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On March 6, 1974, French Prime Minister P. Messmer introduced the new governmental energy plan in these terms “Our great opportunity is nuclear power because we have solid experience in that”. This synthesis article looks back and considers the progressive choices which fixed the outlines of the French nuclear power program, long before 1974. The article sheds light on technological developments as well as on the places where these developments were discussed and decided. The paper outlines three periods: firstly, from the post-war years to the mid-1960s, the “grandeur of France” was central for nuclear pioneers, at a time of technological experimentation. During the second period, costs received particular attention in a debate on technologies capable of equipping an industrial fleet. In the third period, after a preferred technology was chosen in 1969, further steps were taken by the government towards an ambitious industrial nuclear power programme. We discuss how the actors described certain developments as “French” or “European”.