Paris Street Circuit
Paris Street Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Paris, Île-de-France
- Type
- historic circuit (defunct)
- Length
- 1.93 km (1.199 mi)
- Turns
- 14
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt (temporary tarmac over cobblestones at one section)
- Opened
- 2016
- Owner
- Ville de Paris (public streets; no longer used for racing)
- Address
- Esplanade des Invalides
- Website
- fiaformulae.com
Track map and layout
The Paris Street Circuit was a tight, temporary 1.93 km (1.199 mi) layout with 14 corners, run clockwise on public roads around the Esplanade des Invalides, past the Musée de l'Armée and close to Napoleon's tomb. Like most Formula E street tracks it was short, low-speed and unforgiving, with a slippery surface and one short section where fresh tarmac was laid temporarily over the Esplanade's cobblestones. It featured one of the tightest pit lanes on the Formula E calendar, entered via a hairpin between turns 14 and 1, and the whole circuit was dismantled and rebuilt from scratch for each race weekend since it used no permanent racing infrastructure.
Named corners and sections
- Turn 1 (Esplanade hairpin). A tight right-hander immediately after the pit exit, the first major braking zone of the lap.
- Cobblestone kink (Turn 3). A short section where temporary tarmac was laid over the Esplanade's cobblestones to give cars a consistent racing surface.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit des Invalides (2016-2019) | 1.93 km | 1.930 km, 14 turns, the only layout used for the Paris ePrix |
Events and race weekends
The Paris ePrix ran four times at Les Invalides between 2016 and 2019, won respectively by Lucas di Grassi, Sébastien Buemi, Jean-Éric Vergne and Robin Frijns. The 2020 edition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Formula E never returned to the venue afterwards; there is no current annual event held on the site, and no motor racing takes place there today.
Getting there and parking
Les Invalides sits in central Paris on the Left Bank, a short walk or metro ride from most of the city's main tourist areas. It is served directly by the Invalides metro and RER C station, and is within easy reach of both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly airports via public transport or taxi.
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) · about 45 min drive
- Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) · about 30 min drive
Parking
No dedicated racing-related parking exists since the site no longer hosts events; standard central Paris street and garage parking rules apply near Les Invalides.
The Invalides metro and RER C station sit right at the site, making it easy to combine a visit with the Musée de l'Armée and Napoleon's tomb, both housed at Les Invalides.
Hotels and camping near Paris Street Circuit
Les Invalides is in the heart of central Paris, so visitors can choose from the city's enormous range of hotels in any nearby arrondissement, from the 7th around the Eiffel Tower and Invalides itself to the Left Bank's Saint-Germain-des-Prés. There is no camping or trackside accommodation angle to this site, since it is a normal Paris landmark rather than an active event venue.
Where to look
The 7th arrondissement around Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, and the neighbouring Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, offer the closest hotels; central Paris more broadly has options at every price point within a short metro ride.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
There is no public driving access of any kind to the former Paris Street Circuit; it existed only as a temporary race layout built from barriers and grandstands on ordinary public streets, which return to normal Parisian traffic use between and after events. No track days, demonstration laps or public driving sessions have ever been offered on the layout.
Spectator guide
There is no spectator event to plan for today, since Formula E has not returned to Paris since 2019 and no future race is scheduled. When the ePrix ran, temporary grandstands were erected along the Esplanade des Invalides and the main straight, with general admission and hospitality areas set up around the historic buildings for the single-day event.
Weather
- April-June (historic Paris ePrix dates): mild Paris spring, highs typically 15-20°C
History of Paris Street Circuit
A Formula E showpiece in the heart of Paris
The Paris Street Circuit was built for Formula E's second season, staging its first race in April 2016 on public roads around Les Invalides, the grand 17th-century military complex that houses Napoleon's tomb and the Musée de l'Armée. Its central Paris setting, running past some of the city's most recognisable monuments, made it one of the championship's most visually striking venues from the outset.
Four years of racing
The Paris ePrix ran annually from 2016 to 2019. Lucas di Grassi won the inaugural race in 2016, followed by Sébastien Buemi in 2017, Jean-Éric Vergne in 2018 and Robin Frijns in 2019. The tight, 14-corner layout, built temporarily each year with a notoriously narrow pit lane entered through a hairpin, produced close, physical racing typical of Formula E's early street-circuit era, though its cobblestone surfaces and low grip levels were a persistent challenge for teams.
Cancellation and non-return
The 2020 Paris ePrix was cancelled as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the sporting calendar worldwide, and Formula E did not return to the French capital afterwards. Reporting since has indicated that a return to Les Invalides specifically is considered very unlikely: the championship's newer, more powerful race cars have outgrown the tight, low-speed nature of the old street layout, and finding a workable alternative route through central Paris has proven difficult.
The site today
Les Invalides continues to operate as one of Paris's major historic and military monuments, open to visitors year-round, with no trace of its Formula E past beyond photographs and race records. Anyone wanting to see where the circuit ran can simply walk the Esplanade des Invalides as part of an ordinary visit to the museum and Napoleon's tomb.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still see the Paris Formula E circuit at Les Invalides?+
The circuit was entirely temporary, built from barriers and grandstands on public streets for race weekends only; you can walk the same roads around the Esplanade des Invalides today as part of a normal visit, but no racing infrastructure remains.
Why did Formula E stop racing in Paris?+
The 2020 race was cancelled due to COVID-19, and Formula E has not returned since; reporting suggests the championship's newer, more powerful cars have outgrown the tight, low-speed Invalides layout and no workable alternative Paris route has been found.
How long was the Paris Street Circuit?+
The Circuit des Invalides was 1.93 km (1.199 miles) with 14 corners, used clockwise for all four Paris ePrix races between 2016 and 2019.
Who won the Paris ePrix?+
Lucas di Grassi won in 2016, Sébastien Buemi in 2017, Jean-Éric Vergne in 2018 and Robin Frijns in 2019, the only four editions held before the event was discontinued.
Is there a Formula E race in Paris today?+
No, there is no current Paris ePrix on the Formula E calendar, and no future race at Les Invalides or elsewhere in Paris has been confirmed.
Can you visit Les Invalides itself?+
Yes, Les Invalides is a major Paris landmark and working museum complex, including the Musée de l'Armée and Napoleon's tomb, open to visitors year-round regardless of its former racing use.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit des Écuyers · 91 km · road course
- Circuit de Folembray · 105 km · road course
- Circuit des Tonnes (Moto Club Brou) · 115 km · motocross
- Reims-Gueux · 126 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois · 169 km · road course
- Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans) · 185 km · road course & oval
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.