5 verified laws from France, each checked against the statute and sourced.
France passed a real 2011 regulation restricting how ketchup is served in school cafeterias — but it was never a full 'ban.' The rule prevents ketchup from being freely available at self-serve stations; it may only be served alongside dishes where it is appropriate (essentially, with fries).
The Eiffel Tower's iconic nighttime light show is protected by French copyright law as an original artistic work, meaning commercial use of night photos requires prior authorization from the tower's operating company. However, simply taking the photo — or sharing it for personal use — is not illegal.
France legally permits 'posthumous marriage' (mariage posthume) under Article 171 of the French Civil Code. A surviving partner can marry their deceased fiancé(e), but only with presidential approval and under strict conditions proving the deceased had clearly consented to the union before death.
MYTH! Historian Sophie Muffat researched every law from the First Empire (1804-1815) and Second Empire (1852-1870) and found no such statute.
MYTH! The story that France banned kissing on train platforms in 1910 is an urban legend. No statute or railway regulation has ever been produced, SNCF—routinely credited with the rule—was not founded until 1938, and SNCF itself treats the tale as hearsay. The famous "no kissing" signs and "kissing zone" come from Warrington, England, not France.