On January 10, 2016, the largest classic car rally in the streets of the French capital will be held for the 16th consecutive year. This exceptional and festive event welcomes around 700 vintage vehicles every year, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, tractors and buses.
Women at the wheel
The Duchess of Uzès was the first woman in France to get her driver's license in 1898 and she was also the first to be fined for driving over 20 km/h on the Bois de Boulogne.
10 years earlier, Bertha Benz, the wife of Carl Benz, was the first person to use a car on the road for a longer journey. She and her two sons traveled around 106 km in a patented motor car without consulting her husband and without permission from the authorities.
Today, cars are no longer considered a male privilege. More and more women are interested in collector cars, their mechanisms, taking part in competitions or sporting and tourist events.
All female classic car fans are therefore cordially invited to take part in the event in Paris. At the Tour de Paris, vehicles with a woman at the wheel are specially marked with red heart balloons.
Across Paris in a classic car
The highlight of the event is a tour that leads from the Château de Vincennes around 28 kilometers across Paris and past all the major sights of the French capital. Every year, more than 100 brands and over 200 models, each of which is at least 30 years old, take part in the tour.
Three buses will be organized for spectators to travel the same route and experience the vintage vehicles up close. Tickets for the bus and further information can be found on the website.
