De Gaulle and Macron Gather This Weekend Around Automobiles

The Palais de l’Élysée offers an unprecedented event this weekend centered around presidential automobiles.

On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, three iconic automobiles will be displayed in the Cour d’Honneur: the DS 21 Pallas once owned by General de Gaulle, the Presidential Renault Rafale, and the Presidential DS No. 8.

The DS 21 Pallas, manufactured in 1965, represents the classic elegance of the era. Used primarily for trips between the Élysée and Colombey-les-deux-Églises, it retains its flag holders and original equipment. This thermal car, a symbol of French craftsmanship from the 60s, evokes a time when the presidential automobile combined prestige and sobriety.

Next is the Presidential Renault Rafale, a hybrid designed as a “mobile office” for the head of state. It illustrates the bridge between tradition and innovation: comfortable, efficient, and elegant, it reflects the evolution of needs and technologies while remaining true to presidential requirements.

Finally, the Presidential DS No. 8 embodies modernity and the future. A 100% electric vehicle, unique and designed for official parades, it combines luxury, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology. Its bright blue color and tricolor details make it a strong symbol of French innovation in service of the Republic.

The automobile as a marker of the passage of time

This trio, placed in the Cour d’Honneur, forms a true journey through time: from the thermal DS 21 of the 60s, to the hybrid Rafale and the electric DS No. 8, visitors discover the evolution of presidential vehicles and automotive technology.

For once, Charles de Gaulle and Emmanuel Macron find themselves “reunited” around a common passion: the automobile, which crosses decades and illustrates both history, luxury, and French innovation.

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