What if our Sunday in Paris turned out to be a little busier than expected? On November 15, several events will lead to traffic and parking restrictions in the capital. The Paris Center 10K, the Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon, and the Endorun will all take place on the same day. Added to this are preparations for the Christmas lights around the Madeleine. Some restrictions will begin as early as 2 a.m., particularly on Rue de Rivoli and Avenue de l’Opéra. Here are the main areas affected and the times you need to know.
Paris Center: The 10K and the Christmas lights
This Sunday, the 21st edition of the Paris Center 10K will take runners past several of the capital’s iconic landmarks. The route will pass through Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Concorde, Rue Royale, Place de la Madeleine, and the Opéra district. To allow participants to pass, the Prefecture of Police is closing the route to traffic between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. However, on certain streets, restrictions will begin overnight and continue until early afternoon.
As a result, drivers will not be able to use Rue de Rivoli between Place de la Concorde and Rue du Louvre from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Avenue de l’Opéra, cars will be prohibited from driving or parking between 2 a.m. and 3 p.m. Parking will also be prohibited on Rue Saint-Honoré, between Place André-Malraux and Place du Palais-Royal, during the same hours. On Place des Victoires, no parking will be allowed between 4:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. In addition, the measures will also affect several streets around the Palais-Royal, the Opéra, and the Grands Boulevards. The restrictions are not limited to the streets used by the runners.
Near the Madeleine, in addition to the 10K, Christmas preparations are also underway. To allow for the installation of the lights on Faubourg Saint-Honoré, traffic and parking will be prohibited from 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on several sections of the streets. The restrictions will apply in particular to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Rue Boissy-d’Anglas, Rue Royale, and Rue Saint-Honoré.
Between the morning race and the Christmas decorations, the Madeleine neighborhood will therefore be closed off for much of the day.
16th arrondissement: the Boulogne Half Marathon
To the west of the capital, the Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon will pass through several major streets near the Bois de Boulogne. There, too, organizers will need to make way for the runners.
Restrictions will begin at 2 a.m. on Boulevard Anatole-France, then at 4 a.m. on Avenue de Saint-Cloud and Route des Lacs in Passy. These three roads will remain closed until 3 p.m. Parking will be prohibited on Boulevard Anatole-France and Avenue de Saint-Cloud.
Restrictions will be in effect on several streets in Boulogne-Billancourt used by half-marathon participants. Here too, certain restrictions will be put in place several hours before the race starts.
12th arrondissement: the Endorun in the Bois de Vincennes
This Sunday, the Bois de Vincennes will welcome runners for the Endorun, a sporting event organized to raise awareness about endometriosis. Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., traffic will be prohibited on several roads in the park, particularly Avenue du Général-Laperrine and Avenue Charles-de-Foucauld. Neighboring streets may also be affected.
Walks in the woods will still be possible, but car access will be restricted for part of the day.
Please note: Some restrictions apply to vehicles already parked. Cars left on streets where parking is prohibited may be towed and impounded.
For drivers, the easiest thing to do is to check the temporary signs starting Saturday evening. Certain restrictions will be in effect from Saturday night, November 14, through Sunday, November 15, at 2 a.m.