A good friend of mine just returned from a continent-spanning Europe trip that closed with a sweltering long weekend in Paris, and though I was initially jealous that she would be there during what is usually one of my favorite months to be in Europe, I have to say that I’m glad, for now, to be Stateside.
Yesterday marked France’s hottest day on record, with parts of the country reaching 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Fête de la Musique, which took place on Sunday, saw a number of French cities postponing the public concerts that mark the start of summer due to concerns over the heat, and a ban on public consumption of alcohol was put into effect in some places in order to reduce risk of heatstroke.
At least 40 people have drowned in France over the last five days as they sought relief from the heat in lakes and canals. Meanwhile, Paris has taken additional efforts to expand access to supervised swimming areas, with parts of the Canal Saint-Martin open until 9 pm every day during heat waves. Beginning in July, the city will open 11 swimming sites, including three in the Seine, following extensive efforts to clean the river both before and after the 2024 Olympic Games.
Some of the content coming out of the canicule has been shocking—whether it’s people heating pans on their Paris rooftops in order to cook crêpes, or women discovering why it’s no longer safe to wear heels on the street in Cannes.
In fact, the only people who seem to be surviving the French heatwave are the Bretons and Normands, who have seen markedly cooler temperatures than their central and southern compatriots. One of our contributors, Valentine Marchou, recently wrote about how Brittany and Normandy are now up-and-coming summer travel destinations due to their milder climates, and might soon be replacing the Côte d’Azur as the go-to vacation spots for juilletistes and aoûtiens. Just don’t forget to pack your Saint James.
Stay hydrated, my friends. And, like the French folks in town for the World Cup, remember to appreciate la clim while you have it.
Mondial 2026…
The French soccer team is probably feeling pretty glad that they’ve been in the Northeast for the World Cup (even if their Monday night match against Iraq in Philly was delayed at halftime due to torrential rain). That sweet, sweet hotel air conditioning must count for something, because Les Bleus have been coming out on top so far, with ESPN already nicknaming captain Kylian Mbappé “Mr. World Cup.”
