From fine wine to no alcohol: The changing world of French sommeliers
In this week's edition of France in Focus, our reporters uncork the demanding world of sommellerie. They follow Pascaline Lepeltier's painst...
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France in focus
An in-depth look at the political and social events shaping France. Every Friday at 5.45 pm Paris time.
Episodes
20 of 37 episodesBroken children: France confronts crisis of sexual violence against minors
In France, a new "comprehensive law" aims to strengthen preventative measures, the judicial process and support for child victims of sexual...
Why is France's Gen Z turning to Catholicism?
As France prepares for Pope Leo XIV's visit, a surprising trend has emerged in recent years: the number of baptisms among teenagers and youn...
Marie-Antoinette: How France's most hated queen became its first influencer
This year, several French landmarks are paying tribute to French queen Marie-Antoinette. Despite her public execution taking place more than...
How France fell in love with Céline Dion
Two years after her dazzling performance atop the Eiffel Tower for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Céline Dion is back in the French capita...
The Bayeux Tapestry's risky journey across the Channel
Nearly 1,000 years after chronicling the Norman conquest of England, the Bayeux Tapestry is making history once again. The fragile 11th-cent...
Nice 2016 terror attack: A decade of grief
Nice was hit by the deadliest attack in its history on July 14, 2016. In the attack claimed by the Islamic State group, a truck ploughed int...
2027 French elections – France at a Crossroads: Episode 1
Dates have officially been set for France's 2027 presidential election. With less than a year to go, the country is already gearing up for E...
Who is Didier Deschamps, the France coach aiming for a third World Cup title?
Didier Deschamps has been coaching the French men's national football team for 14 years, a record period at the helm. He and his players are...
€3,300 for a dress! The Paris Flea Market, where vintage meets luxury
Just outside the French capital sprawls the world's largest antiques destination: the Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market. It's a timeless escape,...
Teens and screens: The smartphone trap
Smartphones, video games, online homework: screens are everywhere in teenagers' lives. Faced with the risks of addiction and the effects on...
Online scams: How our personal data is being used against us
In France, a data breach occurs once every hour. In recent months, several public bodies have been affected: La Poste, France Travail and th...
Toxic beginnings: Babies exposed to pesticides in the womb
The number of children diagnosed with cancer in France is on the rise. Other serious medical conditions – birth defects, neurodevelopmental...
Abuse at French after-school programmes: Parents sound the alarm
In Paris, parents are now dropping their children off at school in a climate of anxiety. For several months, reports of physical and sexual...
Montparnasse Tower: Paris's most unpopular landmark gets a facelift
France's controversial Montparnasse Tower is entering a new era. A stark symbol of post-war modernism in the heart of Paris, the skyscraper...
The invisible victims: Why workplace deaths persist in France
Every day in France, two to three people die at work. Why are workplace fatalities still occurring in 2026? Which sectors are most affected?...
Why French mayors are throwing in the towel
As French voters head to the polls for municipal elections, would-be mayors are presenting their programmes for the next six years. Yet with...
The Louvre heist: Security flaws and deeper cracks at France’s top museum
An emblematic monument of French culture, the Louvre Museum embodies nearly 9,000 years of history and houses more than 600,000 works of art...
Avalanches in the Alps: Embedded with France's mountain rescue teams
This week, France in Focus takes to the skies to follow the perilous work of French mountain rescuers. This year, unusual weather conditions...
2030 Winter Games: Will France rise to the challenge?
After lighting up the streets of Paris in 2024, the Olympic flame will be making a return to France in 2030, when the French Alps are set to...