The British often imagine they understand France and the French. There's a long history of big and small animosities between the two nations and France is physically the closest country to us, so of course we know all about French life. But even with all the stereotypically detracting remarks you hear about the French, their country remains the most visited in the world. And the British continue to move there to live out their French dream.

The British often imagine they understand France and the French. There's a long history of big and small animosities between the two nations and France is physically the closest country to us, so of course we know all about French life. But even with all the stereotypically detracting remarks you hear about the French, their country remains the most visited in the world. And the British continue to move there to live out their French dream.

So, what is French life famous (or infamous) for?

We know that the French have a reputation for good cuisine. It's true that the great majority place an emphasis on the eating of quality food. Lunch is the most important meal of the day and if there's someone at home to prepare the meal, children and workers will return for lunch if it's practically possible. Otherwise children will eat three course meals at the school canteen and adults will go to a restaurant or works' canteen. You can often learn which restaurant offers the best "menu ouvrier" by counting the number of workmen's vans parked outside.

Taking a real lunch break does seem to be good for you. In France there are fewer people with weight problems than in many other countries and there is some evidence to show that say this is due to having proper meals but with smaller portions. We can all benefit when we visit France and eat the "menu du jour".

Although France is rightly proud of its traditional bread, I think that you need to be weaned onto and brought up with the baguette if you're to find it essential twice a day. When I arrived to live in France many years ago, I soon become fed up with the relentless baguette diet and was forced by my teenaged children to learn to make "proper wholemeal loaves". Today, there's a huge variety of breads available in every boulangerie (and regional variations make for pleasant discoveries) and I've happily given up baking!

Cheese is a natural accompaniment to that bread, and apart from the world famous French cheeses like Brie, Roquefort and Camembert, there are over four hundred others to choose from. These encompass all sorts of milks and processes to produce something for all tastes.

The most famous French produce is probably wine. We tend to think that we need some knowledge (and some money!) in order to appreciate French wine. It's true that many French people do tend to know quite a lot about the topic and they do buy for their own personal cellar. However, many just buy from the local supermarket and don't spend a great deal, but still take the subject seriously.

Many of us believe that France is made up of protesting farmers, fishermen and transport workers. This is because world television tends to concentrate on the negative aspects of news rather than on a country's more positive events. It might be more realistic to show the fantastic products.

Apart from the fantastic wining and dining, the bolshie agriculture sector and the "difficult" administration, what more do we know of the French life?

The Arts are prominent in French life. Theatre, painting, sculpture, design and many other art forms all have a place in towns and villages all over the country. Literature and cinema are particularly well served and many tiny villages will have their own libraries and film showings, which are managed by teams of local volunteers. The Cannes Festival is the world famous symbol of the French involvement with film.

French people also have reputations for being very well dressed and wonderful lovers!

So, a complicated country and people, but visitors from all over the world readily embrace the French life when given the chance as tourists.