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History of United Kingdom

On May 1, 1707, the Kingdom of England (including Wales) and
the Kingdom of Scotland merged as a political union known as the United
Kingdom of Great Britain. This is the result of agreed terms, signed by
parliaments of England and Scotland, under the Treaty of Union. Queen
Anne is the first monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Great Britain with
the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland On January 1, 1801. This is the result of several centuries of
historic events including the invasions of ruling Normans in Ireland, the
Irish Rebellion of 1641, and War of American Independence. The union
eliminated the separate Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland creating
an integrated Parliament of the United Kingdom. Ireland sent roughly 100
MPs to the House of Commons and 28 peers to the House of Lords.
During the 19th and early 20th century, the rise of Irish
Nationalism emerged particularly in the Catholic population. Movement
for the cancellation of the Act of Union is known as ―Home Rule‖ and
many campaigns have failed including the one in 1912 that passed the
House of Commons but was voted out in the House of Lords. In 1916, an
one-sidedly declared ―Irish Republic‖ was announced in Dublin and
resulted to the Anglo-Irish War that lasts until 1921. The Anglo-Irish
Treaty of 1921 formed the Irish Free State and left the British
Commonwealth without constitutional ties with UK and 6 northern Irish
counties remained part of the United Kingdom. The Royal and
Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 renamed the United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Ireland to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.

Culture of the United Kingdom

The culture of the United Kingdom refers to the patterns of human
activity and symbolism associated with the United Kingdom and its
people. It is informed by the UK's history as a developed island country,
major power, and its composition of four countries—England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales—each of which have preserved distinct
customs, cultures and symbolism.

As a result of the British Empire, significant British influence can be
observed in the language, culture and institutions of a geographically
wide assortment of countries, including Australia, Canada, India, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States and the
British overseas territories. These states are sometimes collectively
known as the Anglosphere, and are among Britain's closest allies. As
well as the British influence on its empire, the empire also influenced
British culture, particularly British cuisine. Innovations and movements
within the wider culture of Europe have also changed the United
Kingdom; Humanism, Protestantism, and representative democracy have
developed from broader Western culture.

The Industrial Revolution, with its origins in the UK, brought about
major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, and had
a profound effect on the socio-economic and cultural conditions of the
world. The social structure of Britain during this period has also played a
central cultural role. More recently, popular culture of the UK included
notable movements in music such as the British invasion and Britpop,
while British literature, British cinema, British television and British
poetry is respected across the world.

As a result of the history of the formation of the United Kingdom, the
cultures of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are diverse
and have varying degrees of overlap and distinctiveness.

The culture of the United Kingdom refers to the patterns of human
activity and symbolism associated with the United Kingdom and its
people. It is informed by the UK's history as a developedisland country,
major power, and its composition of four countries—England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales—each of which have preserved distinct
customs, cultures and symbolism.

As a result of the British Empire, significant British influence can be
observed in the language, culture and institutions of a geographically
wide assortment of countries, including Australia, Canada, India, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States and the
British overseas territories. These states are sometimes collectively
known as the Anglosphere, and are among Britain's closest allies. As
well as the British influence on its empire, the empire also influenced
British culture, particularly British cuisine. Innovations and movements
within the wider culture of Europe have also changed the United
Kingdom; Humanism, Protestantism, and representative democracy have
developed from broader Western culture.

The Industrial Revolution, with its origins in the UK, brought about
major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, and had
a profound effect on the socio-economic and cultural conditions of the
world. The social structure of Britain during this period has also played a
central cultural role. More recently, popular culture of the UK included
notable movements in music such as the British invasion and Britpop,
while British literature, British cinema, British television and British
poetry is respected across the world.

As a result of the history of the formation of the United Kingdom, the
cultures of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are diverse
and have varying degrees of overlap and distinctiveness.

Attractions / United Kingdom

1. Big Ben

Big Ben
There were two bells cast as the clock tower's hour bell.
A first, a 16 ton weighing bell was cast by John Warner
and Sons in 1856. Since the Clock Tower was not yet
completed, the bell was hung temporarily in the Palace
Yard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast in 1858 in
the Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13.5 ton bell.
Unfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the
belfry in July 1859, it cracked as well. This time, instead
of yet again recasting the bell, the crack was repaired
and a lighter hammer was used to prevent any more
cracks.

The hour bell was probably named after Benjamin Hall,

Clockface
the First Commissioner of Works. Some sources
however claim the bell was named after Benjamin
Caunt, a British heavyweight boxing champion.

The Clock
The clock was the largest in the world and still
the largest in Great-Britain. The clockfaces have
a diameter of almost 25ft (7.5m). The hour hand
is 9ft or 2.7m long and the minute hand is 14ft
(4.25m) long.
The clock is known for its reliability, it has rarely
failed during its long life span. Even after the
nearby House of Commons was destroyed by
bombing during World War II, the clock kept on
chiming. The clock's
mechanism, designed by Edmund Beckett
Denison, has a remarkable accuracy. The clock's
rate is adjusted by simply adding small pennies on the shoulder of the
pendulum
The Tower
The tower was constructed between 1843 and 1858 as the clock tower of
the Palace of Westminster, now better known as the Houses of
Parliament. The clock tower - its official name is Saint Stephen's tower -
is 316ft high (96m) and consists of a 200ft (61m) high brick shaft topped
by a cast iron framed spire. The clockfaces are 180ft / 55m above
ground level

Tower Bridge

Bridge History
Plans for the Tower Bridge were devised around 1876 when the east of
London became extremely crowded and a bridge across the Thames in
that area of the city seemed a necessity. It would take another eight years
- and lots of discussions about the design - before construction of the
bridge started.
The bridge, designed by city architect Horace Jones in collaboration
with John Wolfe Barry, would eventually be completed in 1894. Five

contractors and nearly 450 workers were involved in the construction of
the 265 meter long bridge. It took 11,000 tons of steel to build the
framework. At the time many people disliked its Victorian Gothic
design, but over time the bridge became one of London's most famous
symbols.
Mechanics

Tower bridge raising
The proximity of the harbor and its location in the direction of the sea
required for the bridge to allow the passage of large vessels. Hence the
decision to create a moveable bridge which can be opened to
accommodate boat traffic. The mechanism to open the bridge is hidden
in the two towers. Until 1976, when the mechanism became electrified,
steam power was used to pump water into hydraulic accumulators which
powered the engines.
Each deck is more than 30 meters wide and can be opened to an angle of
83 degrees. When opened the bridge has a clearance of almost 45 meter.
It used to open almost 50 times a day but nowadays it is only raised
about 1,000 times a year.

Tower Bridge at night
Bridge lifts are pre-scheduled (for cruise ships, etc) so visitors can check
the bridge's website to find out when it will rise and lower.
Visiting the Bridge
Taking photographs of the Tower bridge is a favorite London tourist
activity, but you can also go inside the bridge, where you'll have a

magnificent view over London from the walkway between the two
bridge towers.
Inside the bridge is the Tower bridge Exhibition, a display area that
encompasses the walkway and the two famous towers where you can
observe the Victorian engine room. Visitors can learn about the history
of the bridge via photos, films, and other media.
Currently the bridge is undergoing a renovation project that should be
completed in 2012
London Eye
A Landmark for the new Millennium
The structure was designed by the architectural team of David Marks
and Julia Barfield, husband and wife.
They submitted their idea for a large observation wheel as part of a
competition to design a landmark for the new millennium.
None of the entrants won the competition, but the couple pressed on and
eventually got the backing of British Airways, who sponsored the
project.
Construction
Construction of the observation wheel took more than a year and a half
to complete. In the process over 1700 tonnes of steel were used for the
structure and more than 3000 tonnes of concrete were used for the
foundations.

The futuristic looking capsules, accommodating up to 25 passengers,

were transported all the way from France by train through the chunnel.
Each egg-shaped capsule is 8 meters long and weighs 500kg. The 25
meter (82 ft) long spindle was built in the Czech Republic. The rim has a
diameter of 122m (400ft), about 200 times the size of a bicycle wheel.
80 Spokes connect the rim with the spindle.

London seen from the London Eye
The Observation Wheel
The observation wheel turns slow enough for people to embark while it
is moving. A complete turn takes about 30 minutes. Thanks to the
construction of the glass capsules on the outer side of the rim,

Capsule
the passengers have a great 360° view over London. Many famous
landmarks are clearly visible, including the Buckingham Palace, St.
Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. On a clear day you can
see as far as 40 km (25 miles).

Tower of London

Tower of London
Construction of the Tower of London was initiated in 1070 by William
the Conqueror, shortly after his victory at Hastings in 1066. The Tower
was built to enforce the power of the king over the newly conquered
region.
The fortress, strategically located at the Thames, was originally not more
than a temporary wooden building which was replaced later by the
White Tower. Over time the complex was expanded into a stronghold
with about 20 towers.
Today the Tower of London is best known for its Crown Jewels, but it
used to be notorious for the many political opponents of the kings that
were locked, tortured and killed in the Tower. The Tower was also a
royal residence: several kings lived here, especially during turbulent
times when the donjon seemed a lot safer than the palace in
Westminster.
White Tower

The White Tower
The oldest part of the fortress is the so-called White Tower, which was
completed in 1097. This keep was long the tallest building in London at
27.4 meter. Its walls had a width of 4.6 meter.
The tower was whitewashed during the reign of Henry III, which gave
the tower's facade its white appearance. Ever since the tower is known
as White Tower.

