For eight decades, the Maison Française d’Oxford has fostered intellectual dialogue and strengthened the ties between France and the United Kingdom through research, culture and scientific diplomacy. Its 80th anniversary celebrates a legacy of collaboration that continues to bring the two countries closer together.
At Fondation de France UK’s inaugural gala last year, Lord Tarassenko brilliantly highlighted, as Chair of the Oxford Committee of the Maison Française d’Oxford (MFO), the importance of Franco-British intellectual and cultural connections. The MFO, with its longstanding commitment to academic and cultural exchange, embodies the enduring value of these relationships and the role they play in shaping a shared future.
Eight decades of dialogue and discovery
Founded in 1946, the Maison Française d’Oxford has spent 80 years providing a space and an ecosystem for French and British researchers, academics and cultural figures to exchange ideas, develop collaborations and advance knowledge across borders.
Through its work at the intersection of research, culture and scientific diplomacy, the MFO has helped strengthen intellectual ties between the two countries. Its 80th anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the institutions and individuals who have contributed to this shared history, while looking ahead to the next generation of Franco-British collaboration.
Celebrating a lasting partnership
In July 2026, the MFO marked its 80th anniversary with a Garden Party bringing together leading figures from the diplomatic, academic and research communities. Among those attending were Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Lord William Hague, Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
Thomas Chatillon, Executive Director of Friends of Fondation de France UK, was honoured and privileged to attend the programme, thus reconnecting with members of the community whose engagement helps sustain the longstanding relationship between France and the United Kingdom.
The gathering reflected the breadth of the network surrounding the MFO and the continued importance of creating opportunities for dialogue between institutions, researchers and cultural leaders on both sides of the Channel.
Discovering Marc Bloch: a French historian with an international legacy
The Maison Française d’Oxford currently presents Marc Bloch: Lives, Struggles, Legacies, an exhibition exploring the life and work of one of France’s most influential twentieth-century historians, and a resolute Anglophile throughout his adult life.
A pioneer of social history, Marc Bloch’s intellectual horizons extended beyond France. His work engaged with British historical scholarship, reflecting the cross-border exchanges that have enriched academic research for generations.
On display until 7 December 2026, the exhibition offers an opportunity to discover the legacy of a remarkable historian whose work continues to resonate across borders.
Discover the exhibition
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Photo credits © MFO