Navigating a European bathroom for the first time can feel like a cultural scavenger hunt, especially when you encounter the mysterious "second toilet." No, it’s not for washing your socks or as we like to joke, chilling wine ~ it’s the bidet...
In France, the bidet has a bit of a "lost legend" status. While it’s a French invention ~ the name actually comes from the Old French word for "little pony," because you straddle it ~ you won’t find them as universally as you do in Italy. It’s a bit of a cheeky linguistic history lesson! In the 15th century, a bidet was a small breed of horse or a "strong pony" used by the cavalry and for travel.
The name was eventually applied to the bathroom fixture in the late 17th century because of the physical stance required to use it. Since the original bidets were standalone basins on four legs, you had to "mount" or straddle the basin exactly like you were hopping onto a little pony.
France vs. Italy: The Bidet Battle
Italy is the undisputed champion: Since 1975, Italian law has actually mandated that every home have a bidet. You will find one in nearly 97% of Italian households and almost every hotel room.
France is slowly "getting off the horse": Ironically, the country that gave us the bidet has seen a decline in their use. While you’ll still see them in many upscale & classic French homes and grand hotels, many modern French apartments have swapped the expense of a second basin for extra floor space or walk-in showers.
Why the difference?
In Italy, the bidet is considered a non-negotiable daily essential for "top-tier" hygiene. In France, while still respected, many locals have transitioned to using handheld showerheads or modern "Japanese-style" toilet attachments to save space.
While it might look intimidating at first glance, this classic fixture is a cornerstone of European hygiene and sustainability. In this post, we’ll demystify the bidet, explain why locals swear by it, and show you how to use one like a seasoned traveler...
So if this is your first sojourn to Europe, you might be surprised to see a bidet next to the toilet in your bathroom! Bidets are very common in Europe... They're not nearly as common in France as they are in Italy, but you'll definitely run into them, and there are bidets in some of the bathrooms at our Villa, Chateau du Soleil...
Here in the US, many folks have heard of or perhaps have seen bidets on their travels, but think that they are just an Old World tradition and not commonly used any longer...
Actually nothing could be further from the truth... Europeans use bidets all the time and they love them! It's not a type of toilet, but think of it as a bathtub for your "private parts". So a common question is: Don't they use toilet paper? Yes, they use toilet paper just like we do, but then afterwards, they just scamper over to the bidet to "clean-up..." (In Europe, they actually think it's odd that we don't use bidets)
Here in the US, many people have slowly adopted to "wet-wipes" for the same reason, and those in the real estate business will tell you that the bidet is slowly making it's way into the upscale & luxury US housing market...The video below will give you a little more detail on "bidet technique". Enjoy! (while this girl talks about being in Italy, know that the info holds true for France as well)
