The LIES We Believed About France (and a few truths) 🇫🇷

Frenchman, here. People were friendly to you because you had the right polite attitude : Saying "Bonjour" to start any interaction and "parlez vous anglais ?" before speaking english. If you don't, you are seen as very rude and you get the rude attitude. Some French people don't like the US foreign policy but that does not mean they don't like or hate US citizens. Ask the WWII veterans who came to Normandy for the 80th year celebration !

As a french person owning a bakery, we do see tourists from time to time. And yes, I do speak english, but I hate it when people just assume you do speak english. Saying Bonjour is not complicated, so it's nice when people just start with that. But I must say that no one ever asked me if I spoke English or not. They just speak English right away. So nice to see two persons understanding how to start an interaction with us.

I moved to France from the U.S. 6 years ago, and it has been wonderful all the way. The people are lovely, warm, helpful, and patient, and things here just work. The public services are excellent, the healthcare system is still amazing to me as an American, and even the bureaucracy for immigration has been easy to handle. What you say is true—if you’re nice, say “Bonjour” to everyone, try a little French, and just let the charm of France work on you, it will be a beautiful experience. Vive la France!

Advice to American tourists. The bonjour greeting is not optional. Here it's described as a friendly thing. It is. But it is not optional. Don't ever approach someone or enter their space without saying bonjour. Bonjour to the bus driver, bonjour to the farmer at the market. Bonjour to the clerk in the store. Bonjour to everyone. Do not forget this.

I went to France twice (not just Paris but around the country too). The only rude people I encountered were OTHER american tourists. The kind who would stomp around, yapping at everyone in english, making zero effort to be part of the culture, applying american societal norms to French locals and getting annoyed when they don't get their way. The list goes on. It's not that the French are rude. They just simply do things their way and you either get with the program or you get treated accordingly.

The French are NOT rude! Basically, visitors get back what they put out - if they are friendly and polite, generally they will have no trouble in ANY other country.

I've lived in several countries. The French people I met who were also living there long-term made the best friends. Articulate, kind, reliable and funny. I look for French people wherever I go.

Smoking is something that changed suddenly and radically in France around 15 years ago when they banned it in restaurants and public places. It was a huge relief for those of us who like to be able to smell the food in restaurants!

I have visited Paris a number of times starting in the mid 90s and I speak no French except the “polite words” and have always found the French to be very nice and helpful. A smile and the right attitude will go a long way everywhere in the world.

I lived in France for 1.5 years and not only are the French lovely people, they’re even better in lesser known cities than Paris, etc. yes!!!! It’s a foodie paradise and soooo affordable, cheaper than Whole Foods or Kroger for sure! And quality? Try French butter w sea salt….it will change your life. Try the baguettes w butter and you will go to Heaven!!!🎉

The French are not rude they are proud of their heritage so if you make the effort and are respectful they are wonderful people. One of the myths that are true is about the food. The best cuisine in the world!!!!

With that openness and respectful attitude, it’s no wonder that you fit in well in France. You are the kind of tourists that any country is thrilled to welcome.

I am in Strasbourg France now, you should put this on your list. French people are very kind when you are in France and EVERYONE says Bonjour when you enter a room. But one thing you must know each city is different than the other in style. The french in Strasbourg are very Casual dressing, mostly love flat shoes and jeans. Yes, they love their delicious bread.

My wife and I have travelled extensively in France, and I agree with everything you said, especially about the friendliness of people. I’m very happy that was your experience as well because my wife and I both speak French and I always wondered how much that changed our experience compared to other American tourists. I’m also very happy that you didn’t limit your trip to Paris. Most Americans that I know have no interest in other parts of France, and I think that’s equivalent to only visiting New York City when you visit the USA. Every region of France is beautiful and interesting.

My son studied in Lyon, he returned a year or so later, to work in Paris, on a fellowship. There is an incredible woman, she was born in the 1920's, she rented rooms in her family chateau in Lyon, to international college students. I am so grateful to her, she served home cooked meals everyday to my son and the other students. She gave my son her first hand account of her experiences during occupation, which were not pleasant and I will not go into here. The international students in Lyon hung out together, they made fast friends with the French youth, during travels around the country. Paris was not my son's favorite place. He was bewildered with how large and expensive Paris was to live in. He lived near the catacombs. He fell extremely ill with a stomach virus, he had the health insurance coverage that the fellowship required. The Paris doctor made a house call to my son in his room at a dorm. The cost was extremely reasonable and the insurance covered the whole thing. In short, the French people are WONDERFUL and I will forever be grateful to the people of France, for taking such good care of my son while he lived there.

Our experience with France is that people are kind and generous. Over several decades, every visit has yielded stories about French hospitality and thoughtfulness. Glad you had a good experience too.

I have a French Son-in-law. He and my daughter live in Mulhouse, France in the city center. I was there for a month in 2023 during Christmas. It was fairytale beautiful and I loved it. I would move there in an instance. It was also not expensive. They live in a two bedroom flat on the fourth floor and the rent was €680. a month. The total cost to live there for the month was $1500+/- including food. I am thinking hard about going back with my husband to live. America is broken.

American here, I LOVED France. Everything you said is true. Just learn a few French words and use them, even if you feel foolish. Believe me, they'll hear your horrible American accent and instantly start speaking to you in English, even the ones who say they do not speak English! Same was true in Italy. I hope I can go back, someday.

Love your channel. Love this video! Im a Texan Francophile and have traveled to Dijon and Beaune on one of many trips. Have you been to the hospital museum in Beaune? Yikes! Anyway, thanks for spreading the word about the misconceptions about the French. To fellow Americans I must must say: its you not them! Love from one Amelia to another❤ ~Amelia S.

1980 in a restaurant in Paris the waiter became flabergasted with the fact that we didn't speak French. He walked away and then walked back past our table and threw an English menu at our table! Fast forward to about 2018. We landed at Orly airport and didn't know where and which train to get into Paris. Two older gentlemen came up to us and asked kindly if they could help. I told them that my wife's father had been in the Normandy landings on day 5 of D-day as a machine gunner. They both bowed deeply to my wife and told us they were retired airforce men. They guided us all the way into Paris and graciously thanked my wife for her dad's service. At least 6 times to France for us. Relatives in Strasbourg are overwhelmingly wonderful, relatives in Herblay are the same. GO TO FRANCE!!! Its the best vacation destination anywhere!