The building has four domed turrets at each corner. Three of them have
a square shape, the other is round, due to its spiral staircase. The round
turret was long used as an observatory.
Other Towers
The Tower of London was significantly expanded in the 13th century,
during the reign of Henry III, when two defensive walls were built
around the White Tower. The inner wall had thirteen towers and the
outer wall another six. The towers were mostly used to imprison
political opponents.

Traitors' Gate
Some of the most famous prisoners locked in the Tower were two
princes, the sons of king Edward IV. After Edward's dead in 1483 the
children were locked in the Bloody Tower by their uncle, who would
later ascend the throne as king Richard III. The princes were never seen
again and were probably killed by guards.
The St. Thomas Tower is located close to the Bloody Tower. Here,
prisoners were brought into the fortress by boat through the Traitor's
gate.
Important prisoners were often locked in the Beauchamp Tower,
sometimes with their servants. An inscription on the wall of the tower is
believed to refer to Lady Jane Grey, who, nine days after she was
crowned Queen, was executed on Tower Green, an open terrain in the
Tower of London.

Byward Tower
Thomas More was imprisoned in the Bell Tower until his execution after
he refused to accept king Henry VIII as head of the Anglican church.
Even Queen Elisabeth I was confined here for some time.
Yeoman Warders
The main entrance of the Tower of London is at the Byward Tower,
where you'll find the so-called Beefeaters or Yeoman Warders.
Dressed in historic clothes, they not only guard the tower, but also give
guided tours of the fortress. One of the about 40 Yeoman Warders is
known as the Ravenmaster, responsible for the ravens that have been
living here for centuries.

Yeoman Warden
Legend has it that the Tower and the kingdom will fall if the ravens
leave. Hence King Charles II placed the birds under royal protection and
the wings of the ravens are clipped to prevent them from flying away.
Crown Jewels
The most famous tourist attraction in the Tower of London is the
collection of Crown Jewels that has been on display here since the 17th

century, during the reign of Charles II. Most of the jewels were created
around the year 1660, when the monarchy was reinstalled. The majority
of the older crown jewels were destroyed by Cromwell.
The jewels can be found in the Jewel House, part of the Waterloo
Barracks just north of the White Tower. Some of the highlights of the
collection are the 530 carat First Star of Africa, which is set in the

Imperial State Crown
Scepter of the Cross, the Imperial State Crown with more than 2800
diamonds and the famous Koh-I-Noor, a 105 carat diamond.
More Sights
There's plenty more to see in the Tower of London, such as the Royal
Armories, which includes the personal armory of King Henry VIII, one
of the world's largest.
The medieval palace in the Tower of London is also open to visitors and
there are often reenactments of historic events in the fortress.

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral has had an eventful history. Five
different churches were built at this site. The first
church, dedicated to the apostle Paul, dates back to 604
AD, when King Ethelbert of Kent built a wooden

church on the summit of one of London's hills for Mellitus, Bishop of
the East Saxons. At the end of the 7th century, the church was built in
stone by Erkenwald, Bishop of London.
In 962 and 1087, the Cathedral was destroyed by fires, but each time it
was rebuilt. By that time, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.
Renovations and extensions in the 13th and 14th century enlarged the
cathedral even more.
The Great Fire
In 1665 Christopher Wren designed a plan for the renovation of the St.
Paul's Cathedral, which was starting to fall into decay. But disaster
struck again on the night of September 2, 1666, when the Great Fire of
London destroyed 4/5th of all of London,

South Facade
wiping 13,200 houses and 89 churches, including the St. Paul's
Cathedral off the map.
Christopher Wren's Masterpiece
In 1669, three years after the fire Christopher Wren was appointed
'Surveyor of Works' and was tasked with the building of a new church to
replace the destroyed gothic cathedral.
His first design was deemed too modest. In his second design, known as
the 'Great Model', the cathedral was shaped like a Greek cross, with a
portico, Corinthian columns and a striking large dome, which would be

the world's largest after Michelangelo's dome at the St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome. This design was rejected as well; the Bishop considered it
unsuitable for large processions. Wren suggested a third design, this
time with a larger nave and smaller dome, which was accepted in 1675.
After the approval however Wren enlarged the dome and made several
other adjustments so that the built cathedral now resembles the 'Great
Model' and not the approved design.

Cathedral Dome
The cathedral was built in a relative short time span: its first stone was
laid on June 21, 1675 and the building was completed in 1711.
The Dome
The dome reaches a height of 111 meter (366 ft) and weights about
66,000 ton. Eight arches support the dome. On top of the dome is a large
lantern with a weight of 850 ton.
560 Steps lead visitors along three galleries all the way to the top of the
dome. The first gallery, the Whispering Gallery, just inside the dome, is
renowned for its acoustics. The second gallery, the Stone Gallery, is
situated at a height of 53 meter (174 ft) on the outside of the dome, right
on top of the colonnade. On top of the dome, at a height of 85 meter
(279 ft), is the narrow Golden Gallery, encircling the lantern's base. Here
you have a magnificent view over the City.

Interior
The baroque interior is just as imposing as the exterior of the church.
The mosaics on the ceiling were added in 1890 by William Richmond
after Queen Victoria complained that there was not enough color in the
cathedral. The baldachin above the altar was built in 1958 after a sketch
by Wren after the original was damaged by bombardments during World
War II. The only monument in the church that survived the fire of 1666
is the tomb of John Donne, from 1631.
Several famous people are entombed in the cathedral's crypt. Most
notable are the tomb of the Duke of Wellington - who defeated
Napoleon at Waterloo - and the tomb of Admiral Nelson, who died at
the Battle of Trafalgar.

The West Facade
There is also a tomb of Christopher Wren himself and a number of
important artists are buried here as well.
The West Facade
The impressive facade at the west side of the church consists of a large
portico and pediment. A relief on the tympanum depicts the conversion
of Paul and was created in 1706. The portico is flanked by two towers
which weren't part of the original plan. Wren added them at the last
minute, in 1707.

Buckingham Palace

Important Events
The church was the site of a number of important historic events such as
the funeral of Admiral Nelson in 1806 and the funeral of Winston
Churchill in 1965. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married here
in 1981.
History
The original building was constructed as a countryhouse in 1705 by the
duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield. King George III bought the house
in 1761 for his wife and had it altered by William Chambers.
In 1826, King George IV asked famed architect John Nash to expand the
house - then known as Buckingham House - into a palace. Meanwhile
St. James's Palace was still the principal palace used by the royals for
ceremonies and receptions.

The Palace seen from
St. James's Park
King George IV as well as his younger brother and successor King
William IV both died before the palace was completed. Queen Victoria
was the first to reside in the palace. In July 1837, three weeks after her
accession to the throne, she moved from Kensington Palace, where she
grew up, to the new Buckingham Palace.

The palace was expanded in 1850 with a new east wing. The wing added
a large number of rooms to the palace, including an expansive 40 meter

(131 ft) long ballroom. The monumental façade of the east wing was
built in 1913 by Aston Webb. It is this facade, facing the Mall and St
James's Park, which is now known by most people.
Royal Family

Queen Victoria
Memorial
A part of the palace is still used by the Royal family. A flag is hoisted
each time the Queen is in the Palace. The palace is not only home to the
royal family, there are also a number of staff members living here. The
palace has about 600 rooms, including a throne room, a ballroom,
picture gallery and even a swimming pool.
Some of these rooms can be visited during a couple of months in the
summer - when the Royal Family is not in the palace - including the
lavishly decorated State Rooms: the Throne Room, Green Drawing
Room, Silk Tapestry Rooms, Picture Gallery, State Dining Room, Blue
Drawing Room, Music Room and White Drawing Room are all part of
the tour around the Buckingham Palace.
Another interesting part of the palace that is open to visitors is the
Queen's Gallery, where works of art from the royal collection are on
display. The palace's stables, the Royal Mews, can also be visited. Here
you'll find a number of royal horse-drawn carriages.

Queen Victoria Memorial
Right in front of the building is the Queen Victoria Memorial,

Changing of the Guards
designed by Sir Aston Webb and built in 1911 in honor of Queen
Victoria, who reigned for almost 64 years.
Changing of the Guard
The changing of the guard takes place daily at 11 o'clock in front of
Buckingham Palace.
A colorfully dressed detachment, known as the New Guard, parades
along the Mall towards Buckingham Palace and during a ceremony
replaces the existing, Old Guard. The ceremony, which is accompanied
by music played by a military band, always attracts throngs of
onlookers.

Houses of Parliament


In the middle of the 11th century, King Edward the Confessor had
moved his court to the Palace of Westminster, situated on a central site
near the river Thames.
In 1265 a parliament was created with two houses: the Lords and the
Commons. The House of Lords met at the Palace of Westminster while
the House of Commons did not have a permanent location.
After King Henry VIII moved his court to Whitehall Palace in 1530, the
House of Lords continued to meet in Westminster. In 1547 the House of
Commons also moved here, confirming Westminster as the central seat
of government, a position it still holds today.
The new Palace of Westminster
In 1834 a fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster , leaving only the
Jewel Tower, the crypt and cloister of St. Stephens and Westminster
Hall intact. After the fire, a competition was organized to create a new
building for the two houses of parliament.
A design by Sir Charles Barry and his assistant Augustus WelbyPugin
was chosen from 97 entries. They created a large but balanced complex
in neo gothic style and incorporated the buildings that survived the fire.
The whole complex was finished in 1870, more than 30 years after

Big Ben
construction started. It includes the Clock Tower, Victoria Tower, House
of Commons, House of Lords, Westminster Hall and the Lobbies.
Big Ben
The most famous part of Charles Barry's design is the elegant clock
tower. Originally called St. Stephen's Tower, it was soon named after the
tower's largest bell, the Big Ben. A light at the top of the tower is
illuminated when Parliament is sitting at night.
Commons Chamber & Lords Chamber
The Commons Chamber, where the House of Commons meets, was
destroyed during the Second World War but rebuilt in 1950 by Sir Giles
Gilbert Scott in the same neo gothic style. The Commons Chamber's
interior (with green colored benches) is rather austere compared to the
lavishly decorated Lords Chamber (with red colored benches). Over the
centuries the balance of power has moved from the elitist House of
Lords to the more agitated House of Commons, where the governing

party and the opposition are seated opposite each other with exactly two
sword lengths and one foot separating the two parties.
Central Lobby
One of several lobbies in the Houses of Parliament is the Central Lobby
where people can meet the Members of Parliament and persuade them to

Victoria Tower
defend their interests. Hence the verb 'to lobby'.

