After studying the photos, I say it's a Gitane TdF. All of the frame details match. It even has the same tire savers as mine, but those aren't factory. From your description, I'd say it rides like a Gitane TdF, too.

I just thought of something. I'm at work, but as I recall, the TdF has an unsually skinny downtube. The ends of the clamp on my shifters almost touch. Do you have a way to measure it?