Discover the must-see event in Allier: The Traffic Jam of Lapalisse, a unique event that brings back to life the great adventures of holiday departures on the legendary National Route 7, also called Blue Route.

Since 2006, this iconic event has immersed visitors in a retro atmosphere through period recreations, classic vehicles, and a delightfully vintage charm. It's the perfect opportunity to relive the atmosphere of the 1950s to 1970s, between the joy of summer departures and the nostalgia of the road.

For the 2024 edition, embark with us aboard a magnificent Peugeot 204 convertible and dive into the heart of this unique event in Europe. A perfect immersion in the history and carefree spirit of holidays from the past awaits you. Don't miss this journey through time !

 

The Story of the Lapalisse Traffic Jam: A Celebration of the Mythical Nationale 7

Lapalisse, dominated by its majestic medieval castle, is a town that has always been a crossroads of major historical routes. Long before the era of the automobile, Roman, royal, and imperial roads already crossed this strategic region. In 1824, the town entered legend by becoming a stopover on the National 7, a now mythical route that connected Paris to Menton, passing through Lyon.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the rise of paid leave and the advent of motorized travel transforms the N7. What was once a commercial route becomes the path of the first great summer adventures. Along the road, gas stations, inns, restaurants, and garages multiply to accommodate vacationers. Driving on the N7 was already a promise of freedom and escape.

With the development of highways, the Nationale 7 gradually loses its importance. In Lapalisse, it remains frequented by many heavy trucks until 2006, but their constant passage causes damage to the castle, forcing the creation of a bypass. The road is then downgraded, marking the end of an era.

To pay him a final tribute, the historian Thierry Dubois, passionate about vintage and a fervent defender of the N7, proposes to the municipality to organize a last traffic jam in the style of the 50s-60s. This first event encounters immense success and subsequently becomes a biennial tradition celebrating the nostalgia of holiday departures of the The Thirty Glorious Years.

Today, The Traffic Jam of Lapalisse is an iconic event, attracting thousands of visitors who come to relive the magic of great summer adventures on the Blue Road.

 

2024: The 10th edition of the Lapalisse Traffic Jam

A unique retro immersion: Lapalisse, creator of the genre

At ALEPOC, we are getting quite familiar with cork reconstructions! We have had the chance to be partners twice with the Traffic jam on the N9In Clermont-l'Hérault. Rediscover our immersion during the 2024 edition, where we got behind the wheel of a superb Renault Super 5 Baccaratread the essay here).

This year, we also participated in the Lavaur traffic jam"and at the" Traffic jam on the RN20 in Cahors, in July. We loved the friendly atmosphere and this aspect Proust's Madeleine that these events convey. However, we were missing an essential element: the creator of the genre, The Lapalisse Traffic Jam. The meeting was scheduled from October 8 to 10, 2024, for a special edition marking the 10th anniversary of the event.

If other traffic jams already stand out for their diversity of vehicles and their beautiful organization, Lapalisse raises the bar even higher. With a meticulous selection of eligible vehicles, the atmosphere remains true to the era. The re-enactment is strikingly realistic, and the proposed activities are of remarkable quality.

We arrived on Friday evening, the day before the traffic jam. Already, the village was buzzing with excitement. With every step in its picturesque streets, our gaze was drawn to delightfully vintage details: the old cars already parked, the shop windows decorated with period objects, the retro advertisements like those from Vichy Célestins... And of course, the retro village, the true heart of the activities.

Smiles lit up the faces of the many passersby who were enjoying the terraces of the cafes. The atmosphere was warm and invited a true journey back in time.

A rich and varied program for all vintage lovers

Throughout the weekend, Lapalisse offered activities to relive the Trente Glorieuses in a festive and friendly atmosphere:

  • Swing and rock 'n' roll concerts, accompanied by retro dances;

  • A local farmers' market and a vintage merchant village;

  • Vignettes of life from the past, such as the gendarmerie post and the bridal shop;

  • Retro camping, for a complete immersion;

  • Old rides, flea market and hot air balloon rides;

  • A vintage bike race Saturday morning.

A mouth-watering program, isn't it? We couldn't wait to dive into the excitement of the bouchon the very next day !

