Even so, a quarter-century does seem like an exceptionally long time.

When was the last time that France did a state visit to us in the US?

kagis

https://media.franceintheus.org/statevisit/

State Visit by President and Mrs. Macron (Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2022)

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden host President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France for a State Visit to the United States, including a state dinner, on December 1, 2022.

This is the first State Visit of the Biden-Harris Administration. It underscores the deep and enduring relationship between the United States and France–the oldest allies–that is founded on our shared democratic values, economic ties, and defense and security cooperation. The leaders discuss together our continued close partnership on shared global challenges and areas of bilateral interest.

Like, a year and a half ago.

How about the UK?

kagis

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/uk-welcomes-frances-macron-for-spectacular-state-visit/1882189

UK welcomes France's Macron for spectacular state visit

Macron was visiting to mark 80th anniversary of de Gaulle’s famous wartime speech broadcast by BBC in 1940

That was four years ago.

If you'd have asked me prior to me looking these up or hearing that it'd been 24 years since the last, l'd have guessed that it'd have been within the past five years, especially given that Scholz entered during that timeframe.

I guess COVID-19 maybe discouraged travel, was sort of an exceptional period for the past few years. And then Merkel was in office for quite a long time, 16 years, so maybe France didn't see a need to do a second visit with her.

EDIT: Actually, wait. If it was 24 years, it's that there would have been no state visit ever under Merkel. The last would have been to Gerhard Schroeder, shortly before she entered office. Maybe it was that Merkel just didn't want to do state visits.