My family and I (2 kids ages 12 and 16 years) will be arriving in Paris on Saturday, July 13th. Bastille Day is the next day, July 14th. My husband & I have been to Paris before, but this is the first trip with the children. Has anyone been in Paris during this holiday? Are the museums closed? I read that there is a military parade on the Champs-Elysees, has anyone attended? And seen the fireworks at night? I would like to know what to expect. Is it like Boston on the 4th of July here in the USA, extremely crowded all over? I think this will be a great experience for all of us, just want to know beforehand and do's or don'ts. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.<BR>Dena

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Hi Dena! How exciting to be going to Paris. I will be there myself in August. I was in Paris during Bastille Day last year. It was cold and rainy. The military parade was fine if you could actually see it. The crowd watching the parade on the sidewalks of the Champs Elysee run about 5+ people deep. It's also quite crowded and somewhat difficult to maneuver oneself when trying to walk along the Champs Elysee. Too many people trying to get somewhere. It's pretty neat though, after the parade when the crowds are gone but the street is completely devoid of traffic. People were taking pictures in the middle of the road with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. I'm not sure if the museums are open that day. The weather cleared and I spent the day walking along the banks of the Seine, visiting Beaubourg (Centre Pompidou), walking around Luxembourg Gardens (there were other families there as well). During the evening, we went to the Eiffel Tower to watch the fireworks. It was very crowded from the Champs du Mars to the Trocadero. Some people left right before the fireworks show ended because they knew the metro would be crowded. It was very difficult to get through the crowds. All in all, certainly an experience. I enjoyed it. After all, it is Paris!! Have fun!

Bastille day is one of the quietest days in Paris except for the parade on the Champs Elysees and the fire works at the Eiffel tower. Many restaurants closed, but some open. The night before is the party night when the local fire stations put on street parties. The holiday itself is a quiet day. Most of the stores are closed except for the tourist shops. Some museums will be open (including the Louvre). For more Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

I've been there for that holiday about 5-6 times, I guess. I've only seen the parade once because I guess you have to once. It was more interesting than I would have thought, as it is every kind of French military/govt unit on parade--even firemen and meter maids, I think. The cavalry and old historic tanks they get running are especially interesting. I wouldn't go if the weather were bad, probably. Contrary to other people's experiences, I never had a problem seeing it or with crowds -- but that's because I didn't try to go to the reviewing stand area where everybody wants to be. I didn't even get there that early, maybe an hour ahead of time, and just got out at Kleber stop and walked near the Arc, which is where it starts. Not as many people hang aroung up there, the crowd was only a few deep and I could see fine although I wasn't in the front. They close some metro stops, like the Arc, which is why you have to get out at Kleber. It's just a national holiday like most other countries and about that level of interest, I'd say. Like many large cities in the US, it can get rowdy around main areas where fireworks are set off (potential hooligans, firecrackers set off in the crowd, etc). I always avoid those things, myself. There are always some crimes reported next day in the paper related to that. The museums don't have any rule, they usually decide each year if they'll be open or not. I remember a couple years ago they had free entry to the monuments within Paris for that holiday, which was nice (like the Pantheon). <BR><BR>The museums are too crowded on that day, I wouldn't go if you can help it. Now last summer I was going to go to the Louvre on Bastille Day as it was open, but it was so crowded it was simply horrendous (and so was the food court, etc. there), so I went to the Pompidou Center instead. There was a line about 1/2 hr long there (I didn't have a museum card) which wasn't bad and it was tolerable. I'd just check in the entertainment guide (Pariscope) I would buy when I got to Paris to see what was open if you want to see museums on that day. Don't pick the major ones, regardless. Seeing some of the monuments may be a nice idea, instead.<BR><BR>It seems basically like a Sunday to me in terms of things being open, which it is this year, so stores are always closed on them anyway--maybe a little more active than a Sunday because I think there are more tourists around on that day (including French) in the city. Last year, even some regular stores were open on that day, however (like some in Les Halles mall, such as H&M) and plenty of restaurants. If you want to go shopping, Les Halles is open. It's like in the US, things don't shut down that much anymore for holidays -- in France there are a couple big ones, but that day isn't one of them, anymore (Christmas, NY and May 1st are).<BR><BR>Metro runs on reduced schedule and there aren't metro ticket clerks in some stations (maybe all, I noticed it in the main ones), so be sure to have enough tickets ahead of time for that.

Yes, I have. It wasn't what I expected. I, too, thought it would be like our 4th of July but in fact it was very quiet and dignified. ah bonne! <BR><BR>By the way, get yourself a Metro pass to avoid any problems with buying tickets that day. I bought one for the first time from discoverfrance.com before I left in December and was glad I did. No fumbling for change or trying to figure anything out except for the destination.

The parade is so...French [great deal of hoo-hah, fancy outfits (even on the horses)]. Missed the parade once, but standing by la Madeleine, participants sort of wandered by, which was even more fun than the parade.<BR><BR>Fireworks go off near the Eiffel Tower/Trocadero, so you can stand on the bridges with a view and watch the display over the water.<BR><BR>Lots of restaurants are closed, but many are open...oddly, they are fairly empty (okay so we eat at 7pm which is early, but we want to see the fireworks, so eating at 9 is out...do the French eat at 9 anyway and s***w the fireworks? I've never dared ask). <BR><BR>It's a good day to visit the cemeteries in the city....

I was in Paris Bastille Day 2000. Thousands of people lining the street so if you don't go early and claim a spot you can't see much. My husband and I crossed the road and found a side street where the military horse parade was lined up and we admired the beautiful horses (and riders!). We then took a train trip to Versailles for the day. Not too busy. Made our way home to see the fireworks at the foot of the Eiffel Tower-What a sight!!<BR>Millenium Year jazzed everything up and also brought out the people-by the thousands. If you attend just make sure you do NOT take the subway right after the fireworks finish. We took the first station that was open and the crowds were unbearable. We got stuck in the tunnel for an hour waiting to get on the train going forward only inches at a time. Not too good if you are claustrophobic. All in all we enjoyed our experience that day and felt quite lucky to be celebrating Bastille Day in Paris.

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