France Endures Worst Heatwave on Record, City Dwellers Flee to Air-Conditioned Hotels

As France sweltered under one of the worst heatwaves ever recorded this week, city dwellers scrambled for any escape they could find, with many checking into hotels to benefit from air conditioning and access to pools. Temperatures in Paris hit a June record of 40.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, a day after France recorded its hottest day since records began nearly 80 years ago. But few private flats in the country have air conditioning, particularly those in the densely populated capital. About three-quarters of Paris rooftops use sheets of zinc, a material that absorbs and conducts heat. That has triggered a rush on hotels, both in cities and beyond. Air-conditioned hotels in the historic city of Tours in western France were almost fully booked earlier this week, said resident Véronique Savoye, who said she “could not think straight” due to the heat in her own home and checked into a local hotel for a four-night stay through Friday. “It’s about being more comfortable, and – above all – being able to sleep,” she said.