Victoria Tower
The tower opposite the Big Ben is the Victoria Tower, built in 1860. The
tower contains the records of both the House of Lords and the House of
Commons since 1497. During the parliamentary year the Union Flag is
hoisted on top of the 98m tall tower.

Westminster Hall
The oldest part of the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Hall, dating
back to 1097. The large hammer beam roof was built in the 14th century

and replaced the original roof which was supported by two rows of
pillars. The hall is one of Europe's largest unsupported medieval halls.

Natural History Museum

History of the Museum
Originally part of

Natural History
Museum
the British Museum, the Museum of Natural History began with a
donation to the country of the collection of Sir Hans Sloane in 1753.
Sloane, who was a physician, is said to have collected ―natural
curiosities.‖
When a second collection by botanist Joseph Banks (who traveled with
Captain James Cook) was added to Sloane’s collection, museum
curators began to see a need for a separate location for these items.

Interior
A competition was held to determine the architect for the new building.
The winner was Captain Francis Fowke who, unfortunately, died before
he was able to complete his design. The honors then went to Alfred
Waterhouse, who designed a German Romanesque structure that is now
known as the Waterhouse Building.

The collections were moved to their new home in 1883, but it wasn’t
until 1963 that these and additional collections were considered a
museum in their own right.

Waterhouse Building
Considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in
Britain, the Waterhouse Building has become a London landmark. Its
high-spired towers soar above much of the skyline and its huge grand
façade – inspired by the basalt columns at Fingal’s Cave in western
Scotland – is awe inspiring.
The most modern Victorian techniques were used for its constuction
resulting in an iron and steel framework. The framework is hidden by
beautifully decorated terra cotta façades. This structure is famous for its

many terra cotta features, and Waterhouse’s use of terra cotta as a
building material was groundbreaking in Great Britain.

Don’t forget to look up at the intricately painted

Detail of the facade
ceiling panels in the Central Hall. Decorated with plants from all over
the world, these gilded tiles are breathtaking and each tells its own story.

Other Buildings
The former Geological Survey Museum (now part of the Natural History
Museum) is housed in a building designed by architects Sir Richard
Allinson and JH Markham. Completed in 1933 and opened in 1935, the
building bears close resemblance to the nearby Science Museum.

Large Mammals
The Darwin Centre Building, which serves mainly as a storage facility
for the collection, is a contemporary state-of-the-art environmentally-
conscious building complete with an energy-saving glass solar wall.

The Exhibits
The museum's enormous collection of artifacts and specimen (70
million+) covering life on earth can be overwelming. The museum is
divided into different color-coded zones, each focusing on a specific
aspect of life on earth.
The collection of dinosaur skeletons is one of the museum's biggest
attractions. There are several life-sized models in the Dinosaur hall and
you'll also encounter the skeleton of a Diplodocus in the central hall.
Also a favorite with visitors is a hall dedicated to large mammals,
including an enormous model of a blue whale and several elephants.

Other halls feature exhibitions on reptiles, fish,

birds, 'creepy crawlies', and ecology.

Another zone of the museum focuses on geology. Here you can see the
earth seen from outer space and a simulated earthquake and volcanic
eruption. There's also a large collection of minerals and stones.

France
Facts & Figures

Map of France

President: Nicolas Sarkozy
(2007)

Prime Minister: François
Fillon (2007)

Land area: 210,668 sq mi
(545,630 sq km); total
area: 211,209 sq mi
(547,030 sq km)

Population (2010
est.): 64,057,792 (growth

rate: 0.5%); birth rate:
12.4/1000; infant mortality
rate: 3.3/1000; life
expectancy: 81.1; density
per sq km: 100

Capital and largest city
(2003 est.):Paris, 9,854,000 1.
(metro. area), 2,110,400
(city proper) Geography
Other large France is about 80% the size of Texas. In
cities: Marseille, 820,700; the Alps near the Italian and Swiss
Lyon, 443,900; Toulouse, borders is western Europe's highest
411,800; Nice, 332,000; point—Mont Blanc (15,781 ft; 4,810 m).
Nantes, 282,300; The forest-covered Vosges Mountains
Strasbourg, 272,600; are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are
Bordeaux, 217,000 along the Spanish border. Except for
Monetary unit: Euro extreme northern France, the country
(formerly French franc) may be described as four river basins and
a plateau. Three of the streams flow
west—the Seine into the English
Channel, the Loire into the Atlantic, and
the Garonne into the Bay of Biscay. The Rhône flows south into the
Mediterranean. For about 100 mi (161 km), the Rhine is France's eastern
border. In the Mediterranean, about 115 mi (185 km) east-southeast of
Nice, is the island of Corsica (3,367 sq mi; 8,721 sq km).

Government
Fifth republic.

History

Archeological excavations indicate that France has been continuously
settled since Paleolithic times. The Celts, who were later called Gauls by

the Romans, migrated from the Rhine valley into what is now France. In
about 600 B.C. , Greeks and Phoenicians established settlements along
the Mediterranean, most notably at Marseille. Julius Caesar conquered
part of Gaul in 57–52 B.C. , and it remained Roman until Franks
invaded in the 5th century A.D.

The Treaty of Verdun (843) divided the territories corresponding
roughly to France, Germany, and Italy among the three grandsons of
Charlemagne. Charles the Bald inherited FranciaOccidentalis, which
became an increasingly feudalized kingdom. By 987, the crown passed
to Hugh Capet, a princeling who controlled only the Ile-de-France, the
region surrounding Paris. For 350 years, an unbroken Capetian line
added to its domain and consolidated royal authority until the accession
in 1328 of Philip VI, first of the Valois line. France was then the most
powerful nation in Europe, with a population of 15 million

Religion has always played the main role in the developing of French
people, and as usual it was not peaceful events concerning this question.

If we turn to the previous days, there were religious wars between
different forces: Protestants and Catholics. During this war the nations
of Europe, such as English, German, and Spanish fought for power and
recognition of their believe. Then this great war continued as the War of
the Three Henrys, during which Henry de Guise was killed by Henry III.
As Henry de Guise was the leader of Catholic league, his comrades
assassinated Henry III in return. The next king, also Henry III, but of
Navarre, and well-known as the king Henry IV, singed the Edict of
Nantes (1598). And maybe it was not a long period between the new
beginning of the religious conflict, that was continued by Cardinal de
Richelieu, forcing to disarm the army of the Protestants in 1627.

The other important problem in the life of France was the monarchy and
all the questions, concerning the power. One of the most significant
periods in the history of France is the Second Empire by Napoleon.

During this time France became one of the most powerful countries in
Europe. The successful colonial expansion to Asia and Africa was
provided at this time. The influence of France in some regions of those
places still remained. When the time of Napoleon ended, the monarchy
was restored, but very soon overthrown again.
Nowadays France has remained to be one of the powerful countries in
the world. Owing to its economic and military forces it continues to have
influence on its previous colonies in the other parts of the world. France
has the fourth-powerful economy, letting ahead such countries as the
USA, Japan and Germany. The heavy industrial production is at good
quality as well as the agricultural sector.

Culture in France

Archaeological evidence demonstrates the presence of early settlements of
the ancestors of modern man in some areas of Southern France almost 2
millions years ago. Many painted caves and other prehistoric sites are still
visible today, giving the visitor a greater insight into the dawn of mankind.
Most of these exceptional sites are located in the Périgord area in the
South-West. France has remained populated through time, as demonstrated
by the megaliths dated 5 centuries BCE in Brittany.

France is one of the oldest unified states in Europe. The name of the
country is believed to mean 'Land of the Franks', an ancient tribe which
populated the area at the time of the Roman conquest in the first century
BCE. The unique geography of France with its natural seashore, river and
mountain borders has helped to shape it into a unified country very early in
its history.

A natural focus for its neighbours, France has always been a cultural hub
between North and South. Influenced by Celts, Ancient Rome,
Renaissance Italy, it has itself been the beacon from which radiated a very

distinct culture. The contribution of French writers, philosophers, artists
and prominent historical figures has been great both for Europe and for the
rest of the world. Second only to the British colonial empire, France has
influenced every continent. It remains prominent today through the use of
French in large parts of the world and through its cultural ties with many
countries.

Eiffel Tower

You couldn't possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even
if you do not want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its
top from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall (984 ft); when it
was completed at the end of the 19th century it was twice as high as the
Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.

1889 World Exhibition
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, held in
celebration of the French Revolution in 1789.
The construction was only meant to last for the duration of the
Exposition, but it still stands today, despite all protests from
contemporary artists who feared the construction would be the advent of

structures without 'individuality' and despite the many people who
feared that this huge 'object' would not fit into the architecture of Paris.

