France

Actually true

• The lunch break is genuinely long

  Many shops and offices still close for an hour or two at midday, especially outside major cities.

• Bread is bought fresh daily

  Most people walk to the boulangerie every morning for a baguette rather than buying bread in bulk.

• Wine is treated as food, not just drink

  Wine pairing is discussed with the same seriousness as the meal itself, even at modest tables.

• Strikes and protests are part of civic life

  The French see public protest as a legitimate, near-constant part of political expression.

Commonly believed, wrong

• "The French are rude to tourists"

  Politeness norms differ — greeting first in French usually flips the entire interaction to warm and helpful.

• "Everyone in France is thin because of willpower"

  Smaller portions, walking-based cities and less snacking matter far more than restraint.

• "Paris is all of France"

  Brittany, the Alps, the Basque coast and Provence are culturally and geographically distinct worlds.

• "French cuisine is only fancy and expensive"

  Everyday bistro food — steak-frites, croque monsieur, onion soup — is cheap, hearty and common.