There was no free money handed out, you needed to have your own Bitcoin lightning balance. But there were some ATM to exchange your fiat shitcoins (Euros, Dolars, Krones) to sats if you need sats. It was the first place where I could not pay with euro cash (cash only Krones) but sats.
Crypto friendlyless depends on where you look at. Germans like Cash, if you manage to have them look at Lightning like cash, it helps adoption. I hope when they finish implememting CBDCs, the people will recognize they have a choice, what to use.
That France trip sounds nice :D
Where in the world are you at the moment?