 

The Bouchon de la N7: a retro immersion aboard a Peugeot 204 convertible

Saturday, October 12, ...the Bourbonnais countryside awakens under a sky heavy with clouds, while the roar of more than... 850 vintage vehicles animates the atmosphere. All these enthusiasts gather for the famous Traffic jam on the N7.

Before converging towards Lapalisse and reliving the experience of traffic jams of the past, participants meet in one of the five villages bordering the Nationale 7: Lapalisse, , Servilly, , Straightforward, , Le Breuil, , Saint-Pierre-Laval, and Saint-Prix.

First exchanges in Saint-Prix

We have chosen to begin our adventure at Saint-Prix. Barely parked in the meeting parking lot, passionate exchanges follow one another. It is here that we meet an owner of a Renault 16Pre-production, a rare vehicle with a fascinating pedigree.

This Renault 16 verte has a unique story: before its official presentation at the Geneva Motor Show 1965, , Renault entrusted pre-production models to executives and equipment manufacturers for real-world testing. With its original paint and mechanical specifications, it is distinguished by a gearbox and engine different from those of the marketed models. The ultimate detail? A logo Renault discreet on the front bumper, absent from the final versions at launch. Its owner shares their challenges in finding spare parts, making its maintenance as complex as it is exciting.

A total immersion on the Nationale 7

At the intersection of the N7, one discovers the Gendarmerie, dressed up and motorized as in the past, filtering the cars to only let the vintage ones pass.

At this crossroads stands an old-fashioned café-restaurant, The Blue Stage, well known to the locals, which celebrates the N7 with its vintage decoration that we love. In terms of immersion, it doesn't get any better, and we're amazed by the parade of vehicles, each more beautiful than the last.

The quality of the cars and the selection truly immerse us in those blessed years. The majority of the lineup is composed of popular French cars, which are alongside trucks, bicycles, mopeds, and a few foreign cars from England, Germany, the United States, Italy, or Sweden.

The grand departure of the gendarmes aboard the Peugeot 204 break prompted us to return to Lapalisse to see what was happening. So we walked up the N7, just like in the good old days.

Running along the N7, one soaks up the era that Roger knew perfectly well. He recognizes every car that passes by, vehicles he worked on in his reconditioning workshop. He also marvels at the gleaming trucks: Unique, , Willeme, and Berliet. Trucks he drove at the turn of the Second World War !

Andy's Interview: A Family Legacy

Along this N7, With a thumbs up, we had the chance to make a new acquaintance: Andy, owner of a magnificent Peugeot 204 Convertible inherited from his godfather. We had to play Tetris to fit three people in this small two-seater car. I found a spot in the compartment meant for the convertible top, but that's also the spirit of these holiday trips: freedom and carefreeness.

And speaking of traffic jam, here we are. In the center of Lapalisse, The flow of vehicles from the surrounding 30 kilometers pours into the narrow streets. The sidewalks are crowded with visitors who have come in large numbers to witness this extraordinary spectacle.

In this slow-moving traffic, the breakdown occurs (it wouldn't be fair otherwise). The coilDid not charge well. Without hesitation, we get out of the car to push it in second gear, and suddenly, the 4 cylinders 1,130 cm³ wakes up again.discover our spare parts for Peugeot 204)

This timeless interlude allows us to discover a little more about Andy and its 204 with a unique history. Here is his interview:

Introduce yourself.
"My name is Andy, "I live in" Clermont-Ferrand, and like many people from Clermont, I work at Michelin for 35 years, primarily on tire testing for their approvals. Before that, I worked on Renault Agriculture and for the engines Mercury mounted on speedboats. Otherwise, during my free time, I am volunteer firefighter. "

Tell us the story of your car.
"This Peugeot 204 Convertible was bought new by my godfather's mother at Agen in 1967. I still have the purchase invoice. I inherited it from my godfather in 2016. It has never been mechanically restored, only the paint was redone 29 years ago. It currently totals 116,000 km "and I take great care of it."

Where does your passion come from ?
"When I was little, I used to help my godfather fix up cars. I remember taking apart a" Citroën 2CV "piece by piece at just 10 years old."

