In 1690, Paris experienced one of several intense cold spells characterized by prolonged frost and snow. This extreme weather event had significant impacts on agriculture, trade, and daily life in the city. Such climatic conditions were indicative of the broader Little Ice Age, which affected Europe and prompted changes in societal practices and economic strategies.

The prolonged frost and snow in Paris in 1690 inspired French classical poetry that contrasted courtly warmth with external desolation. Poets like La Fontaine used this imagery to explore themes of resilience and the human condition amid adversity, reflecting on the duality of nature and society.