Today, there is no such aversion anymore among the Parisians, and one
could not imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, in fact it has become
the symbol of the City of Light.

Gustave Eiffel
The man behind the Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel, known from his
revolutionary bridge building techniques, as employed in the great
viaduct at Garabit in 1884. These techniques would form the basis for
the construction of the Eiffel Tower. He was also known for the
construction of the Statue of Liberty's iron framework.

The structure took more than two years to complete. Each one of the
about 12,000 iron pieces were designed

separately to give them exactly the shape needed. All pieces were
prefabricated and fit together using approx. 7 million nails.

The Tallest
Inaugurated March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower would be the tallest
structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in
1930.

Louvre

Louvre Museum
The Louvre, originally a palace but now one of the largest and most
visited museums in the world, is a must-visit for anyone with a slight
interest in art. Some of the museum's most famous works of art are the
Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo.
Louvre Museum
Originally a royal palace, the Louvre became a public museum at the
end of the 18th century. It is located in the 1st arrondissement,

Venus of Milo
at the heart of Paris.

There are about 35.000 objects on display, spread out over three wings
of the former palace. The museum has a diverse collection ranging from
the antiquity up to the mid 19th century. A large part of the collection
consists of European paintings and sculptures. Other rooms contain
Roman, Egyptian, Greek and Oriental art. There is also a section with
'Objects d'Art', where objects such as clocks, furniture, china and
tapestries are displayed.

Some of the most famous works of art in the museum are the Venus of
Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and of
course Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

History of the Louvre
The Louvre was created in several phases.

Louvre seen from across
the Seine
Originally built as a 12th century fortress, it was converted into a royal
palace in the 14th century.

Its current appearance goes back to the 15th century, when the original
fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine river was built.
The palace was extended during the 16th century by architect Pierre
Lescot, who expanded the palace into a complex with two courtyards. A
decade later Catharina de Medici added the Tuileries palace to the west
of the Louvre. Construction on the Louvre was halted for some time
when king Louis XIV decided to move to the Versailles Palace.

In the 19th century, during the Second Empire, the Louvre was
expanded again with the addition of the Richelieu wing.

East Wing
The Louvre now had four symmetric wings surrounding a large
courtyard. This would not last long, as the Communards burned the

Tuileries palace in 1871, opening up the west side of the palace.

The collection of the Louvre Museum was first established in the 16th
century by King Francis I. One of the works of art he purchased was the
now famous Mona Lisa painting. The collection grew steadily thanks to
donations and purchases by the kings. In 1793, during the French
Revolution, the private royal collection opened to the public.

Glass Pyramid
The most recent addition to the Louvre was the

Louvre Pyramid
construction of the glass pyramid, which functions as the museum's
main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the renowned
American architect I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the sunlight to
come in on the underground floor.

The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts
sharply with the classical design of the surrounding buildings, but today
it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum
a spacious central entrance without the need to touch the historic
patrimony.

Arc de Triomphe

Napoléon's Triumphal Arch
The arch was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his
victories, but he was ousted before the arch was completed. In fact, it
wasn't completed until 1836 during the reign of Louis-Philippe. The Arc
de Triomphe is engraved with names of generals who commanded
French troops during Napoleon's regime.

Design
The design of the arch by Jean Chalgrin is based on the Arch of Titus in
Rome. The Arc de Triomphe is much higher (50m versus 15m), but it
has exactly the same proportions.
The triumphal arch is adorned

Detail of the
Marseillaise Relief

with many reliefs, most of them commemorating the emperor's battles.
Among them are the battle of Aboukir, Napoleons victory over the
Turkish and the Battle of Austerliz, where Napoleon defeated the
Austrians.
The best known relief is the Departure of the Volunteers in 1792, also
known as the Marseillaise. At the top of the arch are 30 shields, each of
them bears the name of one of Napoleon's successful battles.

Below the arch is the Grave of the Unknown Soldiers, honoring the
many who died during the first World War.

Place Charles de Gaulle
The arch is located at the end of the Champs-Elysées, in the middle of
the Place Charles de Gaulle, a large circular square from which no less
than 12 streets emanate. The streets are named after French military
leaders.

Observatory

View from Arc de Triomphe
The top of the arch features a viewing platform from where you have
great views of La Defense, the Champs-Elysées and the Sacré-Coeur.
Make sure you take one of the underpasses to the arch, it is too
dangerous to try and cross the street. There is no elevator in the arch, so
be prepared to walk up 234 steps.

Sacré-Coeur

Sacré-Coeur
Montmartre
Above all, Montmartre, an area on a hill in the 18th arrondissement,
north of downtown Paris, is known for its many artists who have been
omnipresent since 1880. The name Montmartre is said to be derived
from either Mount of Martyrs or from Mount of Mars. Until 1873, when
the Sacré-Coeur was built on top of the hill, Montmartre was a small
village, inhabited by a mostly farming community.

The Basilica Project

The project to build the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred
Heart) was initiated by a group of influential people. Their reasons to
build this monument was two-fold:

they had pledged to build a church if Paris escaped unscathed from the
war with the Prussians and they saw the defeat of the French at the
hands of the Prussian army in 1870 as a moral condemnation of the sins
of Paris.
The project was authorized by the National Assembly in 1873, and a
competition was organized. The goal was to build an imposing basilica
true to Christian traditions.

The Building
The winner of the competition was Paul Abadie, who had already
restored two cathedrals in France. He designed an immense basilica in a
Roman-Byzantyne style. This architectural style stands in sharp contrast
with other contemporary buildings in France,

View from the
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
which were mostly built in a Romanesque style.

Construction of the Basilica started in 1876 with Abadie as the lead
architect. When Paul Abadie died in 1884, he was succeeded by Lucien
Magne, who added an 83 meter (272 ft) tall clock tower. The Savoyarde
clock installed here is one of the world's largest.

Due to its location on the Montmartre hill, the basilica towers over the
city; its highest point is even higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Thanks to this prominent location the Sacré-Coeur Basilica is one of the
most

noticeable landmarks in Paris.
The Building
The Sacré-Coeur Basilica has managed to keep its beaming white color
even in the polluted air of a big city like Paris. This can be attributed to
the Château-Landon stones which were used for the construction of the
Sacré-Coeur. When it rains, the stones react to the water and secrete
calcite, which acts like a bleacher.

Orsay Museum

.

New Railway Stations
At the turn of the 19th century, two large railway stations were built in
Paris, the Gare de Lyon and the Gare d'Orsay. The Gare d'Orsay had the
most prominent site, along the Seine opposite the Louvre. The railway
station was planned by the Compagnied'Orléans, who wanted to bring
electrified trains right into the heart of Paris.

Design
The architect first appointed was EugèneHénard. He intended to use
industrial material on the facade facing the Louvre. Facing fierce
protests from preservationists, the

One of the Station's giant clocks
Compagnied'Orléans decided to hold a competition supervised by a
parliamentary commission. The winner of this contest was Victor
Laloux, who had also designed the railway station in Tours, France.

His design was acclaimed for the integration of the metal vault in the

stone exterior. The hall measures 140 meter long, 40 meter wide and 32
meter high (459 x 132 x 105 ft). The whole structure is 175 meter long
and 75 meter wide (574 x 246 ft). An impressive 12 000 ton metal was
used for the construction of the gare d'Orsay, which is well more than
the amount of

The museum at night
metal used for the Eiffel Tower.

The Railway Station...
The Gare d'Orsay was inaugurated on the 14th of July 1900 for the Paris
World Exposition and was considered a masterpiece of industrial
architecture. But soon the platforms had become too short for the now
much longer trains and as early as 1939, the gare d'Orsay was out of use
as a train station. Over time it was used as a parking lot, as a shooting
stand, as a theatre location and even as a reception center for prisoners
of war.

Turned into a Museum
The train station had been completely abandoned since 1961 when it was
saved from demolition by the French president Pompidou. In 1978 his
successor, president Giscard d'Estaing, decided to use the Gare

Inside the museum
d'Orsay as a museum for 19th and 20th century art.
It would not only contain paintings, but it would also cover different art
forms, including sculptures, engravings, photos, film, architecture and
urbanism.

Restoration of the Musée d'Orsay, as it is now called, started in 1979 and
finally on the 29th of November 1986, the museum was inaugurated by
the French president, François Mitterrand.

Collection
When it opened the museum contained some 2300 paintings, 1500
sculptures and 1000 other objects. Most of these works of art came from
other museums such as the Musée du Luxembourg. Over time the
collection has expanded significantly mainly due to acquisitions and
gifts. It covers a period from the mid 19th century up to 1914 and
contains works from Degas, Rodin, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Cezanne, van
Gogh and others.

Place de la Concorde

Creation

In 1763, a large statue of king Louis XV was erected at the site to
celebrate the recovery of the king after a serious illness.

Place de la Concorde
The square surrounding the statue was created later, in 1772, by the
architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel. It was known as the place Louis XV.

Guillotine
In 1792, during the French revolution, the statue was replaced by a
another, large statue, called 'Liberté' (freedom) and the square was called
Place de la Révolution. A guillotine was installed at the center of the
square and in a time span of only a couple of years, 1119 people were
beheaded here. Amongst them many famous people like King Louis
XVI, Marie-Antionette, and

Cleopatra's Needle

revolutionary Robespierre, just to name a few. After the revolution the
square was renamed several times until 1830, when it was given the
current name 'Place de la Concorde'.

