Events from the year 1997 in France.

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

• 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.^[1]
• 3 November – In France, striking truck drivers blockade ports during a pay dispute.

• 6 September – A Jean Michel Jarre Oxygene in Moscow concert, celebrating the city's 850th anniversary, draws 3.5 million people.

• 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.

• 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

• Carla Ferrari, chef and TV presenter

• 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).

• 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).

• 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).

• 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).

• List of French films of 1997