Heatwave in Paris 12th Arrondissement: Where to Find Cool Relief
As of Saturday, July 11th, Paris has been placed under a red alert heatwave. In response, the 12th arrondissement is activating several measures to inform and support its residents, particularly the most vulnerable, through this new period of intense heat. Here’s a comprehensive guide to staying cool and safe.
Practical Advice During a Heatwave
During a heatwave or period of high temperatures, it is essential to:
- Drink water regularly.
- Wet your body and ventilate yourself.
- Eat sufficiently and avoid alcohol.
- Avoid physical exertion.
- Keep your home cool by closing shutters during the day.
- Spend time in a cool place (air-conditioned rooms, cinemas, museums, libraries, supermarkets, etc.).
- Check on your loved ones and let them know you are okay.
- In case of discomfort or heatstroke, contact SAMU (15) or the Fire Department (18).
Measures Taken by the City
To combat the heat, several initiatives are being implemented:
Cooling Rooms Open
- 12th Arrondissement Town Hall (22 rue Gabriel Lamé): Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
- EHPAD Les Arcades (116 avenue Daumesnil): Exclusively for elderly and disabled individuals, daily from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, including weekends and public holidays.
Cooling Islands Across Paris
Nearly 1,400 cooling islands are now accessible to the public. These include both permanent (gardens, municipal facilities) and temporary (misters, exceptional park openings) spots. These encompass:
- Green spaces and wooded areas, including squares, gardens, parks, and city woods.
- Oasis schoolyards.
- Intramural cemeteries.
- Bathing areas, including swimming pools and aquatic centers.
- Misted areas and water games, dry fountains, misters.
- Public establishments that are naturally cool, such as museums.
- Public establishments that are air-conditioned, including museums, libraries, and cooling rooms designated under the heatwave plan.
Consult the map of cooling islands in Paris for more details.
Cooling Islands in the 12th Arrondissement
Specific cooling measures in the 12th arrondissement include:
- Shade structures deployed at:
- Place Henri Frenay
- Avenue Lamoricière
- 94 Cours de Vincennes
- Picpus elementary school
- Shade sails installed at:
- Square Charles Péguy
- Square Rachel-Carson
- Misters deployed at:
- Jardin de Reuilly-Paul Pernin
- Square Rachel-Carson (formerly Saint-Éloi)
- Square Charlotte-Valandrey
- Parc de Bercy
- Marianne (Nation)
- Drinking fountains deployed: 112 drinking fountains throughout the district, including one sparkling fountain.
- Oasis Schoolyards: The Cours Oasis of schools 315 Charenton and Lachambeaudie will be open in the evenings until July 17th.
Bathing in the Seine
As part of “Paris en Seine,” two free bathing areas are open for you to cool off close to home:
- Baignade en Seine – Quai de Bercy: Open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- Baignade Léo Lagrange: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, then from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM (until 6:00 PM on Sundays).
Piscines with Extended Hours
In the 12th arrondissement, the Roger Le Gall swimming pool (34, boulevard Carnot, Paris 12e) maintains its summer hours with evening openings:
- Monday – Tuesday – Thursday: Closes at 9:00 PM instead of 8:00 PM.
- Wednesday: Closes at 10:00 PM instead of 9:00 PM.
- Sunday and public holidays: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, then 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Support for Homeless Individuals
Outreach teams are reinforced to ensure vigilance and reach out to homeless individuals. In parallel, all day centers are extending their hours, particularly during lunchtime, to offer refreshed respite spaces.
Day centers and outreach teams from the City of Paris are distributing water bottles, provided by Eau de Paris, and a flyer titled “Cooling Down in Case of High Heat.” This flyer includes good practices, a list of public baths, Espaces Solidarité Insertion (ESI), and a list of temporary fountains.
Opening hours for certain public baths will be adjusted starting Friday, July 10th, and for the duration of the red alert heatwave, to facilitate access for the greatest number. In the 12th arrondissement, these are the Audubon public baths: Friday, July 10th, 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM; closed on weekends; Monday, July 13th, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
REFLEX File Activation
Vulnerable individuals registered in the “REFLEX” file are contacted by phone to check on their health, assess their needs, and reiterate preventive measures against the heat. If an emergency is identified, a volunteer doctor from the association “Les transmetteurs” will assess the person’s health urgency to provide the best response. A social worker may also visit if necessary. To register, simply call 3975, fill out the online registration form, or return a registration form available at your district town hall and the reception of the Parisian Solidarity Space (formerly Social Action Center) in your district.
Parks and Gardens Open All Night
The City of Paris has decided to keep its parks, gardens, and squares open 24 hours a day, with exceptions noted below. Many green spaces that accept dogs are also open at night.
For all information on open parks and gardens, please refer to the official website. Specifically in the 12th arrondissement, the following parks are open 24/7:
- Square Ilan Halimi
- Jardin Solange Faladé
- Jardin Martha Desrumaux
- Jardin Paul Valéry
- Square Rachel Carson
- Petite ceinture PC 12
- Square Van Vollenhoven
Find all Parisian information on:
- Parisian heatwave plan
- What to do in Paris when it’s too hot?
- All information on bathing in Paris this summer
Source: mairie12.paris.fr
