The Connexion has covered thousands of stories over the past 12 months, ranging from major national events to issues closer to our readers’ daily lives.
There were many about political upheaval, strikes and protests, tax changes and extreme weather but there were also moments that offered welcome relief.
Below are six of our favourite feel-good stories from 2025.
1: Animated Intermarché ad goes viral
A cartoon advert for French supermarket Intermarché became a global hit in December, receiving millions of views on social media - and was even translated into English and other languages.
The ad sees a wolf rejected by its forest peers learn to change his ways and to cook vegetarian food (albeit with some fish!) so as to be accepted and ultimately join the Christmas party table.
The heartwarming story, set to the iconic Claude François song ‘Le Mal‐Aimé’, and cosy animation from a French production company all helped the advert receive rave reviews, taking the internet by storm.
It received particular praise for its animation style and use of artistic talent in light of several other Christmas adverts that made use of AI, many of which were heavily criticised and some such as for fast-food giant McDonald’s ultimately pulled.
The advert took over a year to make and replaces the chain’s long-running previous adverts.
There are already hints the wolf will return in future ad spots and become an iconic figure for Intermarché.
2: Two revolutionary French eyecare procedures
A ground-breaking surgery technique that sees a prosthetic lens grafted onto a person’s tooth before being placed into their eye is offered in Montpellier Hospital.
The technique, possible in cases where a person’s cornea has been burned (either in an accident or from an illness) is currently only possible at the southern French hospital, where surgeons have perfected the operation.
It involves several steps, including grafting the lens onto a tooth – to allow the patient’s body to accept it – before being inserted into the eye at a later date.
Patients receive up to 80% of their vision back, after a few weeks of the eye becoming accustomed to the new lens.
At the same time, French researchers and scientists have created a new implant to help older people affected by age-related eyesight loss.
Cases of age-related macular degeneration, which usually affects the macula in people aged 60 and above, can come in ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ forms.
While medication can help in the ‘wet’ case, caused by bursting blood vessels, there has not been help for those suffering from the ‘dry’ form – slow deterioration of the retina – until now.
Researchers use an implant thinner than a strand of hair that can function in place of damaged retina cells. Patients wear special glasses that capture infrared light, picked up by the retina implant.
Around 80% of patients saw vision improve after the operation, allowing them to read and recognise faces – a previous impossibility for those suffering from the illness.
3: Birds and insects return to France
A 2018 ban on neonicotinoid insecticides has seen bird populations for some species increase by up to 3% in France, according to recent research.
Species to see increases include blackbirds, chaffinches, and blackcaps, which are all insectivorous (insect-eaters).
The previous use of insecticides saw the birds face a loss of available food source, but as the insect population returns so do the birds.
It may take decades for populations to return to previous levels (they dropped 57% in 40 years) but the current growth is encouraging.
While not officially studied during the research, scientists believe another positive effect of higher insect levels is an increase in population of many other species that eat insects, including mammals, bats, and fish.
A 2025 farming law sought to re-authorise the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide called acetamiprid, but France’s Constitutional Council rejected this.
France is currently the only EU country to ban the use of acetamiprid, but EU regulations require the pesticide to be assessed for reauthorisation in 2030, and it is likely to be banned across the bloc then.
4: Year of sporting success
France saw a bumper 2025 in the world of sport, with several successes.
The men’s rugby team triumphed in the 2025 Six Nations tournament, narrowly beating out England and Ireland to clinch the title.
The team remains among the favourites for the upcoming 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Following this, football club Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) won the 2025 Champions League with a 5-0 victory against Inter Milan on May 31. They became the second French team to win the title after Marseille beat AC Milan in 1993.
Finally, cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the female Tour de France on home soil and became the first French woman to win the event following the event’s relaunch in 2022.
Her victory sparked a surge of interest in female cycling in the country, and the breakout performance of young Maëva Squiban also contributed to interest among young French women in the sport.
Large crowds were present for the first stage in Vannes (Morbihan) and the race finish in Châtel (Haute-Savoie).
TV viewership for the women’s race averaged 2.7 million per stage, and 7.7 million for the final day.
5: Low inflation levels help households
France recorded some of the lowest inflation rates out of all EU member states, keeping many costs for households down throughout the year.
End-of-year inflation levels are expected to reach 0.9%, after annual inflation in October stood at 0.8%, the third-lowest in Europe.
The rate was among the lowest inflation levels recorded for several years, following a huge spike during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Low energy (particularly for gas and oil) and services costs helped keep inflation low, although certain foodstuffs such as chocolate, orange juice, and coffee all saw increases.
Early estimates from the government and Banque de France suggest inflation in 2026 is set to be around 1.3%.
6: People power saves French glassware brand
Iconic French glassware maker Duralex, long a fixture of school canteens and café tables, was given a dramatic lifeline after an extraordinary public fundraising effort.
The company has faced repeated difficulties in recent years, including changes of ownership, Covid-related disruption and several periods in receivership. In 2024, Duralex was bought by its own employees and relaunched as a worker-owned co-operative, raising hopes of a more stable future.
Those hopes were tested in 2025 when soaring energy prices put the energy-intensive glassmaker at renewed risk of closure. Producing toughened glass requires furnaces operating at temperatures above 1,400C, making the business particularly vulnerable to rising energy costs.
In response, Duralex issued an emergency appeal for €5 million to secure its future. The reaction exceeded all expectations. Within just 48 hours, members of the public pledged around €20 million — four times the amount requested.
The surge of support appeared to tap into a deep well of affection for the brand, seen by many as part of France’s everyday heritage. The fundraising success has not only eased immediate financial pressure but also underlined the enduring place Duralex holds in the public imagination.
Management believes the business will break even by 2027.
