Part of the joy of running a full marathon is discovering corners of a city on foot that otherwise might be in accessible. Those that have always dreamed of running towards the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elysees in pursuit of personal glory do just for 33 years in a row in the Paris Marathon. Sure, the cobblestoned streets can be hard on the feet but the small sacrifice of comfort is totally worth it for many runners that jog past the feet of the Eiffel Tower, sprint by the traffic-free Place de la Concorde and slow down a bit to admire the view while passing the Notre Dame Cathedral in the lovely 4th arrondissement. Runner or not, the Paris Marathon is a unique event for both participants and spectators as the city shuts down for a day to allow racers the space to navigate her winding streets. New York Habitat still has many apartments available during the event, but the selection dwindles as Paris Marathon racers and fans swarm the city for the event.
The Paris Marathon takes place on April 5th this year, just as the moderate spring temperatures have settled in. The race starts and ends at the Arc de Triomphe, in the 17th arrondissement, winding its way through the Bois de Boulogne, Bois de Vincennes and past famous city landmarks such as the Grand Palais, Musee d’Orsay, the Hotel de Ville and the Louvre museum. The Paris Marathon route slices back and forth across the city’s center, spending long stretches on both banks of the river Seine. The joy of the race is shared by the large swaths of spectators filling sidewalks along the route. Visitors to Paris can spend their spring morning on the sidewalk, cafe and croissant in hand, watching as some of the world’s finest athletes jog past in a startlingly fast pace. Thanks to the Metro service, spectators can stay ahead of the race by jaunting around the city with relative ease. The Paris Marathon is a festive event, with musicians, sidewalk performers and your run-of-the-mill Parisians all coming out for the annual event.
With 37,000 competitors in town for the event, New York Habitat accommodations in Paris go fast around race time, below are a few selections located near the start of the race to help get your search started:
– This one-bedroom vacation accommodation in Grands Boulevards, Opera – Le Louvre, Paris (PA-3724) features hardwood floors, lots of direct sunlight and a renovated kitchen and bath.
– This 1-bedroom rental apartment in Parc Monceau, Champs Élysées, Paris (PA-3055) features a balcony, a laundry room with a washing machine and a dishwasher and a wonderful location.
Ever run or watched the Paris Marathon? Let us know what you found to be unique about the French version of the ancient event.
Oh no!! why would you kill yourself running in the city of love?!! Please, there is so many things do to in Paris beside running!
By going to Paris I would rather prefer to eat a good meal than run a Marathon!!! Maybe this is a personal point of view…