Tell anyone you live in France and their minds immediately fill with romantic images of lazy days spent lounging around Paris with Champagne, a baguette and cheese not far behind. And if you’re French? Well, by pointing out you’re French, you’ve just taken on an air of sophistication, won bonus points with any romantic interests and become a person of envy for some. All of this is because you have a life where, to many, the sun seems to shine just a little more brightly. Would living in China conjure up the same type of response? I don’t think so.
Why does France evoke such a sense of class and sophistication?
Why is France so romantic?
Living in France is wonderful. I’m amazed daily by the polite interactions, the foods, the sights and sounds. There’s excellent bread and cheese and wine, that 35-hour work week and the beautiful language. France is widely known for all of these things and more.
Getting to know my husband’s country is a blessing and I learn every day. That said, France is a real place with real problems and struggles just like any other place in the world. But when you mention France in conversation (and this goes double if you mention you live there), it automatically becomes a seemingly perfect vacation destination that everyone wants to visit and see and embrace and fall in love with. And I get it. France is magical. But with life anywhere, it’s not all roses all the time.
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But what is it about the simple six-letter word, France (or French), that brings about this deep fascination?
First, let’s look at modern media. The French life is idealized and romanticized in print, film and TV to no end, so it’s not shocking that France and being French seems to be so classy, cultured and cool. The women are apparently thin and the food is spectacular and everything is so charming and quaint and so French.
And let’s not forget about the sexy language. Media depicts the glass half full side of France when they want to portray a character’s class and sophistication and sweep very real issues like immigration, unemployment and politics under the rug. Who wants to hear about that?
Second, anyone who has ever visited Paris and beyond knows how special this country is.
France is fancy.
If you look for France’s charm, you don’t have to look hard. Why is France so romantic?
Take a trip to Paris and do all the touristy things and you’ll have your answer. When you’re seeking out romance and charm and sophistication, you’ll find it. It’s easy to see all the good France has to offer after a quick week or two in the country. And then you go home and reminisce about your awesome vacation in the City of Light. You tell friends and family who tell their friends and family and go on to have an adventure in France of their own.
You might even stock up on France-inspired things to remind you of your trip. Tourism in France is booming and for good reason. If you need some starter ideas, I absolutely adore Brittany and Aix en Provence and Marseille. See how lovely it is?
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And back to the language. French just sounds nice. It’s not jarring or choppy. Even reciting the grocery list sounds sexy. When Tom says ordinary French words like carte blanche or cul-de-sac or rendez-vous, they are dripping with that French intrigue that our American English just can’t capture in the same way.
France deserves its reputation (not the part about how the French are rude though, that’s not true!).
I’m interested to hear your opinions on this. My post is just a starting off point, so please chime in!
Why is France so romantic and special for you?
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Line says
Such a good post!
I cant even describe what France means to me! As long as I can remember, I’ve been weirdly fascinated by everything French, and it’s still going strong! I think there must be something about the french atmosphere that makes it really romantic to me.
Diane says
So glad you enjoyed it, Line! I’m the same way, w/the weird fascination. Although it’s intensified after I met Tom and moved. Definitely in the atmosphere 😉
Catherine says
I agree with Line.. We have fallen under the spell of France. We spent three weeks there in 2012, a week travelling from Vimy to Normandy to Provence, a week on the Côte d’Azur and a week in Paris – and we are determined to move to France someday! A great post, thanks! (And you’re right – the French don’t deserve a reputation as rude. Everyone was charming and helpful to us.)
Diane says
Oh wow, that sounds like a great trip, Catherine. So glad you got to see more than Paris, which is of course charming on its own, but seeing all the various regions really makes you fall in love w/the country more. So happy you had a wonderful experience!
Cynthia says
Being that I’m half french and living in the USA I feel like a fish out of water. What I admire the most about France is that the french take time to live life ! They actually have real relationships, marriages, and have the opportunity to obtain a normal life ! The health care is superior which also plays an important role in the success of any society. The french are more about family than most Americans. They take the time to share a meal and be together. To me that’s very sacred! In the USA romance is basically dead. Men and women hate each other for the most part. There is no communication or sharing. Most relationships are based on money. France appeals to me because the USA is so harsh.
Diane says
Hi Cynthia, hope you’re well! Yes, the one major difference I feel between Americans vs the French is the mealtime culture. It’s usually slow and a time to be together with family, like you said. Especially on Sunday! And there’s an obligatory Sunday walk after. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Cynthia says
Thank you Diane ! Yes, I go well ! I always like to read your posts ! They are so informative ! I think that the walk after dinner is beautiful ! I wish you a wonderful Christmas as well and I hope that the New Year to come will bring you much joy !
Marissa Tejada says
For me? I love the language! I wish I could speak it. Love what you say though…which is so true for expats especially…” But with life anywhere, it is what you make of it.”
Diane says
Hi Marissa, yah I think that life as an expat can be hard but life is hard and our own behavior and attitudes go a long way toward shaping our current day to day — regardless of the location. It took me a while to realize that but it’s 100% true. No one has it easy all the time so I try to do the little things that make me happy every day. As an expat, we sometimes have to watch who we complain to. For me, if I have a bad day or whatever, people sometimes say, “But you live in France!” as if that’s a cure for anything that could go wrong. You might get the same thing in Greece. But anyway, thank you for commenting. Happy holidays to you and all the best in 2015!
Christine says
Hi! I saw your blog on Fresh Face Friday 🙂 I have always loved France even at a young age and it seems like every time we are in Europe, we make a stop there. There’s just something about that country! I look forward to reading your blog!
Diane says
Hi Christine! So happy to have you here and that you share a love for France. It really is a special place. Going to check out your blog too. Have a great weekend!
Cosette says
So many things that we think of as delicious, pleasurable, and sexy are associated with France – perfume, champagne, cheese, fashion, lingerie, cabaret. For me, it is also its literary history and how its beauty inspired some of world’s greatest writers.
Diane says
Absolutely! All things sexy and pleasurable can be found here. Ever see the Owen Wilson movie Midnight in Paris?
Frederick says
I was married to a Frenchwoman for 15 years and it was exhausting. Demanding, fussy (about food and everything else), controlling, arrogant, pretentious, narcissistic. These are not exclusively French characteristics but they’re not uncommon in a certain type of Parisian woman. The language never really charmed me. The food is limited. The beer is second-rate. There is a rigiidity about the culture, it is stuck in the past, there is only one way to do things etc. It’s going to be a decade or two before I return to France.
Julia Gray says
For a Baby Boomer like myself, I think France conjures up such “specialness” in part, due to the presidency of John F. Kennedy and, especially, Jackie Kennedy. Jackie Kennedy spoke French, wore clothing by French designers, served French food and wine at the White House and the newspapers and television at the time reported on all of this. Jackie was a Francophile and glamorous and, for me, at least, that made France glamorous!
Stéphane VACCA says
Hi Diana,
About romanticism seen by tourists and foreigners, especially on Paris,
David Downie shared his points of view, interessting, at :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2iAdbgOjc
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxHvh_YS3AU
Stéphane VACCA