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Flag of France

Flag of France
FR · 2:3

Official Palette

#002395
#FFFFFF
#ED2939

Symbolism

The blue and red colors are the traditional colors of Paris, used on the city's coat of arms. White is the color of the House of Bourbon, which ruled France for centuries. The tricolor represents the union of the people with the monarchy, though today it is primarily seen as a symbol of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

History

The 'Drapeau Tricolore' was born during the French Revolution of 1789. It was designed by the Marquis de Lafayette, who combined the white of the king with the blue and red of the Paris militia.

Construction

The flag is a vertical tricolor with a 2:3 ratio. While the stripes appear equal, they are often manufactured with a 30:33:37 proportion (Blue being the narrowest) for maritime use to make them look equal when flying in the wind.

Country Specifications

Capital
Paris
Population
66.7M
Languages
French
Continent
Europe
Landlocked
No
ISO 3166-1
FR

Flag Identification

Adopted
February 15, 1794
Designer
Marquis de Lafayette
Proportions
2:3 (≈0.67)
Total Colors
3
Primary Layout
Vertical bands

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Practice

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Sources

  • Government of France
  • Britannica