Obelisk
In the 19th century the 3200 years old obelisk from the temple of
Ramses II at Thebes was installed at the center of the Place de la
Concorde. It is a 23 meters (75 ft) tall monolith in pink

Obelisk's Pedestal
granite and weighs approximately 230 tons. In 1831, it was offered by
the Viceroy of Egypt to Louis Philippe. Three obelisks were offered by
the Viceroy, but only one was transported to Paris.
The obelisk - sometimes dubbed 'L'aiguille de Cléopâtre' or Cleopatra's
Needle - is covered with hieroglyphs picturing the reign of pharaohs

Statue of galloping horse

Ramses II & Ramses III. Pictures on the pedestal describe the
transportation to Paris and its installation at the square in 1836.

Statues & Fountains
At each corner of the octagonal square is a statue representing a French
city: Bordeaux, Brest, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen and
Strasbourg. They were installed in 1836 by Jacob IgnazHittorf, who
redesigned the Place de la Concorde between 1833 and 1846.

Fontaine des Mers
That same year a bronze fountain, called 'La fontaine des Mers' was
added to the square. A second one, the 'Elevation of the Maritime'
fountain, was installed in 1839. Both fountains were designed by Hittorf.

Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf
The Pont Neuf is also Paris's best known bridge and together with the
Pont Alexandre III, one of its most beautiful.

History
At the middle of the 16th century, only two bridges crossed the Seine
river. Since they were in a bad state and constantly overcrowded, King
Henry III decided in 1578 to construct a new bridge.
It wasn't until 1607

Statue of Henry IV
before the bridge was officially opened by King Henry IV, who named
the bridge 'Pont Neuf'. After the his death, an equestrian statue of the
King was erected at the center of the bridge, on the Place du Pont Neuf.
The bronze statue was knocked over and melted down during the French
Revolution, but is was replaced by an exact replica in 1818.
Progressive Design
For its time, the 232m (761ft) long and 22m (72ft) wide Pont Neuf was a
modern bridge with several innovations. The Pont Neuf was the first

bridge in Paris without houses built on it. It was also the first bridge with
pavements which made it an

immediate hit with the Parisians who used the bridge as a meeting place.
Especially the semicircular areas near the pavement were ideal for
socializing.
Bridge Spans
The Pont Neuf actually consists of two different bridge spans, one on
each side of the Île de la Cité, where the Place du Pont Neuf connects
the two spans. The bridge has a total of 12 arches, with one span of
seven arches joining the right bank and another span of five arches
connecting Île de la Cité with the left bank.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux's Golden Triangle

Michael Carr
Visit Bordeaux’s Golden Triangle, which is formed by the roads cours
de l’Intendance, cours Georges Clemenceau and allées de Tourny.
Within and around this triangle are endless shopping opportunities,
including great spots to purchase Bordeaux wines. The rue Sainte
Catherine is a lovely place for shopping or a brief break at a café, and it

is the longest pedestrianized street in all of Europe. The city’s shopping
options are vast, ranging from small malls to tiny locally-owned
boutiques. Major chain stores include a string of popular and upscale
names, including Christian Lacroix, Mont Blanc, Hugo Boss, Cartier and
Hermès.
. Basilique Saint Seurin

Michael Carr
The Basilique Saint Seurin is not Bordeaux's most elegant church, but it
is the city’s oldest. This church, with a crypt dating back to the 4th
century, appears a bit worn, but it has a tremendous amount of character.
It features a delicately-carved throne that was graced by a pope in the
past. Its Mariovian crypt, a group that claimed to be the bloodline of
Christ, is worth a visit alone.
Le Grand Théâtre

Bordeaux Grand Theatre
Le Grand Théâtre is a premier example of neo-classical architecture. Its
portico is punctuated by a dozen grandiose Corinthian columns. Built in
1780, it is decked with numerous statues and carvings. Open year-round
with hours varying depending on the opera schedule. Call ahead for a
reservation.

Basilique Saint Michel

Basilique Saint Michel features a spire stretching nearly
400 feet high, the tallest ancient monument in southwest France and the
second highest in France. Dating back to the 1400s, it is a wonderful
example of medieval religious architecture.

France: History, Geography, Government, and Culture —
Infoplease.com

Lo3
France Customs, Currency & Airport Tax regulations

Customs Rules
Import regulations::
Free import to passengers arriving with goods purchased within the E.U.
which are for personal use only (including the French Overseas
Departments of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion):
a. tobacco products, for passengers aged 17 and over :
- 800 cigarettes;
- 400 cigarillos;
- 200 cigars;
- 1kg of pipe or cigarette tobacco;
b. alcoholic beverages, for passengers aged 17 years and older:
- 10 litres of spirits over 22%;

- 20 litres of alcoholic beverages less than 22%;
- 90 litres of wine (though no more than 60 litres of sparkling wine);
- 110 litres of beer.
Free import to passengers arriving from non-E.U. countries (including
Canary Islands, Channel Islands):
1. tobacco products, for passengers aged 17 years and over:
- 200 cigarettes; or
- 100 cigarillos (max. 3g each); or
- 50 cigars; or
- 250g of smoking tobacco; or
- a proportional mix of these products;
2. alcoholic beverages, for passengers aged 17 years and older:
- 1 litre of spirits over 22%; or
- 2 litres of a dessert wine not exceeding 22% and sparkling wine; and
- 2 litres of table wine;
3. (except if listed under "5. Customs - Prohibited"):
- fish up to 2 kilograms;
- caviar up to 250 grammes;
- other products of animal origin: up to 1 kilogram;
4. medicines, sufficient for personal requirements;
5. other goods (for air travellers) up to a total value of EUR 430.- (per
adult) or EUR 90.- (per passenger aged under 15 years).
WARNING: Such amounts cannot be cumulated by several people.
GOLD, JEWELLERY ETC.:
Import of gold: must be declared except personal jewellery not
exceeding a total weight of 500 grammes provided it is in regular
situation.
Prohibited:
Products of animal origin, not originating from an EU member state,
Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland, are not
permitted to be imported into an EU Member state, with the exception of
limited amounts from Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland,
Iceland and small amounts of specific products from other countries.

Baggage Clearance regulations::
Baggage can be cleared at any airport in France.
Exempt: baggage of passengers with a destination outside of France, in
transit via Paris, international airport Charles de Gaulle or Orly.

Airport Embarkation Tax
No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.

Currency rules
Currency Import regulations:
Same regulations as for export apply.
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Euro - EUR) and foreign currencies: no restrictions if
arriving from or traveling to another E.U. country.
If arriving directly from or traveling to a country outside the E.U.:
amounts exceeding EUR 10,000.- or more or the equivalent in another
currency (incl. banker's draft and
cheques of any kind) must be declared.
Documents for France
A valid passport is required to enter France
Visa
The Schengen Visa has made traveling between its 25 member countries
(22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier and less

bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder
can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus
avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each
country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit
several European countries on the same trip. The Schengen visa is a
―visitor visa‖. It is issued to citizens of countries who are required to
obtain a visa before entering Europe.

The purpose of the visit must be leisure, tourism, or business. Upon the
issuance of the visa, the visa holder is allowed to enter all member
countries and travel freely throughout the Schengen area. It is strongly
recommended to plan your journey within the timeframe of the
Schengen Visa as extensions can be very difficult to obtain, thus forcing
you to leave to stay in compliance with the Schengen rules and
regulations. A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel freely within the
Schengen countries for a maximum stay of up to 90 days in a 6 month
period
Currency-euro
Confirmed air ticket with all onward and return sectors

Health requirements

Vaccination Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-
or Disease Preventable Diseases

Routine Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine
shots such as, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine,
etc.

Hepatitis B Recommended for all unvaccinated persons who
might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have
sexual contact with the local population, or be
exposed through medical treatment, such as for an
accident, even in developed countries, and for all
adults requesting protection from HBV infection.

Rabies Recommended for travelers involved in activities that
might bring them into contact with bats, such as cave
exploration (spelunkers).

To enter United Kingdom
Currency-euro
Confirmed air ticket with all onward and return sectors
Tourist visa
Vaccine recommendations are based on the best available risk
information. Please note that the level of risk for vaccine-preventable
diseases can change at any time.

Vaccination or Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable
Disease
Routine Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots, such as
measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanu
poliovirus vaccine, etc.

Hepatitis B Recommended for all unvaccinated persons who might be exposed t
fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed
treatment, such as for an accident, even in developed countries, and
requesting protection from HBV infection.
Rabies vaccination is only recommended for travelers involved in any
activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats. These
travelers include wildlife professionals, researchers, veterinarians, or
adventure travelers visiting areas where bats are commonly found.

LO4-ITINERARY
AREA 3 –INDIA-IN-HYDERABAD-HYD –RAJIV GANDHI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
TRAVEL BY BRITISH AIRWAYS-BA
AREA 2-EUROPE-FRANCE-FR-PARIS-PAR-CHARLES DE
GAULLE AIRPORT
AREA 2-UNITED KINGDOM-U.K.LONDON –LON-HEATHROW
AIRPORT
AREA 3 –INDIA-IN-HYDERABAD-HYD –RAJIV GANDHI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Reasons why my itinerary is good
Tourist attractions worthwhile
Countries are safe to travel, good geographical conditions
All can be travelled by air

I made an itinerary that is very cost effective and managed it within a
time frame making my client very happy

TOUR FOR 10 DAYS 9 NIGHTS
First visits to Paris can be daunting: nearly every square inch of the city
seems to be seeping with history and beauty. All of it is worth seeing
and exploring, travel and reach Paris by British airways
Day 1 The Louvre

The site of the world's largest and most diverse collection of pre-20th
century painting, sculpture, and decorative objects, The Louvre is
definitely one of Paris' best attractions. Not forgetting the Mona Lisa and
the Venus de Milo, bask in the works of Vermeer, Caravaggio,
Rembrandt, and countless others. The palace itself is testament to a rich
history spanning from the medieval period to the present. The adjacent
Tuileries gardens are perfect for a stroll pre-or post-visit.
Notre Dame Cathedral

©

One of the most singular and beautiful cathedrals of Europe, Notre
Dame Cathedral's dramatic towers, spire, stained glass and statuary are
guaranteed to take your breath away. Witness firsthand the spot that was
once the heartbeat of medieval Paris, and that took over 100 years of
hard labor to complete. Climbing the North tower to see Paris from the
hunchback Quasimodo's vantage is essential, too.

