Yes, the French can be b***ers. They once, a few years ago, let me fly through a TRA while under a radar service, and 6 months later followed it up through the CAA
OTOH, they routinely clear you without using the word "cleared" through Class D (VFR).
I got around the latter by reading them the route as "N-XXXXX cleared on route A B C D" and then my back is covered for their tape. Usually their reply is "Roger".