La Traversée de Paris: A Celebration of Heritage and Passion

La Traversée de Paris, a 1956 film directed by Claude Autant-Lara, remains a comedic masterpiece. Featuring stars like Bourvil, Louis de Funès, and Jean Gabin, the movie humorously portrays the hardships of occupied Paris, a city grappling with hunger and black-market dealings.

Over the years the Traversée de Paris has become a phenomenon

Though its release initially sparked controversy—addressing sensitive themes like wartime denunciations just a decade after the war—it achieved great success, leaving an indelible mark on cultural memory.

Hundreds of cars, motorcycles, tractors, and commercial vehicles take to the streets of Paris, crisscrossing the city

In November 1986, vintage vehicle enthusiasts began meeting informally at the esplanade of the Château de Vincennes every Sunday.

Even though the start is in the dark, wee hours of a very cold wintry morning, thousands eventually turned out

By 2000, these gatherings took on a formal structure with the inaugural Traversée de Paris en Anciennes.

A real crowd-puller, the Traversée de Paris brings enthusiasts and laypeople out onto the streets of the French capital three times a year

Organised by the Vincennes en Anciennes club, the event grew steadily, boasting over 1,200 members and approximately 3,000 vehicles. Its success even inspired a summer edition, launched in 2007.

Suitable entertainment at various points makes for a really festive atmosphere

What may appear as a straightforward event is a logistical marvel, requiring meticulous preparation and coordination. Each edition involves selecting a theme and designing a corresponding route, securing approval from the Paris Prefecture, printing road books and rally plates and assembling a team to prepare participant bags with road books, plates, and goodies.

Getting your vehicle blessed at the Sacré-Cœur church is another amusing ritual for both believers and non-believers

Plus, on the day itself, setting up at dawn with barriers, banners, and tents and welcoming participants as early as 7am and managing registration.

Among the many two-wheelers at the event, this Triumph scooter with special cowling caught the eye of many

Executing these tasks demands the dedication of 80 volunteers on event day to ensure everything runs smoothly for the participants' enjoyment.

Of course there were dozens of Citroën 2CVs - the one that was assembled by a team in minutes caught the camera of many a photographer and Instagrammer

Thanks to a partnership with Depann 2000, the event provides support for any mechanical issues, ensuring even the oldest vehicles make the journey.

A Simca Vedette with a very pretty, made-for-the-car trailer

Starting at 7am, participants parade under the AXA arch on the forecourt of the Château de Vincennes, collecting their rally bags before setting off.

People could also take historic buses, and there were several vans and jeeps too

The streets of Paris come alive with nearly 1,000 vehicles: historic cars (570), historic motorcycles (110), even bicycles (26), vintage tractors (22), and historic buses chartered by AMTUIR.

Highlights include blessings for tractors at the Sacré-Cœur and traditional stops at iconic landmarks like Les Invalides and Place de la Concorde, where participants gather to socialise, photograph, and admire each other’s vehicles.

Cars on the road included a few Corvettes and Merc SLs

From bicycles to a rare 750 MV Agusta or Ferraris, the event bridges social divides, uniting enthusiasts in their shared passion.

Participants travel from across Europe – including Luxembourg, Belgium, England, and Germany – while the media from around the world (China, Japan, India, the USA, and more) cover this rolling museum.

As well as a VW Karmann-Ghia and a Citroën Traction Avant

Parisians and tourists alike line the route, capturing the spectacle against the city’s stunning monuments. Every Traversée concludes with a celebratory banquet. In winter, it’s held at the Vincennes racecourse; in summer, a country lunch at the Meudon Observatory brings the festivities to a close.

A pair of Porsches on the street

As France’s largest multi-brand vintage vehicle club, Vincennes en Anciennes boasts 1,065 members and a fleet of nearly 3,000 vehicles. The club participates in major events like Chantilly Arts & Elegance, Rétromobile, Le Mans Classic, and Epoqu’Auto Lyon, showcasing its vibrant community and enduring spirit.

None of this would be possible without the support of dedicated partners. A special thanks to AXA Passion, represented by Jean-Pierre Houdeillé, who not only sponsors the event but also actively participates, assisting with preparations and engaging with collectors with warmth and enthusiasm.

The ELF stand

And to Elf, with its iconic slogan ‘A Brand of Passion’. Since the 1960s, the company has been a dominant force in motorsport, showcasing its expertise on the global stage.

The team that organises the Traversée

Elf now brings that same dedication to historic vehicle enthusiasts, offering a specialised range of lubricants tailored to the unique needs of vintage engines.

Patrick Hornstein