Eiffel Tower

©

More than any other landmark, the Eiffel Tower has come to represent
an elegant and contemporary Paris. The iron tower, which was built for
the 1889 World Exposition by Gustave Eiffel, was wildly unpopular
with Parisians when it was unveiled, and was nearly torn down. It has
since attracted over 220 million visitors, and it would be hard to imagine
Paris now without it. The tower crowns the Paris night sky with its
festive light, and glitters up a storm every hour.
Day 3 - Musée d'Orsay

Walk over the bridge from the Louvre to the Musée d'Orsay-- and see
the bridge between classical and modern art. Housing the world's most
important collection of impressionist and post-impressionist painting,
the Musée d'Orsay's light, airy rooms whir you through three floors of
modern wonders, from Degas' ethereal dancers to Monet's water lilies,
all the way to Gaugin's leafy jungles. Major works by Van Gogh,
Delacroix, Manet, and others await you,

The Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter

The Sorbonne University is the historic soul of the Latin
Quarter, where higher learning has flourished for centuries. Founded in
1257 for a small group of theology students, the Sorbonne is one of
Europe's oldest universities. It has hosted countless great thinkers,
including philosophers René Descartes, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de
Beauvoir. Enjoy a drink on the café terrace in front of the college before
exploring the winding little streets of the Latin Quarter behind it.
Day4- Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées

.

The 164-foot Arc de Triomphe commissioned by Emperor Napoléon I
does exactly what it was made to do: evoke sheer military power and
triumph. It was built in an age when leaders erected monuments in their
own honor, and scaled to their egos. The arch's beautiful sculptures and
reliefs commemorate Napoléon's generals and soldiers. Visit the Arc de
Triomphe to begin or culminate a walk down the equally grandiose
Avenue des Champs-Elysées.

Centre Georges Pompidou and the "Beaubourg" Neighborhood

©

Parisians consider the Centre Georges Pompidou to be the cultural pulse
of the city. This modern art museum and cultural center, located in
the neighborhood affectionately dubbed Beaubourg by locals, opened in
1977 to honor president Georges Pompidou. The Center's signature
skeletal design, which evokes bones and blood vessels, is either loved or
reviled-- no in-betweens. If wacky design isn't your cup of tea, the
permanent collection at the National Museum of Modern Art is a must
and features work by Modigliani and Matisse. Rooftop views of the city
are also in order.
Sacre Coeur and Montmartre

© With its unmistakeable white dome, the Sacre
Coeur sits at the highest point of Paris on the Montmartre knoll, or butte.
This basilica, which was consecrated in 1909, is best-known for its
garish gold mosaic interiors and for its dramatic terrace, from which you
can expect sweeping views of Paris on a clear day. Take the funicular up
with a metro ticket and stop off at Sacre Coeur before exploring the
winding, village-like streets of Montmartre. And after expending all
your energy climbing Montmartre's formidable hills and stairs, consider
a traditional Parisian cabaret at the legendary Moulin Rouge.

Day 5 Boat Tour of the Seine River

Seeing some of Paris' most beautiful sites glide past as you drift down
the Seine River is an unforgettable and essential experience. Companies
such as Bateaux Parisiens offer 1-hour tours of the Seine year-round for
about 10 Euros. You can hop on near Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower.
Go at night to enjoy the shimmering play of light on the water, and dress
warmly-- the wind from off the Seine can be chilly. You can also take
tours of some of Paris' canals and waterways, which will allow you to
see a semi-hidden side of the city of light.

Day 6 Travel to Cannes and visit
Antibes Attractions
The town of Antibes - to which the resorts of Cap d'Antibes and Juan-
les-Pins belong - lies to the east of Cannes at the western end of the Baie
des Anges (Bay of Angels), which reaches as far as Nice. Cap d'Antibes,
which extends south into the Mediterranean, closes off the huge sweep
of the bay. The actual area of the town occupies the Peninsula of
Garoupe.

Flower-growing is of great importance to the economy; roses, carnations
etc. are grown under about 3sq.km/1.2sq.mi of glass.

8km/5mi inland along the D35/103 the Sophia Antipolis Industrial and
Technological Park has been developing since 1972. At the end of 1990
it covered an area of 580ha/1,450acres, on which 834 firms with 14,000
employess had become established. Of those some 60 were foreign

firms, and 700 companies and organizations were working in advanced
fields of technology such as electronics and telecommunications, energy
and environmental research, chemistry and biotechnology. More than a
half of the work force are "white collar workers", and of them 40% are
foreigners from 50 different countries. A further 32,00ha/8,000acres are
expected to be developed by the year 2000. There should be advantages
in the proximity of the Sophia Antipolis University, which is expected to
take 25,000 students.

Antibes was founded in the fifth century B.C. by Greeks from Phocaea
and named "Antipolis", meaning the town lying opposite the settlement
of Nikaia Polis (Nice). The settlement became a Roman municipium,
later a bastion against the barbarians. From the 14th century onwards it
was a frontier town between Savoy and France.
Antibes - Château GrimaldiMusée Picasso

The former castle of the Grimaldis stands to the south of the cathedral n
Antibes. When it was built in the 16th C. remains of the Roman fort
were used in its construction. However, the defensive tower dates from
the 13th/14th C.

Today the castle contains the interesting Musée Picasso, a collection of
modern and contemporary art, with works by Pablo Picasso, de Stael,
Ernst, Mirô, Léger, Hartung, Atlan, Richier, Adami, Modigliani, Saura,
Cesar, Arman and Alechinsky. There is also a wall tapestry "Judith and
Holofernes", by Jean Cocteau.

The first floor is devoted to Picasso himself, with exhibits of pictures,

ceramics and sculptures which he produced during a two month stay in
the castle in 1946.

Day 7 travel to London by British
airways and visit
London Eye
The structure was designed by the architectural team of David Marks
and Julia Barfield, husband and wife.
They submitted their idea for a large observation wheel as part of a
competition to design a landmark for the new millennium.
None of the entrants won the competition, but the couple pressed on and
eventually got the backing of British Airways, who sponsored the
project.
Construction
Construction of the observation wheel took more than a year and a half
to complete. In the process over 1700 tonnes of steel were used for the
structure and more than 3000 tonnes of concrete were used for the
foundations.

The futuristic looking capsules, accommodating up to 25 passengers,

The building has four domed turrets at each corner. Three of them have
a square shape, the other is round, due to its spiral staircase. The round
turret was long used as an observatory.
Other Towers
The Tower of London was significantly expanded in the 13th century,
during the reign of Henry III, when two defensive walls were built
around the White Tower. The inner wall had thirteen towers and the
outer wall another six. The towers were mostly used to imprison
political opponents.

Traitors' Gate
Some of the most famous prisoners locked in the Tower were two
princes, the sons of king Edward IV. After Edward's dead in 1483 the
children were locked in the Bloody Tower by their uncle, who would
later ascend the throne as king Richard III. The princes were never seen
again and were probably killed by guards.
The St. Thomas Tower is located close to the Bloody Tower. Here,
prisoners were brought into the fortress by boat through the Traitor's
gate.
Important prisoners were often locked in the Beauchamp Tower,
sometimes with their servants. An inscription on the wall of the tower is
believed to refer to Lady Jane Grey, who, nine days after she was
crowned Queen, was executed on Tower Green, an open terrain in the
Tower of London.

Day 8 - St. Paul's Cathedral


St. Paul's Cathedral has had an eventful history. Five different churches
were built at this site. The first church, dedicated to the apostle Paul,
dates back to 604 AD, when King Ethelbert of Kent built a wooden
church on the summit of one of London's hills for Mellitus, Bishop of
the East Saxons. At the end of the 7th century, the church was built in
stone by Erkenwald, Bishop of London.
In 962 and 1087, the Cathedral was destroyed by fires, but each time it
was rebuilt. By that time, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.
Renovations and extensions in the 13th and 14th century enlarged the
cathedral even more.

Buckingham Palace

The church was the site of a number of important historic events such as
the funeral of Admiral Nelson in 1806 and the funeral of Winston
Churchill in 1965. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married here
in 1981.
History
The original building was constructed as a countryhouse in 1705 by the
duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield. King George III bought the house
in 1761 for his wife and had it altered by William Chambers.
In 1826, King George IV asked famed architect John Nash to expand the
house - then known as Buckingham House - into a palace. Meanwhile
St. James's Palace was still the principal palace used by the royals for
ceremonies and receptions.

The Palace seen from
St. James's Park
King George IV as well as his younger brother and successor King
William IV both died before the palace was completed. Queen Victoria
was the first to reside in the palace. In July 1837, three weeks after her
accession to the throne, she moved from Kensington Palace, where she
grew up, to the new Buckingham Palace.

