Press Release: Following the excitement of the Olympic Cauldron, a book chronicles 250 years of “Extraordinary Stories of Balloons”

In “Extraordinary Stories of Balloons: From the Hot-Air Balloon to the Olympic Cauldron,” Jérôme Giacomoni and Matthieu Gobbi chronicle the great adventure of balloons in the skies over Paris, from the first manned flight in 1783 to the launch from the Olympic Cauldron in 2024. Through rich illustrations and accessible storytelling, the book reveals just how much Paris has been the stage for world firsts and decisive moments in the history of the conquest of the skies.

The first aircraft, the first gas balloon, the first parachute jump, the first scientific flights, mail balloons during the Siege of Paris, the democratization of tethered flight, aeronautical races, great airships, and finally the Olympic Cauldron Balloon: the book offers a spectacular journey through history, blending human daring, technological innovation, and collective wonder.

Flammarion – 192 pages – Large-format book 21 x 26 cm – Price: €29

Available on June 17, 2026 at the Generali Balloon of Paris store (15th arrondissement) and in bookstore, at the following retail locations. You can also buy the English version Here.