The Top 12 Fabulous Anime Set in France

France is one of the most common European settings in anime, with its eternal beauty and style.

Paris, its capital, is the most common French city in terms of appearances in series and one of the most common in Europe.

This listicle aims to show you the best anime that take place in France. We will propose shows that represent the country from different perspectives.

12. Paris no Isabelle

Set after the Franco-Prussian war, Paris no Isabelle is one of those late 70s series that you can watch if you feel nostalgic.

The protagonist Isabelle is a 15-year-old girl who escapes to London after the besieging of Paris and starts working against the French Prime Minister as a secret agent.

Isabelle is quite similar to Lady Oscar in terms of attitude and love, as they both love their childhood friends. The underlying drama is quite different, as Paris no Isabelle cannot boast the same depth as The Rose of Versailles.

This anime features a love triangle, we recommend it if and only if you want to watch something with the late 70s vibe and some good melodrama.

The animations are one of the weakest points of this show and the story is not even detailed, so the only reason you have is for the drama.

11. Sakura Wars: Ecole de Paris

Sakura Wars: Ecole de Paris is a 3-part OVA from the Sakura Wars franchise, telling the story of 5 young girls trying to save a 1926 Paris from evil.

It’s nothing special but we recommend it if you already love the Sakura Wars series and want to spend some free time, watching a good anime set in the 1920s.

The setting is not exactly the best to enjoy Paris but can be a great way to start knowing the Sakura Wars brand while enjoying this romantic setting in the meantime.

10. Sans Famille

Starting from the origins, Sans Famille originated as a novel written by Hector Malot in 1878, and since then, it has inspired various adaptations.

This includes 2 animated series, one in 1977 directed by Osamu Dezaki and another in 1996. Choosing between the two versions is as always subjective, but there are important considerations to keep in mind.

The 1977 adaptation is a great and faithful rendition of the original story with excellent direction, earning its status as a historical anime classic.

In contrast, the 1996 version takes inspiration from the source material but crafts a new narrative, altering key elements of the story and taking a different direction. And indeed, unfortunately, it isn’t remembered with much fondness.

In both versions, the story starts with Remi, a child born in London, who, while still an infant, is kidnapped and left in France, where he’s discovered and cared for by Mr. Barberin.

9. Maria the Virgin Witch

Maria the Virgin Witch is an anime adaptation of a seinen manga with themes of fantasy, war, and action.

The story is set during the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, and it follows the character Maria, a witch.

Maria detests war and is willing to use her magical powers, even resorting to ethically questionable actions, in an effort to protect her villagers and promote peace.

But are her efforts truly appreciated, or is there more to the story?

Maria the Virgin Witch offers a blend of themes and genres, combining a historical setting based on real events with fantasy elements, war, and psychological insights.

It’s a compelling series that we highly recommend checking out if you’re looking for something different and thought-provoking.

8. The Case Study of Vanitas

The story is set in an alternate 19th-century Steampunk Paris, where technology has taken a different path, making this show also one of the best historical romance.

The protagonist Noah is a vampire called upon to investigate mysterious attacks by his fellow humans. Despite being fully integrated into society have for some time now begun to carry out random assaults caught up in a kind of feral state.

The key to stopping them seems to be possessed by a doctor and it is the mysterious Book of Vanitas.

This series is from the same author as Pandora Hearts, with the difference that this anime adaptation is quite good compared to Pandora’s.

As a rule of thumb, we recommend you to check the manga as well and the previous work Pandora Hearts even though it’s not set in France.

7. Nodame Cantabile: Paris-hen

Nodame Cantabile is a great romance anime that intertwines a great trauma-solving love story with a music-centered plot.

On the other hand, Paris-hen serves as the sequel to the story, taking place immediately after the conclusion of the main series. To avoid spoilers, we won’t tell more details, but it’s worth noting that as the title implies, the setting shifts to Paris.

The story follows Shinichi Chiaki, a gifted pianist who spent his childhood in Europe but had to return to Japan due to his parents’ divorce. Shinichi harbors a dream of returning to Europe to pursue his musical aspirations, but he has a paralyzing fear of flying.

