French Towns Open Cinemas, Museums to Cool Students During Heatwave

As France grapples with unprecedented heatwaves, classrooms have frequently exceeded 35°C, prompting some municipalities to get creative in protecting students. In Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Mayor Jean-Sébastien Orcibal offered 250 children a reprieve from the sweltering heat by relocating them to air-conditioned spaces. Cinema sessions were held in the town hall's basement, while the local media library and museum also opened their doors.

"This allows us to offer children an introduction to heritage and culture, and to forget the heat a little," the mayor stated. This initiative not only provides a physical escape from the heat but also offers an educational and cultural experience, blending relief with enrichment.

The think tank Adapt, founded by climate security engineer Alexandre Florentin and jurist Quentin Ghesquière, is advocating for wider adoption of such measures. They have unveiled proposals to expand this organizational model, suggesting that more public spaces could be utilized to ensure children's well-being during extreme heat events. The organization aims to formalize and broaden the scope of these cooling solutions.

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This allows us to offer children an introduction to heritage and culture, and to forget the heat a little.