Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

SNOW

IN PICTURES: Paris gets dusting of snow as winter weather hits France

Snow turned Paris into a winter wonderland on Saturday as an icy spell left parts of the centre and north of the country on alert.

Published: 16 January 2021 13:13 CET
IN PICTURES: Paris gets dusting of snow as winter weather hits France
AFP

Winter weather alerts were in place across much of central and northern France on Saturday with snow and icy conditions forecast.

The Orange alert warning, which urges the public to take care when travelling, affects 32 départements in all and will be in place until at least Sunday morning.

Snow began to fall on Paris in late morning turning the French capital into the “city of light”.

AFP

 

Météo France said the snowfall is expected to be “a classic snowy episode for the season, but requiring particular vigilance as it could make traffic conditions difficult.”

The Alsace area of eastern France saw heavy snowfall overnight on Thursday and more snow is expected in the east over the weekend.

On Saturday one Parisian even got out his skis to take on the slopes of Montmartre below the Sacre Coeur.

AFP

 

IN PICTURES: North-eastern France blanketed in snow

Snow in Paris has been rare in recent years, although February 2018 saw the city coated in a picturesque white covering – prompting locals to head out to the nearest hill (Buttes-Chaumont was popular) with their skis to make the most of it.


AFP

AFP

 

AFP

AFP

 

AFP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

SHOW COMMENTS