Skiers Take To Streets As Paris Comes Under Heavy Snows

A handful of skiers slalomed down the hilly streets of Montmartre in Paris on Wednesday, taking advantage of heavy snowfall that otherwise spelled misery for thousands of commuters.

The icy roads of Paris were unusually quiet after police urged people to leave their vehicles at home after 12 centimetres (nearly five inches) was dumped on the French capital overnight, with up to 20 cm reported in nearby suburbs and rural areas.

Public transport was chaotic, with some tram and commuter rail lines shut down, and almost all bus services halted in the capital. Hundreds of stranded drivers had to sleep in their cars or train stations overnight.

But the wintry weather was a delight for school children as well as the gaggle of ski and snowboard fans who gathered at the Sacre-Coeur basilica at the top of Montmartre, the hill in the north of the city.

They managed to get in about an hour of runs in the morning on the steep slopes of the park that descends from the church before being chased off by the police.

"The snow is good, a little powdery, not as great as in 2010 but 2010 was historic," said Gilles, founder and sole member of the "Montmartre Ski Club", bearing a sweatshirt with the club's logo and altitude -- 130 metres above sea level.

For tourists in the City of Lights, the Eiffel Tower was closed for a second day in a row due to the snow, while flight cancellations affected passengers at the main airports.