The palace was expanded in 1850 with a new east wing. The wing added
a large number of rooms to the palace, including an expansive 40 meter
(131 ft) long ballroom. The monumental façade of the east wing was
built in 1913 by Aston Webb. It is this facade, facing the Mall and St
James's Park, which is now known by most people.
Royal Family

Queen Victoria
Memorial
A part of the palace is still used by the Royal family. A flag is hoisted
each time the Queen is in the Palace. The palace is not only home to the
royal family, there are also a number of staff members living here. The
palace has about 600 rooms, including a throne room, a ballroom,
picture gallery and even a swimming pool.

Some of these rooms can be visited during a couple of months in the
summer - when the Royal Family is not in the palace - including the
lavishly decorated State Rooms: the Throne Room, Green Drawing
Room, Silk Tapestry Rooms, Picture Gallery, State Dining Room, Blue
Drawing Room, Music Room and White Drawing Room are all part of
the tour around the Buckingham Palace.
Another interesting part of the palace that is open to visitors is the
Queen's Gallery, where works of art from the royal collection are on
display. The palace's stables, the Royal Mews, can also be visited. Here
you'll find a number of royal horse-drawn carriages.
Queen Victoria Memorial
Right in front of the building is the Queen Victoria Memorial,

Changing of the Guards
designed by Sir Aston Webb and built in 1911 in honor of Queen
Victoria, who reigned for almost 64 years.
Changing of the Guard
The changing of the guard takes place daily at 11 o'clock in front of
Buckingham Palace.
A colorfully dressed detachment, known as the New Guard, parades
along the Mall towards Buckingham Palace and during a ceremony
replaces the existing, Old Guard. The ceremony, which is accompanied

by music played by a military band, always attracts throngs of
onlookers.

Day 9 Houses of Parliament

In the middle of the 11th century, King Edward the Confessor had
moved his court to the Palace of Westminster, situated on a central site
near the river Thames.
In 1265 a parliament was created with two houses: the Lords and the
Commons. The House of Lords met at the Palace of Westminster while
the House of Commons did not have a permanent location.
After King Henry VIII moved his court to Whitehall Palace in 1530, the
House of Lords continued to meet in Westminster. In 1547 the House of
Commons also moved here, confirming Westminster as the central seat
of government, a position it still holds today.
The new Palace of Westminster
In 1834 a fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster , leaving only the
Jewel Tower, the crypt and cloister of St. Stephens and Westminster
Hall intact. After the fire, a competition was organized to create a new
building for the two houses of parliament.
A design by Sir Charles Barry and his assistant Augustus WelbyPugin
was chosen from 97 entries. They created a large but balanced complex

in neo gothic style and incorporated the buildings that survived the fire.
The whole complex was finished in 1870, more than 30 years after

Big Ben
construction started. It includes the Clock Tower, Victoria Tower, House
of Commons, House of Lords, Westminster Hall and the Lobbies.
Big Ben
The most famous part of Charles Barry's design is the elegant clock
tower. Originally called St. Stephen's Tower, it was soon named after the
tower's largest bell, the Big Ben. A light at the top of the tower is
illuminated when Parliament is sitting at night.
Commons Chamber & Lords Chamber
The Commons Chamber, where the House of Commons meets, was
destroyed during the Second World War but rebuilt in 1950 by Sir Giles
Gilbert Scott in the same neo gothic style. The Commons Chamber's
interior (with green colored benches) is rather austere compared to the

lavishly decorated Lords Chamber (with red colored benches). Over the
centuries the balance of power has moved from the elitist House of
Lords to the more agitated House of Commons, where the governing
party and the opposition are seated opposite each other with exactly two
sword lengths and one foot separating the two parties.
Central Lobby
One of several lobbies in the Houses of Parliament is the Central Lobby
where people can meet the Members of Parliament and persuade them to

Victoria Tower
defend their interests. Hence the verb 'to lobby'.

Victoria Tower
The tower opposite the Big Ben is the Victoria Tower, built in 1860. The
tower contains the records of both the House of Lords and the House of
Commons since 1497. During the parliamentary year the Union Flag is
hoisted on top of the 98m tall tower.

Westminster Hall

The oldest part of the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Hall, dating
back to 1097. The large hammer beam roof was built in the 14th century
and replaced the original roof which was supported by two rows of
pillars. The hall is one of Europe's largest unsupported medieval halls.

Day 10 Natural History Museum

History of the Museum
Originally part of

Natural History
Museum
the British Museum, the Museum of Natural History began with a
donation to the country of the collection of Sir Hans Sloane in 1753.
Sloane, who was a physician, is said to have collected ―natural
curiosities.‖
When a second collection by botanist Joseph Banks (who traveled with
Captain James Cook) was added to Sloane’s collection, museum
curators began to see a need for a separate location for these items.

many terra cotta features, and Waterhouse’s use of terra cotta as a
building material was groundbreaking in Great Britain.
End of 10 day and 9 nights tour of Europe .travel back to Hyderabad by
British airways .

Lo1

IATA

(International Air Transport Association)

Formation April 1945, Havana, Cuba
Headquarters Montreal, Canada
Membership 225 airlines
Key people Giovanni Bisignani, Director
General and CEO
Website www.iata.org

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is an
international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation

Organization is also headquartered. IATA's mission is to represent,
lead, and serve the airline industry. IATA represents some 230 airlines
comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic. The Director
General and Chief Executive Officer is Giovanni Bisignani. Currently,
IATA is present in over 150 countries covered through 101 offices
around the globe.
PATA

(Pacific Asia Travel Association)
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership
association working to promote the responsible development of travel
and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.
The association began in 1951 when Lorrin P. Thurston, president of
two major daily newspapers in Honolulu, and William J Mullahey of
Pan American Airways set about organising the first Pacific area travel
conference with the aim of promoting tourism to the largely
undiscovered region of Asia Pacific.
In 1953 PATA’s headquarters were moved from Hawaii to San
Francisco, with Sam Mercer serving as the first executive director.
Considered as the sate of ―money and influence‖, San Francisco was
home to an influential group of individuals who served on the PATA
board and committees during the 1950s and 1960s.
Throughout the first decade, PATA membership grew steadily,
attracting a wide range of members including governments, carriers,
hotel members, travel agents, cruise lines and the media. Other members

eventually included tour operators, educational institutions, vehicle
operators, restaurants and catering services, advertising agencies, public
relations firms, publications, banks and architectural and research firms.
By the end of the 1950s, PATA had 325 members, while there had also
been a steady rise in the annual conference attendance. In 1955, a
Research and Survey Committee was established and PATA delegates
gave their approval to spend US$8,000 on the organisation’s first
advertising programme. In 1957 the first issue of Pacific Travel News
(PTN) was published, providing PATA with a news vehicle to promote
itself and its destinations

It was then in October 1951 that Thurston, who was in Paris attending a
European travel conference, issued his now-famous cable to Mullahey:
"Proceed to send invitations to governments and carriers to attend
Pacific Area Travel conference for purpose of establishing permanent
Pacific Travel Association and determine most convenient date for
majority during first three months 1952.

UFTAA
(United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations)

The United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA)
emanates from the Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations
created in Rome, Italy, on November 22nd, 1966. UFTAA was
originally founded as a result of a merger of two large world

organizations, FIAV and UOTAA, recognizing the need to unify travel
agencies and tour-operators into one international federation.

In 1989, coming from Brussels, UFTAA set up its General
Secretariat in the Principality of Monaco.

UFTAA started its operation as a Confederation on January 1st,
2003. It is a non-profit Confederation of international scope,
representing Regional Federations comprising some 80 national
associations.

ICAO

International Civil Aviation
Organization

The ICAO flag

Org type UN agency

Acronyms ICAO
OACI

ИКАО
‫إي كاو‬
OPSI

Head Raymond Benjamin

Status active

Established April 1947

Headquarters Montreal, Canada

Website www.icao.int

(International Civil Aviation Organization)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a
specialized agency of the United Nations, codifies the principles and
techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and
development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly
growth. Its headquarters are located in the QuartierInternational of
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices
concerning air navigation, its infrastructure, Flight inspection,
prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing
procedures for international civil aviation. In addition, the ICAO defines
the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport
safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on
International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago
Convention.

The ICAO should not be confused with the International Air
Transport Association (IATA), a trade organization for airlines also
headquartered in Montreal, or with the Civil Air Navigation Services
Organization (CANSO), an organization for Air Navigation Service
Providers (ANSP's) with its headquarters at
AmsterdamAirportSchiphol in the Netherlands.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

(Convention on International Civil Aviation)

Chicago Convention

Convention on International
Civil Aviation

Signed 1 December 1944

Location Chicago

Effective 5 March 1947

Condition 26 ratifications

Parties Depositary Government of the
United States of
America

Languages English, French and
Spanish

The Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as
the Chicago Convention, established the
InternationalCivilAviationOrganization (ICAO), a specialized agency
of the UnitedNations charged with coordinating and regulating
international air travel. The Convention establishes rules of airspace,
aircraftregistration and safety, and details the rights of the signatories
in relation to airtravel. The Convention also exempts air fuels from tax.

The document was signed on December 7, 1944 in Chicago,
Illinois, by 52 signatory states. It received the requisite 26th ratification
on March 5, 1947 and went into effect on April 4, 1947, the same date
that ICAO came into being. In October of the same year, ICAO became
a specialized agency of the UnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil
(ECOSOC). The Convention has since been revised eight times (in
1959, 1963, 1969, 1975, 1980, 1997, 2000 and 2006). Links to all
versions of the document can be found in the external links section.

