SYLVIANE NUCCIO

My Five Top Wheelchair Friendly Cities

August 31, 2012 European Cities

An online friend of mine asked me if I knew of any wheelchair friendly cities in France, so I thought that it would be a good idea to write a post about my five top wheelchair friendly French cities.

I also thought that would nice way to close my summer series of French cities reviews.

I think that it’s fair to say that no city was ever built for wheelchairs, but enormous progress has been made, especially in larger cities all over the country, to make it easier for people on wheelchairs to go around as easily as possible.

For this post I have chosen five top wheelchair friendly cities that have made a lot of effort to be accessible to people not only on wheelchairs but with other handicaps  such as hard of hearing or blind.  However, this post is going to focus on accessibility to wheelchairs.

Paris

Wow, what a surprise! Of course, we wouldn’t expect less from the capital city of France.  Within the last decade or so Paris has made great efforts to accommodate wheelchairs in public transportation, especially buses, which were not at all wheelchair friendly in the past, hotels, restaurants and tourist spots.

You can now even use the subway as well with your wheelchair, even though you won’t be able to use ALL the stations, around 50 of them are gate free and accessible to wheelchairs.

As far as monuments wheelchair accessible are the Eiffel tower, the Louvre museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Chateau de Versailles outside of Paris.  There might be more, but those I know for sure.  You can always get more details by visiting the Paris Office of Tourism English version here.  They also have a phone number listed there, with I’m sure, English speaking representatives.

Hotels Wheelchair Accessible in Paris

  • Hotel du Printemps – located at 80 boulvard Picpus, 75012 Paris
  • Grand Hotel de Turin, Roll in shower hotel – 6 rue Victor Masse, 75009 Paris
  • Best Western Hotel Les Theatres – roll in shower hotel, 98 rue de Clery, 75002 Paris
  • Novotel Paris tour Eiffel, roll in shower hotel – 61 quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris

There are more, of course, but for space purposes I can’t put them all here. But again you can find out more by visiting the Paris Office of Tourism.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the 7th largest metropolis area in France and has some wheelchair friendly places and hotels.  Strasbourg located in the Alsace region in the department of Bas-Rhin and it’s a border city to Germany.  Like for Paris you can get more details by visiting the Strasbourg Office of Trourism English version as well.

Strasbourg is a close enough city to Germany, the UK, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland for anyone on wheelchair to come visit conveniently enough.  It a beautiful looking city with a charm of its own, a famous delicious white wine, and what I like to call comfort food (rather on the fat side). While there you are literally only few steps from Germany.

Hotels Wheelchair Accessible in Strasbourg

  • Mercure Strasbourg Gare Central – 14-15 Place de la Gare, 67000 Strasbourg
  • Holiday Inn Strasbourg City Center – 20 place de Bordeaux, 67000 Strasbourg
  • Mercure Strasbourg Centre – 25 rue Thomann, 67000 Strasbourg
  • Hotel Villa d’Est – 12 rue Jacques Kablé, 67000 Strasbourg

Grenoble

Grenoble is a beautiful city at the foot of the Alps Mountains and it also happens to be the city where my closet family lives now. Grenoble is located in the south eastern region of France in the Isere department which is the capital of.  If you love pure air, mountains and gorgeous views, you will love this town.  What is more is that Grenoble is a well known wheelchair friendly city.

The City of Grenoble has been a constant leader recognized for accessibility for all in the city, whatever the deficiencies and handicaps of persons considered. Quote from www.grenoble.fr

Since 2002 Grenoble has organized countless special events to emphasis the need for any handicapped person to have access to the same opportunities as anyone else. You can find more details by visiting the English version of the Grenoble office of tourism.

Hotels Wheelchair Accessible in Grenoble

  • Hotel Mercure Grenoble – 11 rue General Mangin, 38100 Grenoble
  • Hotel Europole – 29 rue Pierre Semard, 38000 Grenoble
  • Citadines Apart’hotel – 9 rue de Strasbourg, 38000 Grenoble

Bordeaux

Bordeaux,  the city which famous wine bears the name is also a friendly wheelchair city.  Bordeaux is located in the south western region (just about opposite Grenoble), what is called the Aquitaine in the Gironde department.

Bordeaux is one of the world’s major wine industry capitals and it’ simply beautiful.  You can check the Bordeaux office of tourism right here for more details about places you can visit that are welcoming people  having to move around on a wheelchair.

Hotels Wheelchair Accessible in Bordeaux

  • Adagio Bordeaux Gambetta – 40 rue Edmond Michelet, 33000 Bordeaux
  • Quality Hotel Saint Catherine – 27 rue du Parlement St. Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux
  • Residhotel Galerie Tatry – Galerie tatry 170/174 Cours du Medoc, 33000 Bordeaux

Nantes

Nantes is located at about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean.  Nantes is built along the Loire river which gives a beautiful charm to the city and gives it a city port kind of look.

Nantes is located in the Pays de Loire region in the Department of Loire Atlantic. The city with is located Western centre is about at the same distance from Paris to the north and Bordeaux to the south. About 200 miles each way.  For more details, make sure to visit the Nantes office of tourism.

Hotels Wheelchair Accessible in Nantes

  • Hotel Ker Juliette – 2 avenue des Bleuets Pornichet, 44380 Nantes
  • Best Western hotel de la Regate – 155 route de Gachet, 44300 Nantes
  • Stars Nantes – 3 rue du Petit Chatelier, 44300 Nantes

I hope this post will help people on wheelchairs who are looking to travel to France as tourist.  Of course, I am sure there are more cities that have accommodation for wheelchairs, but here are my top five for you to check out.

Please, leave your comments or questions below!

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27 thoughts on “My Five Top Wheelchair Friendly Cities”

  1. I wish this type of access wasn’t needed Sylviane but since we both personally know someone who is in a wheelchair I’m glad that more and more cities are making more things accessible for them.

    I know that here in the states it’s becoming much more accommodating for the handicap because they have rights too.

    I appreciate you sharing this with us and I just got an education on this. I hope this will never apply to me.

    ~Adrienne
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    1. Hi Adrienne,

      Yes, I wish it wasn’t needed as well, but until doctors can make someone with spinal injuries and other related issues to walk again it’s a good thing that more and more cities accomodate people having to move around in a wheelchair.

      Actually, that post was for that person we both know 😉 but I know that others might need it too.

  2. Hi Sylviane,

    WOW!! you’ve pulled out all the stops here my friend, thank you very very much.

    As you know I’ve got a health issue at the moment and my wife is recovering from major surgery to her spine. I’m wheelchair bound and my wife is able bodied so this post is so helpful.

    Once we’re back to normal I want to surprise my wife with some time away to relax but the problem is that you never really know how wheelchair friendly the destination is going to be and with my wife having surgery it’s important that I’m independent so my wife doesn’t have any lifting to do.

    We’ve had some nightmare holidays that have caused more stress than they’ve eased and that why we go away isn’t it, to relax. The worst nightmare was Malta and I could write a book on that one, but we’ve had them all over the place.

    I think its fantastic that things are changing and people are considering those of us with special needs when they’re planning the new buildings and structure of their towns and cities. They’re also thinking of special needs when it comes to transport as well and making as many things accessible as is humanly possible. Things really are improving 😎

    Sylviane I simply love this post, you’ve made things so easy for me (and others) to book a nice relaxing holiday knowing that when we get there we won’t find any nasty surprises.

    Thank you for including all the links to the tourist information and details of hotels, like I said you’ve made it very easy for us.

    Not only do I have one place to check out I have FIVE 🙂

    I know that this post is going to help so many people Sylviane that I’m going to get in touch with some of the disabled organisations and some friends of mine and spread the word.

