Photo Gallery Taking Stock of France
Each year, the Tour de France provides the world with glimpses of more idyllic parts of the country far beyond the bustle of Paris. But these areas are also reflective of the malaise that has plagued France in recent years. SPIEGEL followed the route of the 2014 Tour, taking in cities, towns and villages, and sought to observe signs of the crisis, decline, collective depression and other specters that are haunting Germany's most important neighbor.
Raffi Ashkar, a man of Lebanese origin, is a shoe repairman in the city of Arras. "I understand the French," he says. "There are no values anymore. Family and friendship? Each is out for his or her self. Everyone is egotistical. That's why they vote for Le Pen -- out of sheer hopelessness."
Julien Sanchez, a member of the Marine Le Pen's right-wing Front National, is the mayor of Beaucaire. He says the old system of cronyism and unshakable faith in the state is being thrown out.
Samir Ayed likes to spend a lot of his time at the Paradise café and bar in Mulhouse, near the German border. "Liberté, egalité and fraternité?" he asks. "That has never been my experience."
Josiane and Jean-Pierre Lambert have operated the Au Petit Rapporteur restaurant in Yzeron for 19 years. The crisis has hit their town hard, but, "we survive," the Lamberts say.
Speaking of the malaise that has left his country paralyzed, Philippe Jean Crijns, an entrepreneur in the cosmetics business in Paris, says: Everyone loves France, except the French." He adds: "There are no crises, only changes. Nowhere else is there as much history as there is in France. Every step is painful. C'est évident." It's obvious.
Hair stylist Nelle Basse works in a mega-shopping center that serves as the downtown of the French city of Evry. Basse immigrated to France from Senegal. "Republic?" she says. "That is just a word, totally empty. In the 15 years I have been living here, I haven't made any friends. I greet the neighbors, but that's it. ... People are so stressed out. Everyone feels safe, but so alone."
Eric Abadie is a sheepherder in Col du Tourmalet. He's also fed up -- with the Tour de France and with politics. "I have seen all of them ride by here: Armstrong, Ullrich, Pantani, Jalabert. First they were kings, and then frauds. That's how it is everywhere. I can understand why everyone is now attacking our politicians. But we don't have any others."
