Finally the day has come! Tomorrow is the French National Day, one of the most important holidays in France. The 14th of July sets the storming of the Bastille in 1789 which means the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the modern republic.
Every year the City of Light prepares a huge celebration to delight Parisians and visitors, so if you are in Paris right now and want to join the festivities, follow the schedule below:
- Military parade on Champs-Elysées Avenue at 10am;
- Lyric concert with the National Orchestra of France on Champ de Mars starting at 9:30pm;
- Traditional fireworks at the Eiffel Tower at 11pm;
- The Firemen’s Ball (see the location here)
Important:
- Eiffel Tower is open only in the morning due to the preparation for fireworks.
- Arc de Triomphe is only open in the afternoon due to the military parade.
The other monuments, attractions and museums such as Louvre, D’Orsay, Picasso, Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie, Les Invalides, Notre Dame and Sacre-Coeur, Versailles, among others, will be open.
Whatever you do on the 14th of July, do not miss the fireworks at 11pm! If you do not want to face the big crowd gathered at the Trocadéro and the Champ de Mars, my suggestions are:
- Montparnasse: the top of the Montparnasse Tower or the Blvd Pasteur (between the Place de Catalogne and the Pasteur metro);
- Montmartre: in front of the Sacre-Coeur.
Those places will be also packed, but it’s nothing compared to the Eiffel Tower area. Don’t forget to bring a good sandwich and some wine bottles to celebrate La Fête Nationale in style!
Bisous,
Carol