    On behalf of everyone with special needs Thank you x x

    Respect and Regards,
    Barry
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    1. Hi Barry,

      I was hoping you’d see this post on your blog as I commentluved linked it 🙂

      As a matter of fact, you were the inspiration behind this post, but I think you know that. I am sure there are more places, but that’s what I could come up with, and also that makes a nice long post as it is 🙂

      Of course if you book in any of those cities make sure that everything is as you expect it to be for no bad surprise. Some of the hotels I mentioned have roll in showers, so for sure you know that those hotels have been built with people with special need in mind.

      Then, you have Grenoble who has a special site and movements about accessibility for all. This is one cities that wants to help people with physical handicap, for sure. The video is from there.

      Thanks for coming, Barry and I’m glad you enjoyed!

  3. Sylvianne, this is wonderful information. I have never thought about how difficult it must be for people who use wheel chairs to take regular trips or go on vacation. This will help a lot of people for sure.

    I struggled with just having a baby and pram amd finding a bathroom with a changing table in France.I can only imagine how difficult it must be worth a wheelchair our travelling alone.
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    1. Hi Annie,

      I’m glad you appreciated the post. Gosh I know what you mean. I do not have kids but just seeing people traveling with them makes me so glad I don’t have to go through that 🙂 So, yes, I totally understands.

      I hope it will be helpful for those who need it. Thank you for coming.

    1. Hi Richa,

      Thank you for coming and welcome.

      Of course we all wish there wasn’t such need, but unforntunately as this is the case, it’s nice to know that some cities, in France as it is the case in this post, are welcoming those who are wheelchair bound.

  5. Hey Sylviane,
    A great share!! I personally have seen the individuals with wheel chairs facing problem in travelling and commuting as many of the cities around the world are not designed in such a manner that they offer a lucid trip to such individuals with special needs. Glad to see the list of such well crafted cities. Thanks for delving into this niche which was in abeyance till date.

    1. Hi Aayna,

      I’m glad you appreciated this post. It’s so true, isn’t it? Most cities are not built for special need people, but it nice to see that there is an awareness now.

      Thank you for coming by 🙂

    1. Hi Marnie,

      Well, these are not the only five cities for sure, but not all cites have adapted their streets, public places and public transportation system to people with special need yet, but it’s getting better for sure.

      Thank you for coming.

  7. Hi Sylviane, thanks for sharing this information. I think that it is every establishment’s obligation to provide facilities for the disabled and give them the convenience they deserve.

  8. Thanks for the informative share, it’s good to know that these cities can readily accommodate those in wheelchairs. In general, we must never restrict them from gaining access anywhere and their convenience must be prioritized by the contractors and engineers who develop these building plans.

  9. My mother-in-law had arthritis and she could never participate in the fun when we went sightseeing. She has, however, been very lucky to have visited Paris, where wheelchair access helped her see most of the popular tourist spots. Five years later she had her total knee replacement surgery and can walk a lot better today. This post is sure to help men and women who cannot afford the surgery and unfortunately need to use a wheelchair all their lives. thank you so much for posting!

  11. Its good to see the cities mentioned in the post thinking about people on the wheelchair….with the fast pace of life i hardly find places or hotels which are made considering the people who are wheelchair bound or are disabled….

  12. Hi Thomas,

    Yes I’m sure other cities are also wheelchair friendly, just couldn’t name them all here 🙂

    Thanks for your visit.

  13. Hey,

    Its very difficult for people who uses wheel chair to go on trips and vacations.But i really do not face that they face so many problem.Thank you for making us aware of their problems.

    Regards,
    Joel

  14. Thank you for compiling such a list. It is good to hear such positive things about accessibility in some of the major cities of France. In the past I had heard less positive feedback about the experiences of wheelchair-bound travellers in Paris but it sounds like things are definitely improving. Thanks again!Stephen

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