Cultural differences between France and Portugal?

Question

and between the French and Portuguese; cultural differences, how they perceive one another, etc? How are they alike and different, from the view of an American or from the view of one or the other?

Answer 1

Both France and Portugal are originally latin cultures. However France is located at the central cross-roads of western Europe, and has such as a highly mixed population that came from all corners of Europe. Because of of the famous battle of Poitier where the Arabs where repelled back to Spain, France has not been influenced by the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and has evolved a mix of Nordic and Latin cultures, very moderate and very much "in the center".  Portugal however, under Arab influence for several centuries, has evolved a mix of Latin and Arab cultures (like Spain).  Portugal has also been completely dependent on their only neighbor for communication, commerce and cultural influence, whereas France has absorbed the influence of many more neighbors (which has allowed it to be consistently remain a cultural hotbed throughout the centuries).

In the more recent decades there has been a growing wave of immigration from Portugal to France from poorer people seeking better economic opportunities. Portuguese people tend to be reserved, honest and hard working, and do not mix heavily with the French population.