Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Weather News /

    Paris’ coolest secret: Keeping Mona Lisa smiling

10:00
2 August 2022

Paris’ coolest secret
Keeping Mona Lisa smiling

Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Paris
© picture alliance

In a bid to combat the effects of global warming, adaptive measures are in place to keep Paris cool.

A network of ice-cold pipes lay 30m beneath the ground, covering a distance of nearly 90km and cooling the air at more than 700 locations across the city of Paris.

This includes the Louvre, where Mona Lisa, among 550,000 other artworks reside, where there is no air conditioning.

The cold water provided by the pipes is essential in preserving the artwork, allowing museums and galleries across the city to be able to control their temperature and humidity.

The system works by taking cold water from the River Seine and circulating it through a network of underground pipes, which is then injected into the air to reduce temperatures.

It is generated purely on renewable resources, and the heat that is created as a by-product, is then sent back into the Seine.

Whilst it is already the largest in Europe, there are plans to triple the network by 2042 to make it the largest urban cooling system in the world. The pipe network aims to reduce the temperature of the city centre by 1C.

Other adaptive measures, such as air conditioning, could in fact have a negative impact in the long-run.

This is because it releases excess waste heat into the environment, exacerbating the urban heat island effect and further increasing cooling demands.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Slow start to summer across Europe. A spell of cooler weather. . . Monday 1 June 2026
Temperature radar for Europe. A low-pressure system and a blue arrow are shown
Monday 1 June 2026

A spell of cooler weather

Slow start to summer across Europe
Typhoon risk in the Western Pacific. Gusts exceeding 124 mph. . . Thursday 28 May 2026
v
Thursday 28 May 2026

Gusts exceeding 124 mph

Typhoon risk in the Western Pacific
Cooler views after the week's heat. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 31 May 2026
Split image showing a tranquil reservoir at sunset with rolling hills on the left, and a dramatic cloud illuminated by crepuscular sun rays above a tree-lined horizon on the right.
Sunday 31 May 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Cooler views after the week's heat
All weather news
This might also interest you
Wishes from Weather & Radar. Merry Christmas!. . . Thursday 25 December 2025
Outline of Santa Claus with a yellow and white hat, "Ho-Ho-Ho" next to the outline above a Christmas tree.
Thursday 25 December 2025

Merry Christmas!

Wishes from Weather & Radar
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList