Le Figaro

Le Figaro is a French daily morning newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of the three French newspapers of record, along with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France that is still published.

History[edit | edit source]

Le Figaro was founded as a satirical weekly in 1826, taking its name from the Beaumarchais play The Barber of Seville, where the character Figaro is a barber who is deeply involved in the political happenings of his time. The paper's motto, "Without the freedom to criticize, there is no true praise", is taken from Beaumarchais' play.

In the early years, the paper was notable for its caricatures and satirical attacks on the government and the bourgeoisie. However, it went through several periods of financial difficulty, which were alleviated by the purchase of the paper by wealthy individuals.

In 1833, editor Hippolyte de Villemessant turned Le Figaro into a daily newspaper, and it began to gain a reputation for its political and social commentary. It was suppressed for a period during the Franco-Prussian War, but it continued to grow in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming a newspaper of record in France.

Modern Le Figaro[edit | edit source]

Today, Le Figaro is owned by Dassault Group, a French multinational corporation. The paper covers a wide range of topics, including politics, economy, culture, and society. It is known for its conservative stance and its in-depth analysis of news and current events.

Le Figaro also operates a number of digital properties, including its main website, a mobile application, and several social media accounts. The paper's digital presence extends its reach beyond France, making it an important source of news for French-speaking individuals around the world.