French bikes of all types are fascinating to me. I've been through my phase of lovingly restoring old PX-10s, to riding PX-10s that look like they survived Verdun, to learning to love old French cheapies. Among those of us who know, you'll run into the expression "The French have a way with gaspipe," because they DID. I had a wonderful summer a couple of years back riding a c.1972 Liberia built up with 27-in wheels during the crush of the bike boom - it was really meant for 700C and you really can't put the rear wheel in with an inflated tire! I also have enjoyed the battered Mercier 200 with a mishmash of parts that, after straightening the crash-bent frame, has also turned out to be a cool bike.
Ah, but my favorite French bike yet remains the weathered c.1971 Gitane TdF I bought as a frameset with headset and BB. That one has been my primary early morning beater bike for many years now, and remains the first choice for vacations and first-light-of-day rides. I remain convinced that metric gauge Reynolds 531 is just a touch springier, though I am sure it's all in my head.