both in cash (when applying to the Global Refund window) and by transfer to a bank account or credit card - in this case, one copy of a receipt from the store with a customs stamp must simply be dropped into any of the mailboxes at the airport (usually there is a special box near Global Refund windows, free shipping). If the tax refund is not received within three months, you must contact the store where the purchase was made, not the French customs authorities. You can also contact the French consulate, where, upon presentation of air tickets, a receipt and a list of goods, you can receive a special stamp stating that the registration and import of goods complies with established procedures, but for this you will need to pay a fee of $21, so these actions are practically not practiced.
Taxes paid on food and beverages, tobacco, medicines, alcohol, precious stones, vehicles(except for sports equipment), weapons and services.
Officially, all purchased goods must be in their packaging at the time of issuing a VAT refund, but in practice this requirement is hardly observed.
When planning a visit to financial institutions and currency exchange offices, please note that the average bank is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. exchange offices usually open from 9:00 to 18:00. Changing currency in France is less profitable than in the Russian Federation, so you should think about the exchange in advance and take euros with you, not dollars or rubles. The most profitable ones are French exchangers with a “no commission” sign, but they are rare.
When entering the country, large amounts of cash, over 10 thousand euros, are subject to mandatory declaration. This amount includes not only banknotes, but also bills, traveler's checks, shares and other securities.
You can pay by credit card in stores, restaurants, gas stations, and even in taxis. You can’t do without cash except when buying something second-hand, for example, at a flea market.
It is best to take a card with the main currency Euro. When paying in rubles and dollar cards money is lost on conversion and commissions.
Almost any card, credit or debit, in dollars, euros or rubles is suitable for payments. But problems may arise with structurally and morally outdated bank cards with a magnetic stripe. You won’t be able to pay with such cards in all stores; problems may arise with paying at automatic gas stations or getting cash from an ATM.
French commemorative coins
By 2016, EU countries had issued about 250 different commemorative two-euro coins. France did not stand aside either. General form coins, with the exception of the image in the central part of the obverse, are unified. All of them are minted with a diameter of 25.75 mm, a thickness of 2.2 mm and a weight of 8.5 grams. The rim and the inside of the banknote are made from different materials.
The outer part, with the EU stars, is made of copper-nickel alloy (75% copper, 25% nickel), the inner part, with the main image, is made of nickel brass, with the addition of zinc (75% copper, 20% zinc, 5 % - nickel). The rim turns out to be “silver”, and the core is “golden”, since zinc gives the alloy a golden color.
Don't be confused commemorative coins with anniversaries. If the latter are minted using precious metals(silver, gold and platinum), are produced in small quantities and initially have both a higher cost and a significantly higher selling price, then commemorative coins are issued in significant quantities and reach numismatists and souvenir hunters at a more modest price, from face value to 5-6 euros maximum.
The circulation of commemorative banknotes usually ranges from one million to 20 million copies. This indicator does not significantly affect the price of coins. Conventionally, all coins can be divided into “specialized”, local French and pan-European or global.
“Local” banknotes, as a rule, are issued in smaller quantities. Thus, 2 euros for the centenary of the birth of Abbot Pierre or 150 years since the birth of Pierre de Coubertin were issued in the amount of one million copies. Coin circulation for the tenth anniversary of the economic and monetary European Union, for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and for the tenth anniversary cash circulation euro is 10 million copies. Other banknotes dedicated to pan-European and global events and anniversaries are also minted in quantities of 10 to 20 million.
Some coins are distinguished by the presence of a national component, but have a more global significance. This is 2 euros for the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s address “To all French,” 30 years of Music Day in France, 50 years of Franco-German friendship. All these coins were issued in mintages ranging from 9,400,000 to 10,200,000.
Visually, French commemorative money looks quite attractive, from the image of the charismatic mustachioed Pierre de Coubertin or the bearded Abbé Pierre to the usual inscription, without a design, on the 2008 coin “French Presidency of the EU” and a sketchy image of a man next to the euro symbol on the coin in honoring the tenth anniversary of the monetary union of European countries.
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History of money France
France has its own currency, which is not of great importance, but it is official and national.
The franc, a former currency of France that existed from 1641 to 1960, coins had a denomination of one lire. The franc was introduced under the decimal system in 1795 and remained the national currency until the introduction of the euro in 1999.
King Jean introduced the franc to everyone in 1930, the name of this monetary unit came from the inscription that concerned Jean, by the grace of God, the king of the Franks (Johannes Dei Gratia Francorum Rexand). Franks were later published during the reigns of Charles V, Henry III and Henry IV.
In XIII, Louis stopped the production of the franc and already in 1641 he replaced the franc with the ecu and the louis d'or, but the word franc continued to exist fully as a synonym for the Tours livre. The French Revolutionary Convention established by force in 1795 national currency France, which became the franc.
1 franc = 10 tithes = 100 centimes and is equal to almost five grams of silver.
The Franc Germinal (named after the seventh month in the revolutionary calendar), appeared in 1803, and was a gold coin made of pure gold. From this year, gold and silver coins gained great popularity and were constantly in use; such coins did not change and were not sold. The currency system lasted until 1864, when all silver coins, with the exception of the five franc, were changed from 90 percent to 83.5 percent without any change in overall weight. The currency was retained during the Bourbon restoration.
In 1865, France became one of the founding countries of the Latin Monetary Union, and a common monetary unit was formed, which was based on the franc-germinal, in addition, the name franc was already used in Belgium and Switzerland, and at this time other countries used their names for their currencies The monetary union in 1873 established a gold standard of 1 franc = 9/31 grams of gold.
The wars were able to force France to completely abandon its gold standard, inflation spread throughout the country, and there was a need to reconstruct the monetary unit. After a brief return to the gold standard, the currency began to lose value again, until in 1959 it was worth forty times less than its 1934 value. The franc became a companion currency to the German Reichsmark.
In the winter of 1960, the French franc itself was completely revalued at the new 100 francs.
However, this did not mean the complete death of the old franc; one and two francs still continued their widespread use; during that difficult time, inflation occurred which quite significantly reduced the exchange rate of the franc in relation to all other currencies. Over time, the old francs fell out of use and the euro moment occurred, that is, the old money was no longer significant, after a complete revaluation of the franc, many French continued to say "old francs" (anciens francs) to describe large amounts money. This all happened before 2002, it was in this year that many became accustomed to the introduction of euro banknotes.
On January 1, 1999, the new currency of modern France, that is, the euro, was fully adopted. That is, this particular currency has become a single currency that is used by more than 320 million Europeans, and together with the territories of unofficial circulation - by 500 million people. The Euro replaced the European currency unit.
The currency itself, that is, the euro, is managed and administered by the European Central Bank, which is located in Frankfurt, and European system central banks, this system consists of the central banks of the Eurozone member countries.
Euro coins are issued in denominations of €2, €1, €0.50, €0.20, €0.10, €0.05, €0.02 and €0.01. Many shops in the Eurozone prefer to align prices so that they are multiples of 5 cents, and 1 and 2 euro cent coins are not needed.
But the franc banknotes have a completely common design, banknotes of € 500, € 200, € 100, € 50, € 20, € 10 and € 5 are issued. Some banknotes of higher denominations, such as € 500 and € 200, are not issued in some countries, but are legal tender everywhere.
Euros, although they have the same design, still differ from each other, there is no brightness or catchiness, and all the money in France has an almost identical color and the same size.