Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in continental Europe, but it is also a paradise for the best professional sports such as rugby, football, tennis, basketball and one of the main cycling events in the world: the Tour de France. .

The grueling endurance race has reached its climax in Paris every year since 1975. Indeed, the Champs-Élysées closes to regular traffic, allowing spectators to cheer on the remaining Tour de France competitors down the glorious boulevard to the final tape in the shadow of the imposing Arch. of Triumph. This is the race every endurance cyclist wants to win, and to be the rider to wear the coveted yellow jersey at the entrance to Paris is the ultimate honor.

Not only cycling enthusiasts are drawn to the sport of Paris. Over the past 100 years, the French capital has hosted two soccer World Cups and a Rugby World Cup finals. It also has one of the best stadiums in northern Europe: the magnificent Stade de France. Although custom-built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, the stadium is now home to Rugby Union’s Stade Francais and also functions as the national sports stadium. It is here that the France rugby union and national soccer team play their home games, as well as various track and field athletics meetings.

But, of the regular events that take place at the stadium, it is possibly the Six Nations games that attract the most interest. In fact, most Paris hotels, not just the ones near the Stade de France, are booked weeks in advance of Six Nations rugby matches. As such, guests come from all over France in addition to tens of thousands of fans of the traveling team. The Welsh, Scottish, Irish, English and Italians all enjoy visiting the city to see their team in action, and they can also make the most of all the culture and entertainment that Paris has to offer!

From Montmartre to Montparnasse, during a Six Nations weekend, the streets of Paris are packed with rugby fans, all donning their team’s colors while enjoying the unique Parisian atmosphere. For them, a touch of sightseeing is usually interspersed with a few well-timed stops at various bars and cafes on the way to the stadium.

So if you’re planning a trip to Paris and sport doesn’t interest you, you might want to avoid being in the city when one of the Six Nations games is taking place. Conversely, if you enjoy the buzz and the sights, sounds and colors of a sporting event, you’re sure to have a memorable visit.