Metro line 4 closed for most of July between Châtelet and Montparnasse

This summer of 2026, Parisians who rely on public transport for their daily commute are going to have to be patient. One of the capital’s most strategic metro lines is set to close for much of July, and the consequences could well disrupt thousands of journeys every day.

Line 4: a closure in the heart of Paris

The metro line concerned is line 4, one of the few automatic lines in the Paris network. It also has the distinction of being the only one to serve all the other lines. Its partial closure, even temporarily, represents a real headache for thousands of passengers.

Traffic will be completely interrupted between Les Halles and Montparnasse-Bienvenüe stations from July 6 to 24 , 2026. No fewer than seven stations will be cut off from the network for almost three weeks.

Among the stations closed is Châtelet, billed as the biggest underground station in the world. What’s more, the shutdown comes at the height of the school vacations, making it a particularly difficult constraint to manage.

Key stations affected, but not totally lost

However, there is some good news in this gloomy picture. Les Halles and Montparnasse-Bienvenüe stations will remain accessible, each serving as a temporary terminus at either end of the closed section.

These two stops are network hotspots, especially in summer. Passengers departing from or arriving at these stations will still be able to access them, even if crossing the center of Paris on line 4 will be impossible.

“This closure is part of RATP’s heritage renovation program, which includes major maintenance and rehabilitation work on line 4’s engineering structures.

Why close this metro line in July?

RATP has chosen July to carry out this work as part of its asset renovation program. The aim is to carry out maintenance and rehabilitation work on the engineering structures of metro line 4.

The month of July remains a period when some of the capital’s inhabitants leave. As a result, network ridership drops, which limits the overall impact on passengers, at least in theory.

On the other hand, those who stay in Paris and can neither go on vacation nor telework will be directly confronted with the disruptions. For them, anticipating travel now is the best thing to do.

What this means in concrete terms

For regular users of this metro line, the change will be immediate from July 6. Passing from one end of the closed section to the other will no longer be possible without changing transport mode.

What’s more, the usual connections with other lines, notably at Châtelet, will have to be completely rethought. Every journey must therefore be carefully anticipated to avoid unpleasant surprises.

• Partial closure of line 4 from July 6 to 24, 2026
• Seven stations closed between Les Halles and Montparnasse-Bienvenüe
• Châtelet station, the largest underground station in the world, is one of the stations affected.
• Les Halles and Montparnasse-Bienvenüe stations remain accessible as temporary termini.
• Bus routes 38 and 96 will be reinforced for the duration of the work

Alternatives for getting around without metro line 4

Fortunately, there are several options for getting around the closure. Line B of the RER is a serious alternative, particularly for reaching the major stations usually served by line 4.

In addition, lines 1, 12 and 13 can also help you juggle connections depending on your journey. By intelligently combining these different options, it’s possible to limit wasted time.

The surface also offers solutions. For the duration of the works, bus lines 38 and 96, whose routes are similar to those of line 4, will be reinforced. Taking advantage of the fact that Paris empties out a little in July to take the bus can be a good strategy.

By planning your journeys now, you’ll avoid a lot of stress during the construction period. Identify alternative routes, adjust your timetable if possible, and keep an eye on RATP information as the weeks go by.

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