Why do people still believe that France is a Mediterranean country?

[Ruggery]

France is not a Mediterranean country. only because in France the language is Latin, romance and religion are Catholic, they associate it with a Mediterranean or southern country, that is, they think in an ignorant and stereotyped way. What else does France have in common with the other Mediterranean countries? Most French people are diverse and do not have many predominantly Mediterranean aspects (except in the extreme south). There are many reasons why France should also be considered a European or Central European Atlantic country, the climate of France is different from the rest of the countries of southern Europe, only that the south coast of France has a Mediterranean climate the rest does not. The architecture is also different, they only have some connections with the Iberian and Italian architecture, but not much more. Even French food and customs are different.

If I had to choose a European country that had more in common with France than the rest, it would be the Belgian Wallonia and the French Switzerland would say that they are the countries that have more in common with France than the rest of the countries, including the Mediterranean.
Europe and France from the satellite view

[Bobby Martnen]

They speak a Romance language, are Catholic, and have a lot of Med admixture. They're not NW Euros, dude.

[Gold-Shekel]

Wine is an important part of all these countries. It cannot be underestimated.

[Magnolia]

France has that spirit...








Germanic Europe tastes differently. France is loved for its atmosphere and yes it is connected with Southern Europe, still can't get why some French people hate it.

[MinervaItalica]

The South is clearly Med influenced and this is easy to notice through food, architecture and customs. A bit like Italy, the South is more Med while the North is more Continental and this is reflected in the architecture as well.

They speak a Romance language, are Catholic, and have a lot of Med admixture. They're not NW Euros, dude.

Being Catholic doesn't necessary mean to be Mediterranean. Are Austria, Poland and parts of Germany (like Bavaria) Mediterranean too?

[Sikeliot]

Southern France culturally transitions into Italy in the southeast and Spain in the southwest, and overall northern Italy has many cultural similarities with France. But in terms of genetics and phenotypes, France is transitional between north and south and is not solely Southern European.

Even Iberia has some significant genetic/phenotypical difference to other parts of Southern Europe.

[Bobby Martnen]

Are Austria, Poland and parts of Germany (like Bavaria) Mediterranean too?

No

[Voskos]

Because the French are not stuck up bitches like their northern cousins.

[Gwydion]

I agree that France isn't really a Med country. It has Med racial influences, but so does the Rhineland of Germany and Western Britain. It is Latinate and thus shares a language and certain cultural elements with Italy and Iberia, but Romania is also Latinate...they probably drink wine right?

If we look at the origins of France, it is in the Frankish Kingdom, namely Neustrasia which is in the North. The capital and center of power was Paris, also more toward the North. The standard French language is a language d'oil, also centered in the North.

Despite the language and cultural shifts, the French are still the Gauls, a Celtic people associated with Switzerland, Belgium, Southern/Western Germany, and thus central Europe.

For me France has always felt different to proper Med countries, I guess it is its own thing. It's just that many of the most famous French stereotypes are more Mediterranean.

[KMack]

It has that look to it in the South?