Do you have an anecdote related to your passion, to this 204 ?
"As with any enthusiast, I have had some wonderful encounters, but a memorable event comes to mind about the 204. My godfather always told me that he didn't want his 204 to accompany him to the end."
At the time of his death, I had already retrieved it and I wanted to attend the funeral with his 204 to pay tribute to him. Well, it broke down on the way, and I had to go with another car. So his wish was respected: the 204 was not present for his last celebration.

What spare parts are you looking for your car ?
"For the Peugeot 204, "I don't really have any trouble finding parts, considering it runs less than 1500 km per year. I might need a coil, after our breakdown in the traffic jam," he exclaims with a laugh. "However, for my other car, a" Peugeot 205 GTI, I need brake parts. "

What can we wish you for the future ?
"Let it continue like this: meeting people, bringing this mobile heritage to life, and maybe restoring a" Citroën 2CV "in memory of my childhood."

 

As lunchtime approaches, we leave Andy, who, like many other participants, settles by the roadside to set up their picnic table and take the time to rest their mind and car.
Let's take advantage of this opportunity to join the Restaurant The Blue Stage, who offers on this special day a Menu N7 embellished with friendly nods.

An impressive diversity of popular cars

After a nice break, we hit the road again to walk the streets of Lapalisse and discover the richness of the car lineup. Popular cars, which were often the first cars in households, were in the majority. Citroën 2CV- including one of the very first models -, Renault 4CV, , Renault Dauphine, , Simca Swallow (referring to the bird)And Peugeot 203 Were well represented. To give you an idea of the variety of cars present, there was the entire range of the Peugeot 203 : sedan, convertible, cabriolet, station wagon, commercial vehicle, and pickup. Just awesome !

Participants engage in the game with numerous period accessories: clothing, suitcases, trailers, etc. We reminisce about family trips where there were up to six (or more) of us inside, counting the luggage, with the anticipation of finally seeing the sea. The Citroën Traction, , DS Break, Simca Versailles, , Renault Frigate, , Peugeot 403 and Peugeot 404 familyAre perfect in their role as travel cars.

We had the pleasure of encountering numerous utility vehicles, several of which featured vintage advertisements. It feels like being in an open-air toy store. The proximity to Clermont-Ferrand We had to, we came across a few vehicles. Michelin perfectly restoredCitroën Acadiane, , Renault EstafetteAnd Peugeot 403 pick-up).

The brands Yacco, Mammouth, Vélosolex, and other local craftsmen were also represented as they should be, by utility vehicles each more beautiful than the last.

Not far from the beautiful gas station that displayed at the time the sign Total, we came across an exhibition for the 60 years of the Renault 8 Gordini, , to which we recently dedicated an article.

Next to this gas station, we also visited a private collection which showcased a beautiful selection of cars from all eras, with a fine lineup of Peugeot but also all the accessories of the old station Total.

Life is in full swing, the atmosphere is great, and the enthusiasm is such that participants come from all over France, as well as from Europe. We've met Italians, Dutch, Belgians, Germans, and even Americans! In fact, to illustrate the spirit, we spoke with a German couple who came by road in a Peugeot 203 family, without GPS, by only following maps. Incredible !

Away from the traffic jam turmoil, in the castle park, a gathering of Citroën Traction for his 90th birthday, organized by the club The Universal Pull, was taking place.

We returned to this park the next day for a Concours d'Elegance, followed by a visit to the collection of the Association of Ancient, Industrial and Agricultural Vehicles, where did the majority of the trucks encountered in the traffic jam come from?

It is with this visit that we concluded this incomparable event.

Report on the Lapalisse Traffic Jam

The Lapalisse Traffic Jam lived up to all its promises. The immersion in a bygone era is a total success, thanks to a rich and varied array of vehicles, reconstructions carefully crafted, and a friendly atmosphere reflecting the gentle way of life of past years.

With more than 35,000 visitors just on Saturday alone, this event confirms its success and proves that the popular French car continues to fascinate and bring people together. A true tribute to this rolling heritage, celebrated with passion and authenticity. Can't wait for the next edition !

Discover the atmosphere of the Lapalisse traffic jam with our YouTube video below.

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