It is well known that French ideas on the reform of education infl uenced the development of pedagogical theory in Russia in the late 19th — early 20th century. However, in order to correctly assess the extent and signifi cance of this phenomenon, it is necessary to investigate the specifi c conditions that brought about the intense contact in the pedagogical sphere between the two countries. This article discusses the primary channels, directions and character of the infl uence of French ideas on Russian pedagogical thought.