Les Pains

Bread is close to a religion in France. All over the country bakeries (boulangeries) take turns so that there is always one open every day of the week. On Saturdays and Sundays they are open all day. The best-known French bread of all, the classic baguette (meaning ‘stick’ in French) is the only bread to be sold at a fixed price across France because the government considers it essential to life! New batches appear on shelves all day long because it should always be eaten fresh, and can go chewy very quickly. You often see people riding bikes or on trains with a baguette under their arm.