If you’re an automobile enthusiast and you happen to be in Paris at the start of October, you won’t believe your luck! Not only is there the Paris Motor Show, but there’s also the famous Paris-Deauville (vintage car) Rally, leaving from Paris’ iconic Place Vendôme. Even if you’re not passionate about cars, the event is really quite a spectacle, and you should certainly pop along to see all the old vehicles and enjoy the atmosphere. Here’s a little bit more about the two events…
Mondial de l’Automobile
October 4-19
Porte de Versailles Exhibition Halls
Metro Porte de Versailles
€14/adult, €8/child
The very first “Exposition internationale de l’automobile, du cycle et des sports” (International Automobile, Cycle and Sports Exhibition) took place in 1898 at the beautiful Grand Palais, but its increased popularity meant that the palace became too small, and the event moved to Paris’ huge exhibition park at the southern Porte de Versailles in 1950. Divided into seven large halls, you’ll be able to admire cars that you heard of before, and many that you have not! There’s also an interesting section on hybrid and electric vehicles, in case you were wondering about reducing your carbon footprint. From American muscle and Minis to Bentleys and Ferraris, this exhibition is a must-see for motor enthusiasts. Last year saw a record number of visitors, with 1,231,416 tickets sold – will you be one of them this year?
http://www.mondial-automobile.com/en/visitors/
Paris-Deauville Rally
October 3-5
Leaves from: Place Vendôme
Metro Opéra/Concorde
This annual vintage car rally is themed on the Roaring Twenties, so expect some seriously glamorous vehicles to be taking over central Paris on the first weekend of October! The rally was first started in 1967, when a group of car-loving bourgeois Parisians all met up in their automobiles to leave for the seaside resort of Deauville, a 2-3 hour drive from the city. Every year, thousands of drivers from all over France and Europe dust down their vintage vehicles, put on their finest fur coats, and proudly make their way to the Place Vendôme before all setting off for the beach together. Sure, it’s a nightmare if you happen to be on a bus or taxi at the time, but the atmosphere is fun and festive, especially if the weather’s kind. If you’re around in Paris over this weekend, the rally and its participants will be hard to miss!
http://www.deauville.fr/FR/agenda/1181/48e-rallye-paris-deauville/?dateId=1042
Not a car fan? How about bicycles? If you prefer two wheels to four, why don’t you come along on one of our Fat Tire Tours?