But his life takes a turn when he encounters Megumi Noda, a fellow pianist with a carefree and easygoing personality.

Their meeting sets off a series of events that will forever change their lives.

6. Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth The Animation

Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth: The Animation is a 2011 anime comprising only 12 episodes. It stands out as an excellent slice-of-life series with a historical backdrop enriched by accurate historical details.

The series is set in the second half of the 19th century and follows the story of Yune, a Japanese girl who accompanies her friend Oscar to France.

You’ll witness her journey as she adapts to a new culture and gradually becomes fascinated by it.

This anime is recommended for the clothing and art which are very accurated and detailed. This series deal with the concept of cultural shock quite well, as the context of the story is the expansion of Japanese culture in the West.

5. Noir

Noir is an action drama anime and follows the story of two women as they discover their past. The story is initially set in Japan but later takes place in Paris, as the two main characters travel to France.

The French assassin Mireille Bouquet receives an email from Kirika Yuumura, a Japanese student, where she is invited to discover her past.

While this request sounds like a joke at first the two will realize they have something in common, although they have no memories of that.

This is a girls-with-guns anime with slow pacing and apparently no bloodshed, that we still recommend to you if you are interested in the genre and some cool action.

4. Le Chevalier D’Eon

This time the story is set in 18th-century Paris and is focused on mystery and supernatural elements. Charles de Beaumont, also called Le Chevalier D’Eon, is a French spy serving King Louis XV and the main character of this show.

After the death of his sister and the disappearance of several people, Charles joins the police to investigate on the case.

It seems that the culprit was a joint effort of the French and Russian nobility. That’s not all, these nobles can transform into gargoyles as well! Charles’ dead sister Lia will possess the body of his brother to help him solve the riddle.

Le Chevalier d’Eon is highly recommended if you want to see a supernatural and mythical Paris shrouded in mystery and dark elements.

3. Belladonna of Sadness

Belladonna of Sadness is an avant-garde movie that was released in 1973 and directed by the renowned Eiichi Yamamoto, inspired by Jules Michelet’s book, La Sorcière.

The story takes place in a poor medieval French village and revolves around the protagonist, Jeanne, a simple girl who happily marries her love, Jean.

Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived when the local feudal lord forces Jeanne to submit to a brutal ritual rape.

Devastated and broken, Jeanne begins to have strange dreams, where she imagines herself seeing spirits offering her deals for revenge.

Belladonna of Sadness is a unique movie, and not for everyone. The themes it explores are intense and not suitable for sensitive people. The unique animation style is unlike anything else you will see and we mean in general, not only in this list.

If you’re intrigued, we highly recommend giving it a chance because it is truly a masterpiece.

2. The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo is a short anime based on the homonymous French novel by Alexandre Dumas.

The story is set in 5053 as the French aristocrats Viscount Albert de Morcerf and Baron Franz d’Epinay attend the festival of Carnival on the moon city of Luna.

Albert meets the gaze of the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo during an opera performance. The two become friends and he introduces him to French society.

But the true colors of the Count are yet to be revealed as his goal is to enact revenge on those who wronged him.

The futuristic representation of Paris is a feast for the eyes and you cannot miss this anime if you want something quick and short to watch, yet super entertaining and well-rounded.

1. The Rose of Versailles

The Roses of Versailles is a cult anime released in the 1980s and based on one of the most important shojo manga ever, written by Riyoko Ikeda.

The story is set in a historical context in 18th-century France, portraying life at the court of Versailles from the coronation of Louis XVI until the Revolution of 1789.

The events unfold through the lives of Marie Antoinette and her noble friend Oscar François de Jarjayes, the commander of the Royal Guard who was raised as a boy.

The Roses of Versailles is a cult anime that you should definitely catch up on if you are a fan of anime adapted from shojo works.

It presents an incredibly comprehensive and captivating story filled with emotion, twists, adventure, action, and even romance.