Introduce students to the Bazar de la Charité fire with this intermediate French reading comprehension activity about the deadly 1897 tragedy in Paris. The resource includes a three-page article in French, six comprehension questions in English, six questions in French, an answer key, and both printable and Google Slides formats.

The Bazar de la Charité was a prestigious annual charity event attended by wealthy and influential women in Paris. On May 4, 1897, a devastating fire transformed the event into one of the era’s most shocking disasters. Students will learn what happened, why the fire spread so quickly, and how the tragedy affected Parisian society.

The historical event later inspired the Netflix series Le Bazar de la Charité. This resource explores the real event; it is not a viewing guide for the series.

This French history reading is suitable for novice-high and intermediate-low learners with teacher guidance. More proficient students can read it independently. It can also give AP French students nonfiction interpretive reading practice.

Use this resource for:

• Guided or independent French reading
• Interpretive communication practice
• French history and cultural study
• Whole-class discussion
• Speaking or writing extensions
• Homework
• A ready-to-use French sub plan

The printable resource includes:

• A three-page article in French about the Bazar de la Charité fire
• 6 comprehension questions in English
• 6 comprehension questions in French
• Answer key
• Resource page with links to related videos and websites

The Google Slides resource includes:

• The complete article in French
• 6 comprehension questions in English
• 6 comprehension questions in French
• Answer key
• Resource page with links to related videos and websites

Use the English questions when you want students to focus primarily on understanding the French text. Use the French questions when you want to add target-language writing practice.

Help students strengthen their French reading comprehension while discovering the real history behind one of Paris’s most devastating nineteenth-century events.

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