Aduchamp1

As it turns out I will be Paris on Bastille Day which I udnerstand they call National Day. Ironically I am staying quite near the site where the Bastille once stood. Are there any celebrations that are worthwhile? Does Macy's explode fireworks over the Seine (just kidding.)OK Galleries Lafayette.

aks_nyc

Aduchamp1,

My wife and I were on a nice trip to Paris during Bastille Day. We made the mistake of taking the metro to the Eiffel Tower. Someone decided to light a smoke bomb in the metro car we were riding in. An unpleasant, painful experience to say the least. That being said we did go to the Eiffel Tower to watch the fireworks. I also recall fighter jets flying over us while we were in the Lovre. Careful with public transportation is my warning.

aks

Aduchamp1

Thank you for the response.

I grew up in NYC and I was one of those kids that others were cautious about. Now that I am way older I understand why people backed off.

Christina

Dept. stores don't light fireworks. Have you lived in a place that the official national holiday display was put on by a dept. store, not the city? I'm just curious, never heard of that, but it's not a bad idea as it is very expensive.

The official govt. fireworks are near the Eiffel Tower around 11:30 pm, a lot of people go over there to be on the Champ du Mars park to watch them (I think they are set off from a boat in the Seine River). Place de la Bastille is actually one of the top spots for people to "party" in the streets, as they say in the US, but that is the night before, not the night of July 14. There is a popular "bal de la mairie" at that spot on the 13th (dance by the town hall).

The don't usually call it National Day, but Fête Nationale which means National Holiday (or Fete Nationale du 14 juillet to be more complete).

Attnymom

We were in Paris several years ago on Bastille Day and it was very interesting to watch the parade down the Champs Elysees. It was not like most parades in the US that I have seen with marching bands, floats, etc. The Bastille parade we saw was all military personnel and equipment. By the end of the parade, the tanks were almost as wide as the street! It was very impressive and I loved looking at the various military uniforms. I seem to recall all the shops and restaurants were closed, and we ended up having to eat at McD before we caught our flight to London. I also remember that it was very difficult to get around the city that day - it was very crowded and we were basically stuck on the side of the Champs Elysees we were on. We couldn't get across the street anywhere along the long parade route, and I remember having trouble with the metro being crowded as well. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the fireworks because our flight out was that day.

Attnymom

I can't believe I didn't realize this when I posted above, but we are also going to be in Paris on Bastille Day this year!! Thanks for starting the thread - this time we will be able to go to the fireworks (if we can stay up until 11:30!!)

Aduchamp1

Thank you for the advice.

The thought of tanks on the Champs is actually chilling while thinking about the 1940's.

I will take a nap and my flash.

julia_t

In 2005 I was in Paris with my young teenage children. Because the area around the Champs Elysees was packed, we spent the day in Montmartre, and had a lot of fun.

That evening we had booked a table at Le Petit Prince, and after dinner we were wandering back to our hotel to change before venturing up to the Champs de Mars for fireworks. However we became distracted by a wonderful street party somewhere around the Rue Mouffetard, with dancing and bands, so by the time we got back to the hotel it was too late to go out again!

kerouac

The fireworks are at 10:45pm. The official schedule is 10:30pm, but that's only if it's cloudy and dark earlier than usual.

The fireworks are shot from the Trocadéro gardens and the roof of the Palais de Chaillot. They are seen from the left bank (Eiffel Tower side).

off2CU

Christina -
>Have you lived in a place that the official national holiday display was put on by a dept. store, not the city?

Yes! Macy's sponsors the July 4 Independence Day fireworks in NYC (or at least they used to). They also sponsor the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.