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LIVING IN FRANCE

MAP: France now divided into green and orange zones for easing of restrictions

Since May 11th, France has been divided into two zones - red and green - which determine how strict the lockdown rules are. But on Thursday the French PM unveiled a new map with the country divided into green and... orange zones.

Published: 28 May 2020 18:40 CEST
Updated: 28 May 2020 19:58 CEST
MAP: France now divided into green and orange zones for easing of restrictions
Photo: AFP

The version of the map that has been in use since May 11th has large chunks of the country coloured red – showing that there is still a high level of virus circulation and pressure on hospitals.

MAP The French départements that have seen the highest death rates during coronavirus epidemic

The map for phase 1 – May 11th to June 2nd. Map: Santé Publique France

But when the second version was unveiled on Thursday there was some very good news – all the red had disappeared from the map.

Instead the country was virtually all green, with only selected small areas in orange, a new addition to the map which means there is still cause for concern, but the situation has improved.

“Things are looking good, but not good enough to return everything back to normal,” said PM Edouard Philippe.

 

 

The map for phase 2 – June 2nd to June 22nd

The greater Paris Île-de-France region is coloured orange, as well as the two overseas départements of Mayotte and French Guiana.

Those areas showed higher rates of the virus and higher pressure on hospital intensive care beds.

Grand-Est – the worst hit region of France and the place where the epidemic began – has now moved to green along with the regions of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Hauts-de-France.

“We will particularly keep an eye on the situation in Île-de-France, French Guiana and Mayotte,” said Philippe.

READ ALSO Why some Paris suburbs had such a high coronavirus death rate

Detailing the differences between départements on the map, Health Minister Olivier Véran said Île-de-France was in a “particular” situation due to its “high circulation of the virus in certain départements” and continued pressure on hospitals.

“We have decided that decisions in Île-de-France should be taken on a regional level and not a départemental level,” Véran said, stressing that the situation would be followed closely in all of the country's départements.

“I repeat, being green does not mean the virus is gone,” the health minister said.

As with the previous map, the colour of the area where you live determines how strict lockdown rules are.

Here are the main difference.

Cafés, bars and restaurants – in green zones these can reopen completely but in orange zones only outdoor terraces can reopen

Schools – Primary and secondary schools can start to fully reopen from June 2nd across the country, but lycées (high schools) will only reopen in green zones.

Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres – these can reopen on June 2nd in green zones and June 22nd in orange zones

Theatres, museums and tourist attractions – can reopen on June 2nd in green zones and June 22nd in orange zones.

Campsites – can reopen on June 2nd in green zones and June 22nd in orange zones

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LIVING IN FRANCE

5 tips to have the best possible night at France’s Fête de la musique

It can be the most fun day of the year - when France goes music crazy and bands suddenly appear on every street corner - but there are some tips to make your Fête de la musique experience as good as it can possibly be.

Published: 24 June 2024 11:26 CEST
5 tips to have the best possible night at France's Fête de la musique

First, a caveat – this is an entirely personal manifesto based on the things that I have enjoyed over my Fête de la Musique outings over the years. It’s not intended as any kind of hard-and-fast rule and plenty of people will have different experiences.

Feel free to disagree and/or share your festival tips in the comments section below!

1 Ignore the big-name artists

There are always a few big-name artists or concerts in major venues on the Fête de la musique (which happens every year on June 21st).

Ignore them. Sure, stadiums gigs can be great and huge venues can have a wonderful atmosphere – but you can do that any night of the year. It’s not what Fête de la musique is about.

The true spirit of the Fête is the smaller acts who play on street corners, in bars and community venues. They’re free, you can wander between them and stay as long as you like – and there is always something else around the corner.

2 Ignore the big towns

You might think that the big cities have the best music, but if you have the choice, go for a small town or a suburb.

I’ve enjoyed some good Fêtes in Paris, but the best experiences had have been smaller towns or the Paris’ suburbs (Montreuil is good – a commune that carefully cultivates a small-town / village vibe, albeit a very diverse small town where everyone is a hippy, a leftist, or both).

It’s partly a practicality thing – in big cities the acts are spread out and you have to make plans to see something and meet up with friends. In small towns, you just wander along to the main square, then when you’ve seen the acts there, you can saunter up the side streets, each of which will have dozens of bands playing, pausing only to grab a beer and snacks.

But it’s also the vibe; in big cities you can hear good live music all the time and the population is consequently complacent – small towns truly appreciate the Fête de la musique and properly go wild.

Once, in Paris, I was watching a blues band play in the street when a woman tipped water on their heads from her apartment window because she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Small towns appreciate it when bands play for them.

3 Experiment

There’s a lot of variety on the night, so take advantage – this is your opportunity to hear all kinds of live music from rock to swing, jazz to classical, choirs to DJs.

Didn’t think that a five-piece oud band is your thing? Fête de la musique may change your mind. It’s the night of the year when anything goes, musically, so it’s also the night to try something new.

If you hate it – well it’s free and there’s another band down the street that might be more your thing. But you might discover a lifetime passion for oud music – in fact, by this time next year you might be playing in the oud band. Thanks to the Fête de la musique.

4 Don’t insist on quality

You’ll hear some great bands, but you’ll also hear some that are more about enthusiasm – and that’s all part of the fun.

You’re going to be hearing everything from classic rock to reggae to blues to the above-mentioned five-piece oud band, and as well as the styles the quality may be variable to.

For me, the true spirit of Fête de la musique is the 50-year-old accountant rocking out on his guitar and enjoying the one night of the year when he can dream that if only he hadn’t given up on his high school band, he could now be rich, famous and selling out stadiums, as opposed to filing tax declarations in an office above the florist.

5 Dress comfortably

Some people like to dress up for the Fête and that’s great – it’s a party after all – but the key thing is to wear something that is comfortable and allows you to shake your stuff.

Yes, you will be dancing – you’ll be dancing on street corners, in parks, cafés and perhaps on street furniture if things really get going, and you’ll be dancing with kids, dapper 70-year-old gents and everyone in between.

You need comfortable shoes and clothes that you can really move in.

Dance like no-one is watching. They may be watching, but they won’t be judging. Much. It’s Fête de la musique.

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