Flag of France
Le Tricolore ("the tricolour")
France's flag has three equal vertical stripes: blue next to the flagpole, white in the middle and red on the outside.
At a glance
- Adopted
- February 15, 1794adopted by the National Convention in 1794; replaced by a white royal flag from 1815 to 1830, and in continuous use since 1830
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
- Colours
- blue
- white
- red
What it means
- Blue and red: traditionally the colours of Paris
- White: traditionally the royal colour of France
- Liberty, equality, fraternity: a popular but unofficial reading links the three colours to the motto of France
Where it came from
The colours come from the cockade, a ribbon badge worn during the French Revolution in July 1789. The usual story, also told by the French government, is that blue and red were the colours of Paris and the Marquis de Lafayette added white, the old royal colour.
On 15 February 1794 the National Convention made the blue-white-red flag, with blue at the flagpole, the national flag.
History
Before the Revolution the kings used a white flag, often with gold lilies. After Napoleon's final defeat in 1815 the kings came back and so did the white flag. The tricolour returned after the July Revolution of 1830 and has been used ever since.
The 1958 Constitution names the tricolour as the national emblem. No law fixes the exact shades. In 1974 a brighter blue came into use; in 2020 the president's palace went back to a darker navy blue, so both shades are seen.
Fun facts
- On French Navy ships the stripes are not equal (30:33:37), because the far stripe looks narrower when the flag flaps in the wind.
- Some versions made for TV and photos have a narrower white stripe so all three colours show on camera.
- The flag is so famous that many countries chose tricolours after it.
- Two shades of blue are in use today, a bright one and a dark navy one.
Easy to mix up with
Netherlands: the Netherlands uses the same colours in horizontal stripes, red on top
Italy: Italy has the same vertical layout, but green, white and red
Russia: Russia has white, blue and red in horizontal stripes
Questions
What does the flag of France look like?
France's flag has three equal vertical stripes: blue next to the flagpole, white in the middle and red on the outside.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of France mean?
Blue and red: traditionally the colours of Paris; White: traditionally the royal colour of France; Liberty, equality, fraternity: a popular but unofficial reading links the three colours to the motto of France.
When was the flag of France adopted?
The current flag of France was adopted on February 15, 1794. (adopted by the National Convention in 1794; replaced by a white royal flag from 1815 to 1830, and in continuous use since 1830)
What colours are on the flag of France?
The flag of France uses blue, white and red.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of France?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Netherlands. the Netherlands uses the same colours in horizontal stripes, red on top
Famous landmarks in France
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)