Two images have summed up the week in France for me, and this example of the photographer's art - quite rightly being shared around the world - is the first.
The incredible image was taken by Agence France Presse photographer Maximilien Lamy, who was himself on holiday in the area (well, this is France in July) when the fires broke out. He took the pictures on his phone, while his young daughter told him to hurry up because she was bored and hungry.
READ ALSO: The story behind the viral photo of French wildfires
I'm wary of judging the couple in the photo - they were among dozens of beach-goers that day, and there's nothing to say whether they were indifferent or simply horrified by what was unfolding in front of them. We all react in different ways to extreme situations.
Nonetheless, their apparently relaxed attitudes are an almost too-on-the-nose illustration of the measures being taken (or not) to tackle the climate crisis, and the picture is being widely shared and modified to show politicians and fossil fuel CEOs chilling while the world burns.
The second image is less artistic, but also packs a punch - the situation on France's Feux de Forêt wildfire alert app on Wednesday evening.
With the caveat that not all of these are the types of huge wildfires seen in south-west France this week, and many were extinguished quickly, it sometimes appears that we are all now living in a real-life version of the 'this is fine' meme.
it is absolutely wild that everyone's summer holiday photos are this meme.
— Tom Flood (@tomflood.bsky.social) 17 July 2026 at 21:19
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Talking France
The Talking France podcast is supposed to be on its summer break - but there's been so much happening in France this week that we did a special episode - listen here.
Villain of the week
I have had hatred in my heart this week, as the Seine swimming sites had to be closed after someone polluted the river with 3,000 litres of heating oil. Quite apart from my own disappointment at missing my favourite Paris summer activity, I'm just so angry about the fact that the city of Paris put so much time and effort into providing a lovely free thing that thousands of people have been enjoying, only for it to be ruined (only temporarily, but still) by the actions of one selfish individual.
A criminal investigation has now been launched. My preferred option for the culprit would be tarring and feathering - I checked the French criminal code, but it cannot help me since all forms of judicial torture or killing, with the exception of the guillotine, were outlawed in 1792. The guillotine remained in use until France outlawed the death penalty in 1981.
While we no longer execute people, 'ecocide' has been a crime in France since 2021. It's reserved for severe pollution cases, usually brought against companies, and emphasises the seriousness of these crimes by using the 'cide' suffix reserved for those who kill - in this case, killing part of the natural world.
Historical French pun of the week
Two things I have noticed about French journalists, especially headline writers: a) they can be pretty brutal b) they love a good pun.
And clearly this is not a new trait, since French journalists in the 1930s apparently referred to British prime minister Neville Chamberlain (he of appeasement fame) as Monsieur J'aime Berlin.
Yesterday I learned that during appeasement French journalists mockingly called Chamberlain Monseur J'aime Berlin, which is exceptional work. Well done France.
— Dorian Lynskey (@dorianlynskey.bsky.social) 29 July 2026 at 10:17
Inside France is editor Emma Pearson's weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
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