La Fête Nationale celebrating the 1789 French Revolution is among the greatest holidays in France, with a well-liked navy parade and flyover on the Champs-Elysées and a night of fireworks and music on the Eiffel Tower. However there many extra occasions going down all through the town to have fun, and most of them are free! NOTE: This web page might be up to date as new info is obtained within the weeks earlier than the occasion.
The Army Parade on the Avenue des Champs Elysées
France’s Bastille Day Parade on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées — with its fighter jet flyover, procession of tanks, and troopers marching proudly of their costume uniforms from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde — is watched by hundreds in individual and extra on stay streaming on French TV (France 2). The 2-hour procession begins at 10am with President Emanuel Macron beginning on the Arc de Triomphe, main 4,300 troopers on foot, 71 planes, 25 helicopters, 221 autos and 200 horses of the Republican Guard all the way down to the Place de la Concorde, the place a musical choir sings for the grand finale.
About 25,000 individuals might be allowed into the “corrals” alongside the Champs Elysées to observe in individual, so get there no later than 9:30am if you wish to get entry, and don’t carry something like umbrellas, glass bottles, pocket knives, and many others, which might be confiscated by safety earlier than you’re allowed to entry the areas reserved for spectators. This yr’s theme is ’Partager la Flamme’’ (Share the Flame), which evokes the Flame of Resistance beneath the Arc de Triomphe that have to be renewed every day to maintain the reminiscence alive.
In fact, the navy flyovers that open and shut the parade are one of many huge highlights, with the bleu-blanc-rouge plumes of the Patrouille de France getting essentially the most Instagram likes (roughly at 10:30am). You’ll be able to attempt to watch from any location that offers you a transparent view of the skies above the Champs Elysées. It can even be broadcast, together with the parade and fireworks present, on French TV as typical.
The French Navy is being honored this yr for its four-hundredth anniversary, in addition to detachments from 9 Japanese European nations preventing on NATO’s japanese flank in Ukraine: Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Slovakia.
“This July 14 might be marked by the seriousness and willpower linked to the worldwide context”, defined the navy governor of Paris, Common Christophe Abad, who plans for this parade “to underline the crucial of strategic solidarity with our European companions on the japanese flank.” The aerial parade might be completed with a flypast by a Reaper drone, whereas the Parisian Hearth Brigade and horseback mounted Republican Guard will carry up the rear of the land parade.
Bonus: In case you can’t make the parade (or gate crowds), you would possibly catch the follow flyovers and processions within the days main as much as Bastille Day on July ninth and Thirteenth at Place de la Concorde and Avenue des Champs Elysées, and July eleventh on the Arc de Triomphe.
Meet the French Army
On the finish of the parade, the general public can go to among the navy planes (together with the Mirage 2000) and autos and chat with the troopers on the Esplanade des Invalides from 10am-6pm. There’s a blood assortment middle within the Cour d’Honneur, and navy train demonstrations within the North Gardens.
Different navy demonstrations and stands might be going down on the Parc André-Citroën, Hôtel de Ville, the Mirie du 19ème Arrondissement, and Place de la Nation all through the day.
The Bal des Pompiers
The standard Bal des Pompiers (Firefighters’ Ball) takes place annually on the eve (and evening) of Bastille Day was canceled in 2020 and 2021, however as of July 1st they’re nonetheless scheduled for 2022 (cross fingers!). Though every station, or “caserne” in French, is free to make their very own hours, generally the events often begin within the night round 9pm and end at 4am. The occasions are free in idea, however a €2 entry price is often charged, and raffel tickets are offered to assist increase funds to enhance the working situations of the firefighters or native charities. Music is often a DJ however generally stay bands play early within the night, and there are all the time foods and drinks stands.
