Why Paris empties out for a month

Video Description

Few foreigners believe that Paris actually closes for a month in summer, as its residents take vacation. But there's a very good reason for that... as you'll see. It’s the height of summer in Paris, and the city feels delightfully... empty. No need to fight for the best seats in cafés because, well, most of them are closed. And most of my friends have vanished too, off on their long vacations, leaving me in a quieter, lonelier version of the city I love. So, why resist the flow? I pack a small bag and join the exodus. Half the population has already streamed out of Paris, and while many head south to crowded beaches, that’s not my scene. Instead, I set off east, toward the beautiful Bourgogne-France-Comté region, close to the Swiss border. It’s a historic area, full of ivy-covered villages and 17th-century hilltop fortresses. The Doubs River snakes through the landscape, and it’s such a relief to wake up to the sight of green hills instead of concrete buildings. Though I do miss my morning coffee, and the local cafés are proving elusive. Every year, Paris empties out for a month. It’s a tradition that feels uniquely French, but also necessary. Paris can be a bubble—a world of high culture, politics, and intellectual debates, detached from the rest of the country. Other regions sometimes feel neglected by the capital, which is why this great summer migration is so important. For a while, we Parisians are reminded that there’s more to France than our precious city. It reconnects us with the rest of the country, and in turn, strengthens the ties that bind us all together. Here, time slows down. I stop for a medieval lunch in a small village and feel like I’ve stepped through a tunnel into another era. It’s magical, in a way that Paris’s history sometimes isn’t—because it’s not just about the past, it’s living in it for a moment. Time stretches; schedules blur. You eat when you’re hungry, and that’s really all you need to worry about. Being away from Paris makes me appreciate it even more. Paris is an idea—a vibrant, intense force. But France is a destination, and stepping outside the city reminds me of that. Eventually, I’ll return, along with everyone else, for la Rentrée, when the city bursts back to life. But for now, I’m happy here, letting the summer sun and slower pace recharge me. *** Shot on on iPhone, edited with LumaFusion on an iPad *** Music from Artlist