Snow brings Paris to a standstill

PARIS - Unusually heavy snowfall and below-zero temperatures brought the French capital to a standstill Wednesday.

The two main airports Orly and Charles de Gaulle were temporarily shut, while the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors.

Paris’ transport network was severely disrupted, with most buses unable to plough through the snow and the area around Paris closed to heavy goods vehicles.

Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe’s most important air hubs, was closed until 5 p.m. (1600 GMT), while Orly was closed for half an hour.

The winter weather has also affected other parts of the country with drivers being warned to take extra care.