French architecture began about 2000 years ago with the Romans. Then Monarchs builds their kingdoms. Then the Catholic Chruch.
The tax-man also had an impact, but the biggest thing was after the Revolution, where they built grand-monuments. The most famous of all is the Eiffel Tower. Constructed in 1887. It is now the most visited monument in the world. Even today the French architectecs keep building grand-monuments. Even today French architecture is amoung the finnest in the world.