French and noble in 2018: What remains of France's aristocracy?

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This week we're at the Château de Courson, a stunning 17th-century property. It's the perfect backdrop for this week's show because we're talking about the French nobility. It's a social class which no longer has any legal status. However, you would be wrong to assume that "la noblesse" no longer exists! According to some estimates, there may actually be more people who can claim to be part of the French aristocracy today than before the French Revolution. We take a closer look.

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[Dfathurr]

French nobility in 21st century : *exists

Severed Robespierre's head : *internal screaming

[hugof.]

This family is from "noblesse d'Empire", meaning from the Napoleonic era, ask older families and they will consider these commoners!

[JosephineMiller]

Born in Belgium, raised in Italy and now resident in France, he holds a degree in Japanese. He previously worked for CNN International.

[jp]

Chateaux de Croissant. That's the most French castle ever

[Timrath]

That French guy speaks better English than most Londoners I've met.

[BariTone-vr]

I was able to get to know quite a few descendants of the French nobility while I lived in France. Most do not have their ancestral homes, if they even exist at all any more. And certainly, most have no real fortunes. But it was fascinating to know that they have been around since the Revolution, often quietly in the background of French life, holding things together many times. They care deeply about France and its people and culture. They are often very devout Catholics, which is rare in France for the most part. I was very impressed by them. Hardly the caricatures one often sees: frivolous, extravagant, careless, haughty, etc. Two of the men I knew used to joke with each other that if the monarchy were restored they could no longer be friends as their respective families owed allegiance to different claimants of the throne.

[ThomasStephenForster]

I once wondered into a château on vacation without realizing it was private. The owner must have been notified by a jardinaire, he was very kind and invited us into his home to show us around.

[felinequeen]

OMG!!! They killed 84% of the noble families and at the end they still ended up granting aristocracy. LOL

[hnhaha]

Never forget - a lot of those noble families that were killed off during the revolution were slaughtered wholesale - including their children, babies, etc. Innocent kids.

[cheryl]

Beautiful, beautiful home. So grateful it has been preserved so lovingly by this family.

[HisMajestyWalrus]

Must admit, I envy people with such influential and well documented family history.

[justanotherhappyhumanist]

Imagine growing up in a house like that!

[michealrawlings]

You know he is noble not only the mansion but the actual real time era painting of emperor Napoleon. Not to forget this guy is a cousin of napoleon bloodline.

[deyakson]

*All I heard that entire interview was, "This man played a great role in the development of croissant."* And I love me some warm buttered croissants.

[misteraxl]

During Napoleon's era, two nobles were talking at the ball - one member of a surviving pre-revolution nobility, and the other a newly granted noble under Napoleon.
The old noble said to the new one ''You are a duke but it means nothing. For you have no ancestors!''. ''That is right'', said the new noble. ''WE are the ancestors''. Well, he was right.

[straycat]

I find it interesting how more and more countries want to get rid of the aristocracy, the feudal system. But what they don’t notice is that the feudal system is not going away, it’s just shifting. And shifting from large families or small families or just people to corporations. The new era feudalism and nobility and royalty is corporate. They will run everything, they will produce everything, they will distribute everything, and they will have ultimate say over everything. That’s their goal.

[WilliamFang]

As an English speaker, I usually see Europe through British lenses. Glad I found this channel (and Deutsche Welle) to broaden my view.

[deejames]

French nobility seems to embrace public access while the British nobility sees the public as unwanted peasant interlopers. They prefer to live in crumbling relics rather than a change of mindset.

[catherinerintamaki]

Went to France last beautiful beautiful.
.

[virginagobetz]

As a student of the Ancient Regime, I founs this brief video to be most informative and yet still entertaining.Thank you for producing it.