France faces massive holiday gridlock as traffic tops 1,000 km

Massive traffic congestion was recorded across France on Saturday as the country experienced its traditional summer holiday crossover, when July vacationers return and August travellers depart. Aerial images showed severe midday gridlock along the A7 motorway in the Rhône Valley, particularly near Valence and north of Orange. Similar scenes unfolded on the A11 motorway near Corzé, close to Angers. By midday, more than 1,000 kilometres of traffic jams were reported, prompting authorities to classify the day as “black” — the highest level of traffic alert in France.

This annual phenomenon marks one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer, as families crisscross the country for holidays. The extreme congestion highlights the continued reliance on road travel during the summer season, despite efforts to encourage train and alternative transport use. Authorities urged drivers to remain patient, stay hydrated, and follow real-time traffic updates to manage the long delays.