1997 in France

Incumbents

• President: Jacques Chirac
• Prime Minister: Alain Juppé, Lionel Jospin

  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 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

• 12 March - Marie Hoyau, ski jumper
• 26 August – Lisa Gautier, actress, dancer and singer
• 11 September – Garance Le Guillermic actress
• 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, 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.