1997 in France
Events from the year 1997 in France.
Incumbents
Events
- 27 January – It is revealed that French museums had nearly 2,000 pieces of art that had been stolen by Nazis.
- 30 March - The Euronat, a Nationalist European political party is founded. It was led by the French National Front. It will be dissolved by 2009.
- 25 May – Legislative Election held.
- 1 June – Legislative Election held.
- 31 August – Diana, Princess of Wales is killed in a car crash in Paris.
- 3 November – In France, striking truck drivers blockade ports during a pay dispute.
Arts and literature
- 6 September – A Jean Michel Jarre Oxygene in Moscow concert, celebrating the city's 850th anniversary, draws 3.5 million people.
Sport
- 17 April – Paris–Roubaix cycling race won by Frédéric Guesdon.
- 29 June – French Grand Prix is won by Michael Schumacher of Germany.
- 5 July – Tour de France begins.
- 27 July – Tour de France ends, won by Jan Ullrich of Germany.
Births
- 3 January – Jérémie Boga, footballer
- 9 January – Issa Diop, footballer
- 12 March – Marie Hoyau, ski jumper
- 26 August – Lisa Gautier, actress, dancer and singer
- 11 September – Garance Le Guillermic actress
- 6 October – Théo Hernandez, footballer
- 14 November – Christopher Nkunku, footballer
- 1 December – Michelito Lagravere, Mexican-born bullfighter
Full date unknown
- Carla Ferrari, chef and TV presenter
Deaths
January to June
- 12 January – Jean-Edern Hallier, author.
- 8 March – Gershon Liebman, Russian-born French rabbi
- 16 March – Jean-Dominique Bauby, journalist, author and editor.
- 19 March – Jacques Foccart, politician.
- 19 March – Eugène Guillevic, poet.
- 6 April – Pierre-Henri Teitgen, lawyer, professor and politician.
- 16 April – Roland Topor, illustrator, painter, writer and filmmaker.
- 20 April – Jean Louis, costume designer.
- 3 May – Sébastien Enjolras, motor racing driver.
- 25 June – Jacques-Yves Cousteau, naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, scientist, photographer and researcher.
July to September
- 12 July – François Furet, historian.
- 4 August – Jeanne Calment, supercentenarian and the oldest living person ever documented in history.
- 16 August – Jacques Pollet, motor racing driver.
- 25 September – Jean Françaix, composer, pianist, and orchestrator.
October to December
- 1 November – Roger Marche, international soccer player.
- 13 November – James Couttet, alpine skier.
- 16 November – Georges Marchais, head of the French Communist Party.
- 25 November – Monique Serf, singer.
- 28 November – Georges Marchal, actor.
- 30 November – Françoise Prévost, actress.
- 1 December – Stéphane Grappelli, jazz violinist.
- 7 December – Fernand Cornez, cyclist.
- 13 December – David Rousset, writer and political activist.
- 18 December – Michel Quoist, priest and writer.
- 25 December – Anita Conti, explorer, photographer and first French female oceanographer.
Full date unknown
- Jean Pierre Capron, painter.
- Jean-Marie Domenach, writer and intellectual.
- Jacques Leguerney, composer.
- Fernand Oury, teacher and creator of modern French schooling.
- Jean-Pierre Sudre, photographer.
- Claude Tresmontant, philosopher, hellenist and theologian.