I hold dual U.S.–French citizenship, and today I’m celebrating France’s national holiday: le 14 juillet, or, as many anglophones call it, “Bastille Day.”
On this day in 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny, launching the French Revolution and giving birth to the national motto: liberté, égalité, fraternité. Today, it’s fêted with fireworks, military parades, and a general air of joyful rebellion.
I lived in France for a year and a half in 2009–2010 and spent many summers here throughout my life. When I lived in New York, I came to France several times a year, and I’ve called Paris home since the spring of 2021. While I live in Paris, I’ve also spent time along the Côte d’Azur, in Provence, Alsace-Lorraine, and southwestern France—with each place revealing new facets of this complex country.
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Here are 14 things I love about living in France:
The etiquette. Walking into a shop and saying bonjour and always saying au revoir feels ceremonial and grounding. Even in a cramped elevator, people acknowledge each other’s existence with a polite greeting.
The food and the prices. A croissant au beurre for €1.20 tastes like buttery heaven. The strawberries taste like actual sunshine. A weekday lunch menu for €20 feels like a small, elegant feast.
The respect for vacation. When a French person is on holiday, they are truly gone. The work will wait. I appreciate this prioritization of rest.
Conversations that aren’t about work. Many of my neighbors share their thoughts on cheese or tomato season, but I often have no idea what they do for a living. My 83-year-old neighbor proudly told me she retired at 55. In France, work is often not the centerpiece of identity.
Attention to detail in shops. Whether buying cheese, flowers, or a pastry, everything is wrapped with care and pride. Even the mundane feels dignified.
The inconvenience (yes, really). There are many inconveniences here, and instant deliveries are a challenge. I buy almost everything in person, consume less, and appreciate each thing more.
Espresso culture. I drink café noisettes (espresso with a bit of foam). They’re small, strong, and to the point.
Ecological mindfulness. Recycling is a given, compost bins abound, and tote bags are standard. Conversations about waste and sustainability aren’t niche—they’re normal.
The relaxed beauty standards. In France, I feel free from the endless cycle of manicures, blowouts, and “perfection.” Bare-faced women, undone hair, and small “imperfections” are not only accepted, but often celebrated.
The ritual of meals. Meals are moments. People sit, savor, and discuss.
The small living spaces. My 28 m² (300 square-foot) Parisian apartment is considered “great” here. My small wardrobe and modest lifestyle feel perfectly normal. In France, enough really means enough.
The commitment to culture. Subsidized museums, accessible theater, outdoor festivals . . . culture is woven into everyday life and not reserved for special occasions or the elite.
The neighborhood rhythms. The bakery on the corner, the same people who gather at a run-down brasserie every evening, the shopkeepers who know each other—all these things give life texture and rhythm.
The celebration of small pleasures. France has taught me that joy isn’t in grand gestures but in small, often surprising moments: a perfect peach, a local flower garden, an evening walk along the Seine.
France isn’t perfect, and there are many things that make life here challenging and downright unpleasant (maybe that’s for another post), but today I’m reminded of all that I’m grateful for, and everything I love about this country I call home.
Happy 14th of July to all who celebrate!
Merci for reading,
Victorine
Introducing you to Contributor, Victorine Lamothe
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Love this list. The part about work not being the centerpiece of identity really stands out, especially comming from someone with dual citizenship who can compare both cultures directly. I've noticed similar patterns in conversations abroad where people are genuinely curious about ideas and experiences rather than just career positioning. That small apartment mentality (28m² being considered great) is such a cultural marker too, complety flips American more-is-better thinking.