From the changing face of France in the 10 years since the Paris terror attacks to the latest from the French parliament – via the ‘dapper hat man’ at the Louvre – this newsletter takes a look at all the news and talking points from France this week.
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
Remembering
This week marked the 10-year anniversary of the devastating terror attacks at the Bataclan, Stade de France and city bars and restaurants that claimed 130 lives.
The ceremony at the newly-opened garden of remembrance, close to Hotel de Ville, was very beautiful and moving – including Jesse Hughes, leader of the Eagles of Death Metal band, who were playing at the Bataclan that night, singing You’ll Never Walk Alone with a choir made up of attack survivors and relatives.
I was particularly struck by something that Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said, noting that the targets were people enjoying a concert, a football match or a meal or drink on a café terrace. She said, “they struck at our joie de vivre”.
I’ve always found France to be a country with a great joie de vivre – joy in living – and one that prioritises and appreciates enjoyment, whether that is visiting an exhibition or a museum, seeing a film or a concert, reading a book in the park or simply eating, drinking and talking with loved ones.
You see it everywhere, from the labour laws that enshrine the ‘right to disconnect’, to the funds available to allow low-income people to go on holiday, to the free access to museums and galleries, to the more recent howls of protest at the thought of axing two public holidays. France takes l’art de vivre seriously and – crucially – it’s not about spending money.
This was indeed what the attackers, most of whom grew up in France, were targeting in the cruellest way.
The November 13th attacks have scarred France; there’s no getting away from that, and heaven knows that the country today has its problems. But the French art of living seems, to me, to be largely intact.
Concluding her speech, Hidalgo mentioned the triumph of the Paris Olympics – the person next to me muttered about her showboating, but I think it’s perfectly possible to see the Games as the continuation of Paris, and France, reclaiming its joie de vivre from the people who try to instil fear. That high-risk opening ceremony might have been the most elegant ‘fuck you, terrorists’ ever seen.
Talking France
The Talking France podcast is back after a short break – we’re examining the latest progress on the Budget and why we might soon need to know about Article 47 of the French constitution, plus the proposal to charge some foreigners in France a fee in order to access the healthcare system, and finish up by telling some spooky stories about the Paris Catacombs. Listen here or on the link below.
Dapper hat
And hot news from the Louvre jewel heist investigation. No, they haven’t actually found the crown jewels, but French media have succeeded in tracking down the mysterious ‘dapper man’ pictured outside the Louvre on the morning of the robbery, who became internet famous and the subject of many, many memes.
This photo accompanying a news story about the heist at the Louvre is perfection.
— Carrie Tait (@carrietait.bsky.social) October 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
He turns out to actually be just 15 years old – his name is Pedro Elias and he lives just outside Paris and was visiting the museum with his mother and grandfather. He outed himself to the media after watching the furore for a few weeks, and seems very unfazed by his newfound celebrity.
He told Le Parisien that he likes to wear vintage-style clothes every day – inspired in part by the British TV series Peaky Blinders – and goes to lycée like that, but saves the fedora hat for weekends.
Basque pride
This newsletter is back after a short break because I was on holiday last week in the Pays Basque, which is a stunning area of south-west France that I would definitely recommend for a visit.
I was also lucky enough to attend a rugby match in Bayonne – the town has one of the oldest clubs in the French league and an extremely dedicated fan base, as well as a famous song called La Peña baiona. The clip below is from a previous semi-final, but they sing the full song like this at the start of every match and it really makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.