Advice for Bastille Day
 

I am headed for France this summer (Paris, then Marseilles) and will get there just in time for Bastille Day. Any advice as to where I should be and what to do on that day? Inexpensive hotel or youth hostels suggestions? Thanks for your help.

Bastille Day is pretty quiet in Paris except for a parade in the morning on the Champs Elysees. The night before is the big celebration time. The firemen's balls are held, fireworks, lots of celebrating. For hostels: <BR> <BR>Here are some hostels in Paris. To call or fax from the states, dial 011-33-1 then the 8 digit number. First four hostels have received good reviews from people. <BR> <BR>AAA Le Village Hostel Montmartre <BR>20 rue d'Orsel <BR>75018 Paris <BR>Tel: 011-33-1-42-64-22-02 <BR>Fax: 011-33-1-42-64 -22-04 <BR>Ê rooms for 2, 3, 4 and dorms up to 8 people. <BR>Each room has a shower and a WC <BR>Prices per person - with breakfast - <BR>147FF in a double, 137 FF in a triple, 127FF in a quad and 117FF in a dorm . <BR>http://www.levillage-hostel.fr. <BR>Email [email protected] <BR> <BR>BVJ <BR>44 Rue des Bernardins <BR>75005 Paris(Latin Quarter) <BR>tel: 43.29.34.80 <BR>Metro Maubert Mutualite. <BR>Very Clean, and if you get a street facing room, very charming, with french doors with white lace and blue velvet curtains. Your own shower, toilet in hall, breakfast of baguettes and chocolat chaud or cafe. 120 francs. and well worth it! can get 1, 2, 4, or 10 person rooms. Very convenient, nice staff. <BR> <BR>Le Fourcy - recommended <BR>6 Rue de Fourcy <BR>75004 Paris <BR>Metro St. Paul or Pont Marie. <BR> <BR>Le Fauconnier - recommended <BR>11 Rue du Fauconnier <BR>75004 Paris <BR>Metro St. Paul or Pont Marie. <BR> <BR>The Young and Happy Youth Hostel <BR>80 Rue Mouffetard <BR>75005 Paris <BR>tel: 45.35.09.53, Metro Place Monge. <BR> <BR>BVJ <BR>20 Rue J.J. Rousseau <BR>75001 Paris <BR>(near the Louvre) <BR>tel: 53.00.90.90 <BR>Metro Palais Royale <BR>received some poor reviews <BR> <BR>Le Maubuisson <BR>2 Rue des Barres <BR>75004 Paris <BR>Metro Hotel de Ville or Pont Marie. <BR> <BR>Auberge de Jeunesse "d'Artagnan" <BR>80 rue Vitruve <BR>75020 Paris <BR>Tel: .40.32.34.55 <BR>Metro Porte de Bagnolet or Porte de Montreuil. <BR> <BR>Auberge de Jeunesse "Jules Ferry" <BR>8 bd. Jules Ferry <BR>75011 Paris <BR>Tel: 43.57.55.60 <BR>Metro Republique. <BR> <BR>Residence Bastille <BR>151 Av. Ledru-Rollin <BR>75011 Paris <BR>Tel: 43.79.53.86 <BR>Metro Voltaire. <BR> <BR>D'Artagnan <BR>80 rue Vitrule <BR>75020 Paris <BR>Tel: 40-32-34-56 <BR>Fax: 40-32-34-55 <BR>For more Paris information e-mail me – [email protected]

I also will be there for Bastille Day...am I correct in assuming that most places will be closed??? <BR> <BR>Thanks for the fireworks tip. I was under the impression that it would all occur on Bastille Day itself. <BR> <BR>

Concerning fireworks : <BR> <BR>Usually they are let off on Bastille Day. The main exceptions are the towns surrounding Paris where fireworks are organized the day before. But the main Paris firework, on the "Champ de Mars" is let off on Bastille day itself, the 14th of July. <BR> <BR>In the countryside, it depends, but it's usually on Bastille day too...

By the way, the best fireworks I saw in France were at the international contest in Chantilly. This contest last 2 or 3 evenings and is organized on the closest weekend to the begining of summer. Should be on June 15-17 or June 22-24 this year, not sure... <BR> <BR>Probably too late to be included in somebody's schedule....

Hi, Evan -- <BR> <BR>One of the most memorable weekends of my life was celebrating Bastille Day in La Rochelle, a beautiful town on the Atlantic Coast, south and west of Paris. If you have time to catch a train there before the 14th, I can recommend it. <BR> <BR>It's a port town and fireworks reflect off the water (as long as the tide's not out. They have huge tides there that sometimes leave boats standing on their rudders!) Lots to do, plenty of French countrymen to watch and listen to, and a youth hostel that was contemporary and comfortable (built in 1978)if quite a walk from the town center. There may be additional places to stay now; just pick up a guidebook and see what you can find. (consider gites, too.) Have a terrific vacation!

I think the best fireworks I ever saw were on BNastille day in Reims. Everyone crowded into the town square, music playing in tune with the fireworks - fantastic

Whoops - you're right. There are fireworks on Bastille Day. The military parade is on the Champs Elysees.

So what else should we do on Bastille Day if most of the shops, museums, etc. are closed? <BR> <BR>See the parade, fireworks, etc..? Walk through the city, river cruise, picnic??? <BR> <BR>These are just a few ideas that popped up... <BR> <BR>what else would you suggest? <BR> <BR>thanks

What would you plan on doing if it weren't Bastille Day? Odds are you can do it unless it involves major shopping. I don't know how many museums are closed, but they all aren't, I believe the Louvre is open (check www.louvre.fr) for one, and I know monuments are, as I've visited them on that holiday and admission was free courtesy of the govt for the holiday (at least, in prior years). They also have a free performance of the ballet that afternoon but I would not try going to that probably as I'm sure you must stand in line a long time for tickets.

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Mom and I were in Paris for Bastille Day a few years ago: we watched the first part of the parade on TV in our room, then saw the last bit from the Place de la Concorde. Wandered into the Madeleine, ate lunch nearby, then over to the Eiffel Tower and a bateau ride. Walk thru the 7eme, early dinner in a neighborhood restaurant, then over to the Seine and the Pont des Invalides to watch the fireworks from the Trocadero (the area closer to the Trocadero was packed with crowds; this bridge had only a few folks, and we saw plenty of fireworks). That was a pretty full day for us...