-25°C Paris, cut off from the world: when the capital experienced the coldest winter in its history.

-25°C in Paris, cut off from the world: when the capital experienced the coldest winter in its history.**
"For as long as man can remember, we have never experienced such a harsh winter." This was declared by William Derham, an 18th-century British philosopher. In fact, the apocalypse we are about to describe didn't just affect France. If you have European ancestors, you are part of the surviving generations! From Paris to Hungary, what is known as "The Great Winter of 1709" was a true apocalypse, in an era where none of our modern comforts existed.
It all began on the night of January 5th to 6th, 1709: from England to Russia, from Italy to Scandinavia, the world woke up completely frozen. If you have seen the movie The Day After Tomorrow by director Roland Emmerich, it was just like that! This terrible apocalypse lasted for three months.
With temperatures reaching -20°C, nature couldn't hold up, and it was a disaster in a world where more than half of the population depended on their crops. Since the ground froze several meters deep, many fruit trees died and fell. Of course, houses had chimneys, but firewood had to be bought, and many peasants couldn’t afford enough! The cold seeped into homes, which were not insulated at all. In the village squares of France, large bonfires were lit, but what good was it? When the unfortunate people returned home, they risked dying of cold in their sleep. One wonders if there were any survivors in these beautiful mountain villages, where the altitude surely wasn't a friend at that time.
In the 18th century, both the rich and the poor had food stores. But what good were they if it was impossible to keep a fire at home? Moreover, food wasn’t preserved the same way we do today! Bread, the staple of the diet, froze as well. In a cruel twist of fate, only strong alcohols survived: whiskey, rum, vodka (for those who had it). However, we all know that alcohol doesn’t actually warm you up, and if some people decided to drink too much, it’s clear they didn’t live to see the spring!
Like many major cities that relied on trade and exports, Paris was completely cut off from the world for three months. This apocalypse was even harsher because it’s estimated that it was -25°C! Naturally, the Seine froze, and some even said the sea began to freeze. Records mention over 30,000 deaths in Paris alone, and more than 10,000 in Lyon! The population had to burn their furniture just to find some warmth. People used the skins of their animals for protection, which they also lost.
Unfortunately, at the end of this disastrous winter, Paris and the entire country were not spared. The temperatures remained very low until April, and the melting ice led to floods and diseases. Famines were widespread, and even though Louis XIV ordered the distribution of grain to the poor, it didn’t help calm the survivors, who led numerous riots! From 1709 to 1710, epidemics struck Europe.