Is Paris a dirty city? • FRANCE 24 English

When you picture the #French capital, you probably think of beautiful monuments, romantic cafés and pretty parks. But for many tourists in #Paris, the city is just too dirty. Whether it’s the urine-soaked streets, ubiquitous dog poop or countless cigarette butts, the reality of everyday Paris is often at odds with the postcard version. Paris authorities pump a lot of money and manpower into keeping the city clean. So what's the problem? Could it be #Parisians themselves? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula investigate the capital's filthy reputation.

[dodgeewanker]

My first time in Paris I arrived by train, the doors of the train opened up and there was a man shitting on the platform! Ah Paris!

[YourWiggityDude]

France in general has never come across to me as clean

[davidobyrne]

I'm in my 70s and have travelled extensively for most of my life. I was shocked at how filthy Paris now is when I visited 3 years ago, especially so in the Montmartre precinct where walking the streets has to be done in gumboots. I first visited Paris in 1973 and it was much cleaner back then. The city is a national disgrace and the French people should be ashamed of it.

[suhailshafi]

I have never been to Paris or anywhere in France for that matter. But let me say I do appreciate the fact that France 24 is very open and candid about the country's issues and problems. Most other national broadcasters would probably take great pains to camouflage their problems and present their country in a whitewashed light. The French, it seems, are very open about the challenges their country faces.

[gordonmac]

It's a Parisian problem they consider that they pay lots of taxes so why should they clean up after themselves that's the council's job. Also rules are for others, not for themselves. They also have zero respect for other people's property particularly cars. In short the streets of Lagos are broadly similar from the cleanliness point or view.

[lampamarc]

1:21 I didn’t think it would be squeaky clean, I just wasn’t expecting to smell that bad

[Erik_Emer]

I was thinking that something should be mandatory for students in high school to teach them not to litter. Like, every year, a group of students in the last grade of each educational stage go out and clean the streets of whatever city they live in, or work at a dumpster. Whatever city, because this could prevent people from moving out just to avoid this national mandate. It could possibly teach students not to take cleanliness for granted, not to trash the streets, and to respect public service cleaners.

[dohc]

I have visited France on a number of occasions and yes...you would consider it dirty. I went to Athens, Greece and I have more respect for France 🇫🇷. Athens is a dump on every level. I have no desire to visit it again or even fly over it.

[kauaiboyo]

Japanese tourists that have been to Paris often suffered from the "Paris Syndrome" or depression. I don't know whether it's because expectations are different from reality or after they got home, they realized how costly their Paris trip was 😂

[azizmustapha]

I don't understand the point of having two presenters in this video.

[sandor]

3:30 Everywhere in Budapest, it is obligatory for the dog's owner to collect the poo in a specially designed nylon bag and throw it into a box with a pictogram.

[marythoidou]

I love Paris so much!I visited so many times!But the only bad thing you can say is that there is a smell in some places.I don't find so weird coming from Greece, we aren't clean either, but is that we have this impression about Paris, but It's a city not Disneyland! It's the only downside, otherwise it's the most beautiful city in the world!🇫🇷❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[ItIsGonnaGetWayWorse]

ask all those culturally enriched homeless people

[ang]

This explains why many travelers suffer from Paris depression when returning from it

[NathanNimi]

Lol I was expecting the truth, or at least some nonbias information, but clearly they're tryna do some damage control. All you have to do is ask anyone that been there and they will tell you. The deterioration of the city from 2010 to now is insane. They've even managed let the area around their biggest landmark become completely unaccomodating.

[fbrfkrk]

Well, Singapore is even more densely populated than Paris, but yet has none of the problems. And just 68 Euros fine from littering? Come on! Learn from Singapore. Try 1000 Euros.

[FulhamboyH]

My grandad had a nice time in Paris, he was in the German army 😂

[BrickBriscoe]

Paris’ cleanliness was on par with NYC in my experience. No better, no worse. Both are amazing cities.

[samanthathony]

If I’m paying almost 1k to see one of the most popular tourist sites, I better be able to at least say it looks clean. Paris is indeed overrated. Not sorry.

[luciferjohnson]

Atleast they are trying to fix it unlike other countries who don't even bother