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It’s a Sign

The French have a knack for signs. Funny, confusing, iconic or just plain odd, there’s a character to their signage that gives quite a lot away. Here’s a collection of photos to take you on a trip around France. Following the signs.

Some of them show advertising of one form or another—and most of those are food. Some quietly proclaim centuries of history or commemorate past events. In all corners of this great bureaucratic republic you’ll find signs forbidding you from doing something, ranging from the ridiculous to the unbelievable. And then there’s my favourite: the newspaper salesman’s telling rewrite of the headlines. All of them share a refreshing frank directness that to my mind is uniquely French.

Jack Dancy becomes more uniquely French with each passing day he resides in the country.

In all corners of this great bureaucratic republic you’ll find signs forbidding you from doing something, ranging from the ridiculous to the unbelievable.

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