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Le Figaro

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Le Figaro is a very important daily newspaper in France. It is the oldest national newspaper in the country. People often call it a newspaper of record. This means it is a trusted source for important news. It is the second-largest national newspaper in France, following Le Monde.

Premier numéro du Figaro
Premier numéro du Figaro

The paper has a center-right editorial stance. This describes its political viewpoint. It often speaks for the French upper and middle classes. The headquarters is located on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris.

The paper has a very interesting way it works. It began as a weekly paper that was satirical. This means it used humor to poke fun at people in power. In 1866, it changed into a daily newspaper.

Figaro 4 aout 1914
Figaro 4 aout 1914

On its first day as a daily, it sold 56,000 copies. This was the highest number for any newspaper in France at that time. Today, it uses the Berliner format. This is a specific size for printing newspapers. It also has a large website called lefigaro.fr. This site allows people to read news online every day.

The history of the paper is filled with famous names. It was named after Figaro, a character from plays by Pierre Beaumarchais. These plays include Le Barbier de Séville and Le Mariage de Figaro. One line from these plays became the paper's motto. It says that without the freedom to criticize, there is no flattering praise. Many great writers have worked for the paper. These include Émile Zola, Marcel Proust, and Anatole France.

Figaro 1923
Figaro 1923

Many different people and groups have owned the paper over the years. In 1922, a perfume millionaire named François Coty purchased it. He briefly changed the name to just Figaro in 1929. In 1975, the paper was bought by Robert Hersant's Socpresse. Since 2004, the Dassault Group has owned the paper. Serge Dassault controls it through his company, Groupe Figaro. He also owns Dassault Aviation, a company that makes aircraft. The paper has even published a supplement of The New York Times International Weekly.

You can see how Le Figaro connects to many parts of life. It is not just a single paper, but a large group. This group includes Le Figaro Magazine and TV Magazine. It also sponsors the Solitaire du Figaro sailing race. The paper provides many special sections for different interests. There are sections for economy, culture, and even students. It even sold volumes of the Encyclopædia Universalis as supplements. This shows how much information the paper tries to share with its readers.

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File:Premier numéro du Figaro.jpg
Premier numéro du Figaro.jpg
File:Figaro 4 aout 1914.jpg
Figaro 4 aout 1914.jpg
File:Figaro 1923.JPG
Figaro 1923.JPG
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