The original signed document resides in the
NationalArchivesoftheUnitedStates.

Warsaw Convention

Warsaw Convention

Convention for the Unification of
certain rules relating to international
carriage by air

Signed 12 October 1929

Location Warsaw

Effective 13 February 1933

Parties 152

Depositary Government of Poland

Language French

The Warsaw Convention is an international convention which regulates
liability for international carriage of persons, luggage or goods
performed by aircraft for reward.

Originally signed in 1929 in Warsaw (hence the name), it was amended
in 1955 at TheHague and in 1975 in Montreal. United States courts
have held that, at least for some purposes, the Warsaw Convention is a
different instrument from the Warsaw Convention as Amended by the
Hague Protocol.

In particular, the Warsaw Convention:

mandates carriers to issue passenger tickets;

requires carriers to issue baggage checks for checked luggage;
creates a limitation period of 2 years within which a claim must be
brought (Article 29); and
limits a carrier's liability to at most:
o 250,000 Francs or 16,600 SpecialDrawingRights (SDR) for
personal injury;
o 17 SDR per kilogram for checked luggage and cargo, or
$20USD per kilogram for non-signatories of the amended
Montreal Protocols. .....
o 5,000 Francs or 332 SDR for the hand luggage of a traveler.

The sums limiting liability were originally given in Francs (defined in
terms of a particular quantity of gold by article 22 paragraph 5 of the
convention). These sums were amended by the Montreal Additional
Protocol No. 2 to substitute an expression given in terms of SDR's.
These sums are valid in the absence of a differing agreement (on a
higher sum) with the carrier. Agreements on lower sums are null and
void.

On June 1, 2009, the exchange rate was 1.00 SDR = 1.088 EUR or 1.00
SDR = 1.548 USD.

A court may also award a claiming party's costs, unless the carrier made
an offer within 6 months of the loss (or at least 6 months before the
beginning of any legal proceedings) which the claiming party has failed
to beat.

The MontrealConvention, signed in 1999, will replace the Warsaw
Convention system, once Montreal has been ratified by all states. Until
then, however, there will be a patchwork of rules governing international
carriage by air, as different states will be parties to different agreements
(or no agreement at all).

Montreal Convention

Convention for the Unification of
certain rules for international
carriage by air

Signed May 28, 1999

Location Montreal

Effective 4 November 2003

Parties 100 States and the
European Union

Depositary International Civil
Aviation Organization

Languages English, Arabic, Chinese,
French, Russian and
Spanish

MERIT
The freedoms of the air are a set of commercial aviation rights granting
a country's airline(s) the privilege to enter and land in another
country's airspace. Formulated as a result of disagreements over the
extent of aviation liberalization in the Convention on International Civil
Aviation of 1944, (known as the Chicago Convention) the United
States had called for a standardized set of separate air rights which may
be negotiated between states but most of the other countries involved

were concerned that the size of the U.S. airlines would dominate all
world air travel if there were not strict rules.
The convention was successful in drawing up a multilateral agreement in
which the first two freedoms, known as the International Air Services
Transit Agreement (IASTA), or "Two Freedoms Agreement" were open
to all signatories. As of the summer of 2007, the treaty is accepted by
129 countries
Freedoms of the air apply to commercial aviation (carrying paying
passengers, transporting cargo or mail)

My client is using the 3RD and5th freedom as British airways is
originating from UNITED KINGDOM and travelling from one
foreign country to another and a third
Air Freedom Rights

Traditionally, an airline needs the approval of the governments of the
various countries involved before it can fly in or out of a country, or
even fly over another country without landing. Prior to World War II,
this did not present too many difficulties since the range of commercial
planes was limited and air transport networks were in their infancy and
nationally oriented. In 1944, an International Convention was held in
Chicago to establish the framework for all future bilateral and
multilateral agreements for the use of international air spaces. Five
freedom rights were designed, but a multilateral agreement went only as
far as the first two freedoms (right to overfly and right to make a
technical stop). The first five freedoms are regularly exchanged between
pairs of countries in Air Service Agreements. The remaining freedoms
are becoming more important, however. Freedoms are not automatically
granted to an airline as a right, they are privileges that have to be
negotiated and can be the object of political pressures. All other
freedoms have to be negotiated by bilateral agreements, such as the 1946
agreement between the United States and the UK, which permitted
limited "fifth freedom" rights. The 1944 Convention has been extended
since then, and there are currently nine different freedoms.

First Freedom. The freedom to overfly a foreign country (A) from a
home country en-route to another (B) without landing. Also called the
transit freedom.Ex British airways flying from U.K over the air space
of Italy to France.
Second Freedom. The freedom to stop in a foreign country for a
technical/refueling purpose only. A flight from a home country can
land in another country (A) for purposes other than carrying
passengers, such as refueling, maintenance or emergencies. The final
destination is country B.ex British airways flying from U.K over the
air space of Italy and landing there for emergency purpose.
Third Freedom. The freedom to carry traffic from a home country to
another country (A) for purpose of commercial services. Ex British
airways flying from U.K to France and deplaning passengers

Fourth Freedom. The freedom to pick up traffic from another
country (A) to a home country for purpose of commercial services.
Ex British airways flying from France to U.K. and deplaning
passengers

Third and Fourth Freedoms are the basis for direct commercial
services, providing the rights to load and unload passengers, mail and
freight in another country. They are commonly reciprocal agreements.

Fifth Freedom. The freedom to carry traffic between two foreign
countries on a flight that either originated in or is destined for the
carrier's home country. It enables airlines to carry passengers from
a home country to another intermediate country (A), and then fly
on to third country (B) with the right to pick passengers in the
intermediate country. Also referred to as "beyond right". Ex British
airways flying from India to France and deplaning passengers and
there on to U.K.
Sixth Freedom. The "unofficial" freedom to carry traffic between
two foreign countries via the carrier's home country by combining
third and fourth freedoms. Not formally part of the original 1944
convention, it refers to the right to carry passengers between two
countries (A and B) through an airport in the home country. Ex
British airways flying from India to France and deplaning
passengers and there on to U.K.

Open skies is an international policy concept which calls for the
liberalization of rules and regulations on international aviation industry
most especially commercial aviation - opening a free market for the
airline industry. Its primary objectives are:

 to liberalize the rules for international aviation markets and
minimizes government intervention — the provisions apply to
passenger, all-cargo and combination air transportation and
encompass both scheduled and charter services; or
 to adjust the regime under which military and other state-based flights
may be permitted.

For open skies to effect, a bilateral (and sometimes multilateral) Air
Transport Agreement has to be concluded between two or more nations.
Bilateral Air Transport Agreement
A bilateral air transport agreement is a contract to liberalize aviation
services, usually commercial civil aviation, between two contracting
states. A bilateral air services agreement allows the airlines of both
states to launch commercial flights that covers the transport of
passengers and cargoes of both countries. A bilateral agreement may
sometimes include the transport of military personnel of the contracting
states.
In a bilateral agreement, the contracting states may allow the airlines of
the contracting parties to bring passengers and cargoes to a third country
or pick up passengers and cargoes from the host country to the home
country of the airline or to a third country in which the contracting states
has existing open skies agreement.
Multilateral Air Transport Agreement
A multilateral air services agreement is the same as bilateral agreement,
the only difference is that it involves more than two contracting states.
BILATERAL AIR AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND EUROPE-
Delegations of the European Commission and the Government of the
Republic of India initialled on 8 April 2008 in Brussels a Horizontal
Aviation Agreement which will restore legal certainty to the bilateral air
services agreements between India and 26 EU Member States. The
agreement was signed on 29 September 2008 at the EU-India Summit in
Marseille.
The agreement will bring several provisions in the 26 bilateral air
services agreements between EU Member States and India in line with
EU law. Most importantly, it will remove nationality restrictions in the
bilateral air services agreements between EU Member States and India
and thereby allows any EU airline to operate flights between India and
any EU Member State where it is established and where a bilateral
agreement with India exists and traffic rights are available.

The agreement is an important step towards further strengthening the
EU-India aviation relations and will be the start of a new phase in EU-
India cooperation in civil aviation.
The European Commission and India have also agreed on a Joint Action
Plan setting out the priorities and modalities for future technical
cooperation in a broad range of aviation areas including aviation safety,
security, airports and air traffic management, environment and economic
regulation.
In recent years the Indian air traffic market has been among the fastest
growing in the world. In 2004, air traffic in India increased by some
25%. Since 1990, the number of seats available on scheduled non-stop
flights between the EU and India has increased from 2.6 to 4.4 million in
2004 (+70%). Capacity on EU-India routes is expected to grow even
faster in the coming few years. With such a rapid development in air
traffic, important new challenges as well as opportunities are emerging
and India is becoming a more and more strategically important market
for European airlines, aircraft manufactures and service providers.
This is why the European Commission and the Ministry of Civil
Aviation of India have decided to jointly organise the first EU-India
Aviation Summit on 23-24 November 2006 in New Delhi as a high-level
and focussed event for taking important new steps in EU-India aviation
relations into the 21st century.
The U.K. and India have agreed to further liberalize the bilateral air
services agreement in a phased approach that will boost the number of
frequencies allowed between the two countries from 40 to 84 in 18
months.
U.K. carriers welcomed the move, seeing significant growth potential in
one of the most restricted international air travel markets. According to
the agreement, airlines will be able to operate 56 frequencies per week
between London Heathrow Airport and Mumbai, as well as Delhi. In
addition, 14 weekly flights are allowed between any U.K. airport and
Bangalore and 14 between a U.K. airport and Chennai.

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