Paris Muse

It’s the time of year when France celebrates its birth as a modern nation and its revolutionary roots. If you can brave the crowds and endure the wait required to obtain a prized spot, the fireworks show is absolutely spectacular when viewed from near the Eiffel Tower. This year the Bastille Day musical theme is Disco years (70s – 80s) – see the soundtrack here (pdf).

Starting at around 10:45 pm, and lasting approximately 30 minutes, the fireworks will be set off from the Trocadero gardens. To make the most of the fireworks show, it is advisable to be on the opposite shore (side Champs de Mars-Tour Eiffel). Le parvis des droits de l’Homme (court of human rights) at Place du Trocadéro is also an ideal place to enjoy the fireworks.

To watch the fireworks in the best conditions, it is strongly advisable to come early and be patient. Avoid taking your car or bus: Metro and RER are by far the best way to get there. Similarly, all the Vélib ‘stations around the Champs de Mars will be empty and inaccessible. Note that in the course of the evening, many metro stations will be closed gradually.

Re-visiting an older post of ours, if you’re not inclined to head to the Champ de Mars and endure the crowds, here are some other vantage points around the city:

Restaurant Georges
Boasting some of the finest panoramic views of Paris, this is a great (if somewhat pricey) setting from which to view the show. It is located in the famous “inside-out” building, aka the Pompidou Centre, Paris’ best-known modern art museum.

Passerelle Debilly
This footbridge bestriding the Seine is near the Eiffel Tower. Great scenery and beautiful reflections in the water of the spectacle. (see on Google maps)

Place de Breteuil
In the 7th arrondissement, Place de Breteuil is a square near the Duroc metro station. From here you get a clear view of the Eiffel Tower. It could be the place to go if you want to see the show and avoid the crowds in the more popular destinations. (see on Google maps)

Parc des Buttes Chaumont
Nestled the 19th arrondissement, this is one of the most beautiful parks in Paris, and from here you can enjoy the spectacle while relaxing in the splendor of the grass on a hillside. (see on Google maps)

Sacré-Coeur
From this high vantage point in the 18th arrondissement you will have great panoramic views of the lights in the sky; but be forewarned: the area around the Sacré-Coeur will likely be crowded as this is a popular area with tourists. Get there early.

Photo: flickr @irenetong

Bastille Day in France is a grandiose affair. Held on July 14 of each year, it’s officially known as La Fête Nationale, and more informally known as le quartorze juillet. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789. With this symbol of royal authority overthrown, revolutionary France was born. This date marks the beginning of the modern nation of France.

Revelry abounds on July 14, and it behooves one to plan ahead. The pyrotechnical displays from the jardins du Trocadéro and le Pont d’Iéna are hard to miss, but of course there are some better views than others. If you’re lucky enough to be able to view the Eiffel Tower from a hotel room or an apartment, you can avoid the crowds. If you are going to see the displays from one of the city’s many vantage points on the ground, get there early to save your spot. Also, avoid going by car or bus and opt for the metro or RER.

The show starts at 23:00 and lasts 30 minutes. This year’s musical theme is, “Les Comédies Musicales, de Broadway à Paris”

The best metro stations to attend the fireworks show in the center:

• Line 8: La Motte-Piquet
• Line 6: Dupleix, Cambronne
• Line 10: Emile Zola, La Motte-Piquet, Segur
• Line 13: St-François-Xavier, Varenne
• RER: Javel, Austerlitz and Invalides

The best spot for viewing the fireworks in this area is the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower (the side of the river opposite the gardens of the Trocadero), as the Trocadero will be closed to the public. (click here to see area on Google maps)

Transportation information:

• Stations: Iena, Alma Marceau and La tour Maubourg will be closed on July 14 at 19:00 and will not reopen
• Traffic: The traffic around a wide perimeter of the Trocadero will be closed at 17:00
• Velib: The Velib stations located near Champ de Mars will be closed throughout the day on July 14

Bastille Day 2010

L'intégralité du feu d'artifice du 14 juillet 2010 par mairiedeparis

For those who want to delve deeper into the history of fireworks displays in Paris, head over the the city’s free historical museum, Musée Carnavalet. There is an exhibition there tracing the history of fireworks celebrations from the times of Louis XIV to Napoleon I. As with the rest of the museum, the exhibition is free. It is showing until September 25

For more events read on: Continue reading “Bastille Day: Where to go” »