The Fondation des Alliance Françaises coordinates an international network of 834 Alliances set up in 131 countries on 5 continents. This network reaches over 550,000 people all over the globe.
For over a century, the Alliance Française has been overseeing an ambitious project: to spread French language and culture well beyond the borders of France.
The Alliance Française was founded in 1883 in Paris as “Association nationale pour la propagation de la langue française dans les colonies et à l’étranger” (National association for the propagation of the French language in French territories and abroad) under the aegis of Pierre Foncin and Ambassador Paul Cambon. The Paris Alliance was created the following year by a board of directors featuring illustrious names like Jules Verne (author), Louis Pasteur (chemist and biologist), and Ferdinand de Lesseps (diplomat). The first Alliance Française abroad was created the same year in Barcelona, Spain.
Faithful to the values of its founders, the Alliance Française remains committed to the formula of an association. With support from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, it plays a key role in promoting the French language and culture abroad, working alongside French institutes and embassy cultural services.
Each Alliance is part of this worldwide network but has forged strong bonds with its local cultural, educational and business communities.