Welcome for newcomers to the Gâtine !

 

The Pays de Gâtine's guide for newcomers   en version anglaise   en version hollandaise   en version française

SUMMARY / INHOUDSOPGAVE / SOMMAIRE
Welcome to the Gâtine / Welkom in de Gâtine / Bienvenue en Gâtine
Where and what is the Pays de Gâtine / Waar ligt en wat is de Pays de Gâtine
A brief history of the area / Geschiedenis van de regio / Histoire de la Gâtine
Practical information / Praktische Informatie / Informations pratiques
Associations / Les associations anglophones
French Social Assistants / Antenne Médico Sociale des Deux-Sèvres
Births, Deaths and Marriages / Geboortes, Huwelijken en Sterfgevallen
Borrowing books in the Gâtine / Emprunter des livres en Gâtine
Building or renovating a house / Bouwen of renovatie van een huis
Employment / Emploi
Elections / Les élections
Learning French or English / Apprendre le français ou l'anglais
Measurement / Maten / Mesures
Re-registring your car in France / Immatriculation de votre véhicule
School / Onderwijs / Enseignement
Services for 60+ / Les Services pour les plus de 60 ans
Setting up a business / Opzetten van een bedrijf / Création d'entreprises
Setting up Tourist Accommodation / Création d'hébergements touristiques
Social security and health care / Sociale zekerheid en gezondheidszorg
Translating services - Sworn translators /Vertalers/ Traducteurs assermentés
Security / Sécurité
Taxes / Impôts
Useful Addresses / Adresses utiles

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-- Information update --

Radio Gâtine - the local French radio in Parthenay. Grants.
Radio Gâtine and the Pays de Gâtine have been working together to inform the public on the role of the Pays and what grants are available when you have a project, these could cover :
tourism, cultural activites, setting up a company, or just knowing what I do here in the office to help you integrate into local life.
The French texts have been translated into English and recorded. If you scroll down and click on the logo of the Pays de Gâtine, you will see the 'Version anglaise' (Some are not yet on line but will be shortly). In the general interest of the English speaking population in the Gâtine, I would kindly ask you to pass this information on to as many people as possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert Pearson for his very professional help when recording.
Best Regards, Julia

Radio Gâtine - the local French radio in Parthenay

Voting at the "Elections Municipales"
The municipal elections are for voting the local town councillors and mayor who will look after your "commune" for the next six years. A list (or lists) of names is established and proposed to the inhabitants. Citizens of the European Union living in the Gâtine can vote at their local council elections on 9th and 16th March 2008. However, in order to do this they must put their name down on the election list at their local town hall before 15th December 2007.
Certain rules and conditions apply, as for French voters :
- you must be truly domiciled in France, i.e. living on a permanent basis in your commune for the past six months
- you must not have had your right of vote taken away from you either in France or in their birth country
- you must fill the legal conditions other than the nationality to be able to vote in France
- as you are not automatically registered on the election lists you must personally go to your town hall and put your name down
Further information can be obtained at your town hall as well as the appropriate forms. You will need to take along your passport and justification of your address (an electricity, gas or telephone bill, showing your name and first name is sufficient proof and issued within the last three months). The Préfecture will also answer any questions you may have or you can look at the website : www.service-public.fr (elections-politiques)
You might even be asked to be a town councillor but, without taking out French nationality, you could never become mayor of a French commune.