Listed below are the Parisian places for July Thirteenth:
- Caserne Rousseau: 21 Rue du Jour, 1st
- Caserne Sévigné: 7 Rue de Sévigné, 4th
- Caserne La Monnaie: 11 Quai de Conti, sixth
- Caserne Colombier: 11 Rue du Vieux-Colombier, sixth
- Caserne Blanche: 28 Rue Blanche, ninth
- Caserne Chaligny: 26 Rue Chaligny, twelfth
- Caserne Masséna: 37 Boulevard Masséna, Thirteenth
- Caserne Grenelle: 6 Place Violet, fifteenth
- Caserne Boursault: 27 Rue Boursault, seventeenth
- Cité des sciences et de l’industrie: 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, Nineteenth
- Caserne Bitche: 2 Place de Bitche, Nineteenth
- Caserne Ménilmontant: 47 Rue Saint-Fargeau, twentieth
Parisian places for July 14th:
- Caserne Port Royal: 55 Boulevard de Port-Royal, Thirteenth
- Caserne Montmartre: 12 Rue Carpeaux, 18th
Observe: Whereas they’re a ton of enjoyable, they’re additionally very crowded, so be ready to attend in traces for every little thing from entrance to meals to bogs (put on comfortable footwear!) and watch your belongings for pick-pockets.
And don’t suppose that I forgot to share the well-known “teaser” video of the Strasbourg Bal des Pompiers, again after two years for 2022, get pleasure from!
Different Occasions
Bal Latino du Ménilmontant – The gardens of La Bellevilloise, 88 Ménilmontant (88 rue Ménilmontant, twentieth) are internet hosting a festive Latino dance get together on July 14th from 6-10pm. Reside music by Le Cuarteto Cubano and DJ Ortega Dogo + Captain Cumbia. Free entry.
There Will Be Fireworks
The fireworks present and stay musical live performance on the Eiffel Tower is going down as typical beginning at 9:15pm on the Champs de Mars with a classical music live performance that includes the Orchestre Nationwide de France, the Radio France Choir, and numerous soloists. It will likely be broadcast stay on France 2 tv (and on many YouTube feeds), with the Marseillaise sung for the finale. The fireworks present above the Eiffel Tower begins at 11pm and final for about 35 minutes. Many individuals camp out on the Champ de Mars all day to have a front-row seat, however you’ll be able to see this from anyplace with a view of the Eiffel Tower (you’ll wish to activate the TV to listen to the synchronized music if you happen to’re too distant to listen to it in individual). Right here’s the recording of the 2020 present:
The Prefect of Police often bans the “acquisition, possession and use” of enormous firecrackers and fireworks by anybody (besides professionals) in Paris and the encompassing Petite Couronne suburbs from July 4th till July fifteenth. So don’t suppose you could pop all the way down to Chinatown within the Thirteenth and decide up some sparklers and firecrackers to throw your personal personal rooftop pyrotechnics present.
Parisian Rooftops
In case you don’t wish to watch the navy flyover or the fireworks on the TV and also you don’t have a good view out of your window, the subsequent finest choice to keep away from the crowds is to attempt to e-book a spot – shortly! – at one of many many rooftop bars and eating places in Paris. Advance reservations are a should in all circumstances and areas refill shortly. Listed below are a number of that appear to nonetheless be taking reservations:
- The Toit de la Grade Arche de La Défense out within the western suburbs is open throughout the day on the common rooftop go to costs (€15) if you wish to be there for the défilé aérien flyover 8:30am-1pm (scroll all the way in which to the underside for these tickets).
Different Bastille Day Actions
Bastille Day on the Water
You’ll be able to watch the fireworks present proper on the Seine with a cruise on the Bateaux Parisiens (€70/individual, features a field meal; or full dinner cruises from €159); the Vedettes du Pont Neuf (€25/individual, features a glass of Champagne); Les Bateaux Mouches has dinner cruises with stay orchestra music from €180; Captain Fracasse has dinner cruises from €129; and the VIP Paris Yacht Lodge is internet hosting an all-night dinner, on line casino, and dance get together cruise from €145 (with the choice to remain in certainly one of their rooms for the evening).
You gained’t see something occurring on the opposite facet of Paris, however it’s the right daytime escape to flee the crowds on the Canal de l’Ourcq with six of your mates in a self-drive electrical boat via Marin d’Eau Douce (€200 for boats as much as 7 individuals for the afternoon).
And naturally Paris Plage might be open all day and night on the Quays of the Seine and the Bassin de la Villette.
Museums and Monuments Open on Bastille Day
In case you’re in search of one thing to do, most — however not all — museums might be open on July 14th, together with the Louvre (with free entry for everybody!), Orsay, Carnavalet, and the Catacombes, in addition to Chateaux Versailles, Chantilly, Vaux-le-Vicomte and the gardens at Giverny. As typical, verify on-line (you’ll want advance reserving on-line anyway) to ensure you get in.
