French Culture

[mkettner]

For the benefit of our members, if one was to visit France what are some suggestions of great places to visit in order to receive a full grasp of French culture?

[jezzer150]

perhaps a good place to start,is where you live.i mean by getting involved in the activities that are organised by the french and meeting french people.that way you begin to see french culture and way of life from a local cultural perspective.
the other way is from a historical cultural perspective,namely the lovely chateaux around the loire valley region,to name but one of many lovely cultural places.
it is a big subject and a personal one to what fires you.good luck.

[johnhf1947]

Mr Kettner asks a somewhat strange question.
How on earth does anyone 'visit' anywhere and receive a full grasp of anything ?
Jezzer150 is on the right track. You mix with the locals as much as you can. Ditch the car and WALK. Grab a copy of the local newspaper, sit outside a local cafe with the rest of the smoking outcasts (there is now two forms of French cafe society, 'insiders' and ' outsiders') and -if necessary , with your pocket dictionary - attempt to find out what is local life. The sight of your furrowed brow will at least amuse the locals - maybe encourage the more genial to offer guidance.
We have only just moved into our (nearlyish) renovated place in Central France. Our daily visits during the works - be it to the local boulangerie, open air market ,DIY place or whatever -means that we are on 'bonjour" terms with a surprising amount of people. (Our reception in the town's nearest wine merchant is similar to walking into a party, that probably being more for my Cote de Rhone enthusiasm and my lady's inherent knowledge of wine rather than our radiant personalities)
And thus it will evolve.
Not too sure about the Loire Chateaux route. While to my taste these places remind me of Disney & Co before they lost the plot, some of the humbler places are great for architecture enthusiasts - what 16th Century folk did with wood and mud was/is extraordinary.
But back to Mr K's original question - French Culture?
Music? Rock 'n Roll - they cannot do it. Electro - more their forte. Chanson - says it all.
Literature - obvious
Food and drink -ditto
Politics (yes,it is definitely part of the culture) Pugnacious
Fashion- once overlords, but American Hip Hop style /Sarkozy Trash is playing havoc.
Visual Arts - allot has happened since the Post Impressionists. Someone should tell the French. Some Graffiti pretty awesome ,cinema still interesting....

....I am beginning to sound like some sort of weary professor, so I will stop there.Now,I think I deserve a glass of C de R.

Bonne Soir a tous