There isn’t much that may pull me off the bed early on a weekend away in Paris, but on my most up-to-date visit to France’s capital, I couldn’t miss the Sunday morning event that pulls a whole lot of auto enthusiasts into the guts of the town. Framed under stunning architecture, the Place Vauban meet is an ode to every part great in regards to the Parisian automotive scene.
Travelling down a silent Champs-Élysées at 10:00am, the one clue that something out of the strange was happening (from every other day of the week at the least), were the faint sounds of engine noises.
Turning the corner revealed rows of cars parked roadside, with an ebb and flow of individuals mingling around them.
The great thing about this meet is its unaffiliated, spontaneous nature, with not a single organiser or governing body. It’s simply a Sunday morning pilgrimage to Place Vauban to socialize over cars.
The meet is chilled and relaxed; there isn’t any pressure nor any barriers to entry. It’s just a great time under the watchful eye of Hôtel des Invalides and the classic buildings surrounding it.
Being the weekend of Retromobile 2024, this particular Sunday instalment featured a heavy influx of cars from other countries – including the UK and Netherlands – along with the local attendees.
And people cars included every part from classic Rolls-Royces to Renault Clio RSs, R34 Nissan Skyline GT-Ts and Caterham Seven SuperSprints, to supercar icons and area of interest French hatchbacks. Equal appreciation was given to all, something that speaks volumes about inclusivity in Parisian automotive culture.
The overcast, wintery weather was offset by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The hot coffee helped too.
The Place Vauban meet provides a platform for all automotive enthusiasts to enjoy, be it through socialising, photography or mechanical evaluation.
There’s something to be said in regards to the power and universal language of automotive culture. I used to be in a position to communicate with French enthusiasts, despite not knowing nearly enough French.
As with every event though, the Place Vauban meet does face its challenges, with an increased police presence tied to the expected complaints that automotive meets attract. Nonetheless, from what I saw, the police primarily just looked to keep up safety, keeping people off the road and out of the best way of passing traffic, which was great to see.
In case you’re ever in Paris on a Sunday, I actually can’t recommend the Place Vauban meet enough.
Jack Major
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