Observe that the Arc de Triomphe might be closed all morning (so you’ll be able to’t watch the parade from there) and the Eiffel Tower will shut within the afternoon and night (so you’ll be able to’t watch the fireworks from there). The Opera Palais Garnier is closed all day.
What Else is Open on Bastille Day, July 14th?
Meals & Eating: Generally, extra issues are open than in previous years. The open-air markets are open as typical (though some stands could also be absent), most supermarkets and comfort shops are both open all day or simply for the morning, and the vast majority of eating places and cafés are open as typical (however do name to make a reservation earlier than crossing city). Mainly, you’re not susceptible to hunger!
Buying: The soldes (summer season gross sales) are nonetheless going robust via July Nineteenth, and outlets aren’t about to overlook out on a day when nobody has to work. So many bigger outlets might be open, together with:
Parks & Swimming pools: Some municipal providers might be closed like libraries and city halls (mairies), however the parks are all open, and some public swimming pools might be open as nicely: the Piscine Pontoise within the fifth, Roger Le Gall within the twelfth, Josephine Baker within the Thirteenth, Aspirant Dunand within the 14th, Aquaboulevard and Keller within the fifteenth, Champerret within the seventeenth, Pailleron and George Hermant within the Nineteenth, and Georges Vallerey within the twentieth.
Out of doors Enjoyable
The festive Fête des Tuileries has opened for the summer season with the Ferris wheel, stomach-emptying rides, barbe-à-papa (cotton sweet) and whack-a-mole video games. Open every day on the Jardin des Tuileries, 11am-midnight (free entry, tickets might be bought for particular person rides), though it might open afterward the 14th because of the official ceremony going down proper subsequent door on the Place de la Concorde within the morning.
In case you’d prefer to get out of the center of the town, the Jardin d’Acclimatation within the Bois de Boulogne is a enjoyable escape, together with the funfair rides extra acceptable for youthful youngsters (and anybody who doesn’t like rides that make you puke up your lunch).
Parks and Gardens Open Till Midnight
Most parks and gardens in Paris shut at sundown if they’ve gates. However from July 1-September 4 there are various parks that keep open till midnight, together with:
Parks and Gardens Open 24/7
And this week, due to the warmth wave “canicule” temperatures predicted to achieve 100°F, there are six parks open 24/7 from July Thirteenth-Nineteenth:
However Not Too A lot Enjoyable…Alcohol Guidelines
Whereas it might be tempting to hitch the lots who will certainly be picnicking in each obtainable inexperienced area and alongside the Seine and Canal St-Martin on Bastille Day, don’t neglect there are fairly strict legal guidelines now about alcohol consumption in public. The police will possible flip a blind eye if you happen to’re behaving, however be ready to have your wine or booze (particularly if it’s in a glass bottle) confiscated in the event that they resolve to crackdown.
Public Transport Notes
Test the RATP web site for station closures throughout the day. Normally stations all alongside the Champs-Elysées and across the Place de la Concorde are closed throughout the navy ceremony, and stations across the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro are closed throughout the fireworks. In case you do plan on going out, remember the fact that even when the Paris metro extends its hours prefer it often does throughout the Fête Nationale, ensure you may have a strong Plan B to get your self dwelling if you happen to’re out after 12:45pm. Vélib service may be affected (ie bikes are locked at sure stations to forestall vandalism), so pack your comfortable footwear if you should hoof it dwelling.
Stations Closed All Morning for Parade & Air Present from 6:30am-2pm
- George V
- Tuileries
- Concorde
- Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (solely exit Ave. Carnot might be open at this station)
Stations Closed from 3pm
- Passy
- Pont de l’Alma
- Tour Eiffel-Champ de Mars
Stations Closed from 7pm
- Bir-Hakeim
- Trocadéro
- Dupleix
- Ecole Militaire
- Alma-Marceau
- Boissière (from 11pm)
- Sèvres-Lecourbe (from 11pm)
Did You Know?
First celebrated in 1790 to mark the one-year anniversary of the July 14th storming of the Bastille jail that kicked off the French Revolution, it was initially referred to as the Fête de la Fédération. And since the Revolution hadn’t fairly but entered “Terror” mode – they have been nonetheless testing the Constitutional Monarchy mannequin – King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette have been even allowed to depart their heavily-surveillanced residence on the Tuileries Palace to attend the occasion as “King and Queen of the French”.
