Have had a few days in France and found a chandler with Liros rope (often found in UK chandlers too) but they also stocked some that is a very good look-alike for tradition hemp and so on, which I have never yet seen in UK chandlers. They do a braid and a three strand in 3mm,6 & 8, so good for splicing as well. it is a polyester or something but hard to tell the difference.
http://www.liros.com/artikelliste.aspx
Chris