9 Famous French Inventions That Changed The World  

Did you know that many French inventions have altered the course of history and made our lives easier? 

It’s true! Over the last few hundred years, French ingenuity has improved the way that many industries across the world operate, and many of our inventions are still in use – exactly as they were designed to be used – today. 

Life-saving medical interventions. Inventions that changed the face of how we travel. Food safety discoveries. Even fashion and style game-changers. The French have invented a lot! 

This week on the Paris Teachers Club blog, we look at 9 French inventions that changed the world. 

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1) Pasteurisation 

The most famous French invention is pasteurisation, a process that paved the way for safer consumption of food products and one that we all benefit from today. Louis Pasteur discovered germ theory in the 1860s, leading to the pasteurisation process. Pasteur also created some of the world’s first vaccines, including the still-utilised rabies vaccine. Paris’ Institut Pasteur is still a leading research centre, and is also where the man himself was laid to rest.

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2) The hairdryer  

In 1888, French hair salon owner Alexandre Ferdinand Godefroy devised a contraption to make stylist’s lives easier – the hairdryer! While the earliest hairdryer was far larger and more clunky than today’s sleek and lightweight versions, this is still one of the most famous French inventions. And one we thank Godefroy for!

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3) Braille 

In 1892, French educator Louis Braille devised a reading system that would change the way that blind and visually impaired people read, wrote and learned. Today, around seven percent of blind people across the world use braille to read, and the system is available in large variety of languages and dialects.

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4) The stethoscope

It was a French doctor that invented the stethoscope all the way back in 1816! Rene Laënnec created the instrument that was capable of listening to the internal sounds of the human body through a small metal disc applied to the skin, which to this day, is a staple for physicians around the globe.  

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5) Neon lights 

Today, cities across the world are lit by the warm glow of neon lights, but did you know that these lights were invented by a French engineer? In 1910, Georges Claude launched his newest invention to the masses at the Paris Motor Show. By filling a sealed glass tube with neon gas and sending power through it, he found a new method of lighting. Two years later, he sold his first neon light, which was displayed at a barbershop in Paris. 

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6) The bikini

Ladies across the world love their bikinis, and they can thank the French for their favourite summer swimwear! A hundred years ago, women had already begun to wear two-piece swimsuits, but Frenchman Louis Réard further honed these often-uncomfortable designs, creating the skimpier string bikini, which was launched during the Second World War. This style made it easier for women to tan, and the design took off across the world. Today, the bikini continues to be a beloved wardrobe essential.

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7) The pedal-bicycle 

While a German technically invented the first bicycle, this wooden bike didn’t have pedals. Frenchman Pierre Lallemont then invented the first pedalled bicycle in 1862. A few years later he emigrated to the United States, further honed his creation, and received the first patent for a pedal-bicycle in 1866. France continues to be one of the top countries for cycling in the world, and we thank Pierre Lallemont! 

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8) The polo shirt

The polo shirt is a staple of closets across the world, and is notable for its presence in sporting competitions. It won’t surprise you to learn that the polo shirt is yet another sartorial French invention – and the name of the inventor might sound familiar. In the 1920s, tennis player Rene Lacoste created the first polo shirt as an antidote to the often uncomfortable, starchy men’s athletic shirts of the time. Lacoste’s nickname was “The Crocodile”, so he added a crocodile logo onto his designs. Decades later, polo shirts were picked up by Polo Ralph Lauren and became a worldwide sensation, but Lacoste continues to be a major global brand. Born in France! 

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9) The hot air balloon 

They may be hi-tech and (thankfully!) much safer today, but the first hot air balloon was actually created by French brothers, Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier, all the way back in 1783! The Ardèche siblings were fascinated with flight, and the first hot air balloon was basically a light paper bag billowing over a fire. They continued to improve and grow their design, and a year later, they demonstrated their 1000lb balloon to King Louis at Versailles. The history of hot air ballooning is fascinating and complex! 

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How many of these French inventions do you use?

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