The City of Love has become a scenic winter wonderland after seven inches of snow fell in Paris overnight.
Iconic landmarks such as the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower are covered in snow, and the Disneyland Paris’ famous castle is shifting from pink to white.
British tourists visiting the French capital are likely to have to spend a few more hours in the city, as high-speed Eurostar services to London have been delayed or cancelled.
However, while holidaying tourists may be pleased with the snow, for a majority of Parisians, the beautiful views will not make up for the traffic chaos it has brought.
Winter weather: Iconic landmarks such as the Sacre Coeur, pictured, the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower are covered in snow after seven inches fell in Paris on Wednesday
Carrying on: Morning commuters make their way through the snow covered alley of the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel tower
Winter wonderland: Disneyland Paris has been covered in snow, including the famous pink castle
A Eurostar statement read: ‘Our apologies to passengers travelling today. Due to the adverse weather conditions in the UK and in France, speed restrictions are put in place.
‘This means that your journey could be affected and that the arrival time of your train might be delayed.’
There were also early Eurostar cancellations, with the company offering compensation and help organising accommodation for stranded passengers.
As a result of the extreme weather, large parts of France, including Paris, ground to a halt overnight.
By 9am on Wednesday a record 460 miles of traffic jams were logged around Paris, with 1,500 lorries stacked up and at least 2,000 motorists stuck in their vehicles.
Nice view: A Parisian has taken a photo of the view from their balcony in the city
Making the most of it: A man enjoys snowboarding by the Sacre Coeur basilica in Montmartre, after seven inches of snow fell over northern France and Paris overnight
Good for some: Holidaying tourists may be pleased with a few extra hours in Paris due to the train delays, but for a majority of people, the beautiful views will not make up for the traffic chaos
Chaotic: Traffic on the snow-covered Champs-Elysees avenue below the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, as
All bus services stopped in Paris, along with many rail and Metro services, with reveal roads including the N118 motorway also shut.
Concerns were also growing for hundreds of migrants sleeping rough in bivouacs and tens around the city.
‘Emergency measures are being taken to look after everybody affected by the freezing weather, including those on the street,’ said a Paris council spokesman.
‘These are exceptional conditions which have created all kinds of problems for everybody.’
Tourists stand on the steps of Sacre Coeur and look out over Montmartre and Paris in the snow
Snow day! One man has got his skis out and made the most of the slope below the Sacre Coeur basilica in Montmartre, Paris
Different slopes: Enthusiasts turned the ground below the basilica into a ski slope on Wednesday
S-no-w problem: Geoffrey, 32, rides his snowboard down the Montmartre hill, with the Sacre Coeur Basilica in background
New use: Several skiers and snowboarders made their way to the hill below the basilica on Wednesday
Bad news: The exceptionally heavy snowfall has brought public transport in Paris and surrounding regions to a near halt, spelling misery for commuters after hundreds were forced to abandon their cars to sleep in emergency shelters overnight
People pass by the Arc de Triomphe du Caroussel as they walk through the snow covered Tuileries garden in Paris
Around 250 people spent the night at Orly, Paris’s second airport, and close to 800 commuters tried to put their heads down in Montparnasse and Austerlitz stations.
A spokesman for France’s Interior Ministry said there were some 2500 emergency workers including ‘police, firefighters, and gendarmes’ trying ‘to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.’
A total of 25 departments – France’s equivalent of counties – remained on freezing weather alerts as more snow was forecast.
All bus services stopped in Paris, along with many rail and Metro services, with reveal roads including the N118 motorway shut
Cold waters: Barges and boats on the River Seine were covered in a layer of snow on Wednesday morning
Day off: Children play in the snow in the Palais Royal garden in Paris on Wednesday
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom: Disneyland Paris appeared to still appeal to some visitors despite the snowfall