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Subway: eleven stations closed next week for the pope's visit!

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The Editor

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In just over a week, Léon XIV will arrive in grand style in the capital for a series of celebrations between the Stade de France, Notre-Dame, and the Concorde. And to say the least, all these papal motorcade processions are causing quite a few headaches for Parisians, especially when it comes to transportation.

For the past few days, the capital has been in a frenzy preparing for the arrival of the Holy Father. And after traffic and parking restrictions in chaos announced around Place de la Concorde and in the 5th and 6th arrondissements, it's now the RATP's turn to join the party by announcing station closures left and right. We're telling you everything you need to know to avoid maximum headaches.


A packed schedule

It's a historic event on the horizon. Next week, Pope Leo XIV will be in the capital for two days, and to say the least, he won't be taking it easy. Indeed, on Friday, September 25th, after having v

celebrated vespers at Notre-Dame, met with President Emmanuel Macron, and strolled through the streets of the 5th and 6th arrondissements, he will host a vigil at the Stade de France, where no fewer than 80,000 young people between 18 and 35 years old are expected to gather for an evening of prayer. The next day, he will head to Place de la Concorde to celebrate a Mass bringing together once again hundreds of thousands of participants. And unfortunately, to ensure everyone's safety, these events do come with consequences for Parisians.


Eleven stations closing the same day

So you've got it, Friday, September 25th, it won't be easy getting around the capital. For starters, no fewer than seven stations will be closed in the north of the left bank, to ensure the safety of our dear Léon during his papal procession. Specifically, the stops Notre-Dame-des-Champs (line 12), Vavin (line 4), Saint-Placide (line 4), Port-Royal (RER B), Luxembourg (RER B), Saint-Michel (line 4, RER B and RER C) and Cité (line 4) will close from 10am onwards, and for now, no reopening time has been announced. As a reminder, this won't change much at Saint-Michel, since the station is anyway inaccessible

for three months.

Next, it's off to the 7th arrondissement, where the stations Varenne (line 13), Ségur (line 10), Saint-François-Xavier (line 13) and Duroc (lines 10 and 13) will be closed from 12pm to 6pm to ensure the Pope's visit to UNESCO. And we're giving you a heads up—while they haven't been announced just yet, other restrictions will need to be expected on Saturday the 26th around the Concorde area. We'll keep you posted, we promise!