Paris Marathon Subway Information
| 7. |
Charles De Gaulle Étoile (connects with Line 6 to Trocodéro, Passy and Bir-Hakeim) |
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This is the preferred destination station for marathoners. It is a large station with many (many) exits, each going to another of the roads that converge on the Arc de Triomphe. If you are going to the bag-drop area, find the stairway to Avenue Foch. From Line 1, it seems like a long walk. However, it is the same distance above ground as it is below. And, up there you have to fight traffic. In the station, you will have no problem finding your way. There are lots of runners going to the same destination. Go early and march with the crowd - they are runners and they move fast. Once out on Avenue Foch, you will find that friends & family are allowed part of the way up to the bag-drop area.
Friends and Family:
On their way to the start line, runners will return back the way they went in. You can meet them once they have dropped their bags off and stay with them up to the back of the start staging area on the Champs Elysée. After that you will have to move along the side walk parallel to the staging area. Do NOT enter the staging area if you are not a registered runner. The closer it is to start time, the less likely you will be able to get back out! Next good viewing location - leave before the actual start and take the Metro to Concorde.
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| 8. |
George V |
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...far from bag drop area. Sidewalks are very crowded. If you have business in the bag-drop area, get off Metro at Charles De Gaulle and then, when you are done with that, walk through line-up to your correct pace position.
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| 10. |
Champs Élysées Clemenceau |
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Friends and Family:
Beyond the start line. Crowds are a bit lighter here, so it is easier to get a front row position as the runners pass.
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| 11. |
Concorde |
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Friends and Family:
Best view is from the side walk off the west end of the Tulleries Gardens, or up along the walkway looking down on the square. The Concorde station has numerous exits. You want one on the Tulleries side, if possible, for a better position. To ensure getting to this location in time to see the early runners, you will have to catch a Line 1 train (in the direction of Château de Vincennes) well before the start of the marathon. Next good viewing location (if you hussle) is Bastille.
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| 12. |
Tuileries |
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Friends and Family:
Best view is from above Rue de Rivoli along the north side of the Tulleries Gardens, or up along the walkway looking down on the square. To ensure getting to this location in time to see the early runners, you will have to catch a Line 1 train (in the direction of Château de Vincennes) well before the start of the marathon. Next good viewing location (if you hussle) is Bastille.
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| 15. |
Chatelet |
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Friends and Family:
This station, combined with walkways to Les Halles, is one of the largest interchanges in the Paris Metro system. As the geographical center of the city's transportation network, riders can connect to many other of the Metro's 14 lines and suburban RATP trains.
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| 17. |
St Paul |
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Friends and Family:
Not far from where the runners pass going west as they approach the 25KM mark. At this point they descend down onto streets at water level along the Seine.
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| 18. |
Bastille |
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Friends and Family:
This station is located under the Paris Opera (not the one from the Phantom of the Opera - that exists, but is in another part of town). It is a complicated station and you will want to come up into the square. My suggestion - ask an attendant. The runners will find the first refreshment tables here. They will also come back past this same location on the way back toward the finish line. The next Line 1 station for good viewing (still heading toward Château de Vincennes) is... Château de Vincennes.
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| 21. |
Nation (Connects with Line 6 to Trocodéro, Passy and Bir-Hakeim) |
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Friends and Family:
The marathon passes by this location on it's way toward Château de Vincennes. It might be hard to stop here and make the following leg to Vincennes. If you do go here, I would suggest reversing direction to get well ahead of the runners. See the options suggested at stop 25 "Château de Vincennes."
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| 25. |
Château de Vincennes |
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Friends and Family:
This is approximately 8 miles into the marathon. The subway ends just behind the Château and next to a military base. You will have about a quarter of a mile walk along a shady boulevard between the base and the Château to get to where the marathon passes. From the back, the Château is just a big high wall with the remains of a mote around it. You will be walking away from what is clearly the downtown of the City of Vincennes, toward the more park-like Bois de Vincennes. The Château itself is a point of interest (follow link for more info), but it would be hard to see any of it and still keep up with the marathon. Now comes the big decision - Where to next? This is the furthest east the marathon goes. From here, it turns back toward Avenue Foch and the finish line (not far from the Arc de Triomphe). The next probable connection point is back at the Bastille - same subway exit, same refreshment tables, just this time the other side. Otherwise, here are three other options. 1) Go back to the Charles De Gualle Etoile station and wander down to the finish greeting area - at the point near the bag drop area. No rush, plenty of time. 2) Go back to Châtlet, find your way up to the street (caution - this is another station with many (many) exits to street level - save time by asking) and then to the Seine river (about 3 blocks). At this point runners will be moving along the river, down at the lower level. Nice views of Ile de Citi but you can get lost.. or the most fun with lots of English speaking race fans 3) This one takes a train change. Best way is to take Line 1 back to Nation. Switch to Line 6 (toward Port Dauphine - only way you can go from there) and go all the way around to to Passy. There, on Ave. Pdt. John F. Kennedy, you will find a typically large group of running fans from the US Midwest, screaming and dancing to old Elvis records as the runners push onward from the 31KM mark.
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