1997 in France

Events from the year 1997 in France.

Incumbents

 * President: Jacques Chirac
 * Prime Minister: Alain Juppé (until 3 June), Lionel Jospin (starting 3 June)

Events

 * 27 January – It is revealed that French museums had nearly 2,000 pieces of art that had been stolen by Nazis.
 * 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

January to June

 * 12 January – Jean-Edern Hallier, author (b. 1936).
 * 8 March – Gershon Liebman, French rabbi (b. 1905)
 * 16 March – Jean-Dominique Bauby, journalist, author and editor (b. 1952).
 * 19 March – Jacques Foccart, politician (b. 1913).
 * 19 March – Eugène Guillevic, poet (b. 1907).
 * 6 April – Pierre-Henri Teitgen, lawyer, professor and politician (b. 1908).
 * 16 April – Roland Topor, illustrator, painter, writer and filmmaker (b. 1938).
 * 20 April – Jean Louis, costume designer (b. 1907).
 * 3 May – Sébastien Enjolras, motor racing driver (b. 1976).
 * 25 June – Jacques-Yves Cousteau, naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, scientist, photographer and researcher (b. 1910).

July to September

 * 12 July – François Furet, historian (b. 1927).
 * 4 August – Jeanne Calment, supercentenarian and the oldest living person ever documented in history (b. 1875).
 * 16 August – Jacques Pollet, motor racing driver (b. 1922).
 * 25 September – Jean Françaix, composer, pianist, and orchestrator (b. 1912).

October to December

 * 1 November – Roger Marche, international soccer player (b. 1924).
 * 13 November – James Couttet, alpine skier (b. 1921).
 * 16 November – Georges Marchais, head of the French Communist Party (b. 1920).
 * 25 November – Monique Serf, singer (b. 1930).
 * 28 November – Georges Marchal, actor (b. 1920).
 * 30 November – Françoise Prévost, actress (b. 1930).
 * 1 December – Stéphane Grappelli, jazz violinist (b. 1908).
 * 7 December – Fernand Cornez, cyclist (b. 1907).
 * 13 December – David Rousset, writer and political activist (b. 1912).
 * 18 December – Michel Quoist, priest and writer (b. 1921).
 * 25 December – Anita Conti, explorer, photographer and first French female oceanographer (b. 1899).

Full date unknown

 * Jean Pierre Capron, painter (b. 1921).
 * Jean-Marie Domenach, writer and intellectual (b. 1922).
 * Jacques Leguerney, composer (b. 1906).
 * Fernand Oury, teacher and creator of modern French schooling (b. 1920).
 * Jean-Pierre Sudre, photographer (b. 1921).
 * Claude Tresmontant, philosopher, hellenist and theologian (b. 1925).