Paris - Bastille Day/Fete Nationale 2011
 

Bonjour! We are two parents and two college aged travelers heading to Paris this July and staying in the 6th arr. We will be spending our first full day in Paris on July 14th (arriving on the 13th). I have read about fireman's balls the night of the 13th, a parade the morning of the 14th and fireworks at night. We would be excited to take in all the festivities, but aren't the type to go early to find a prime spot and hold it all day for the parade or fireworks viewing. Can anyone make some recommendations for the easiest way to enjoy the holiday? Where to stand for the parade? When does it start? Where to view fireworks without losing each other in the crowd? What time do they begin on the night of the 14th? I have read on this forum about someone enjoying a dinner cruise on the 14th and watching the fireworks from there which I am interested in exploring as an option, but neither Vedettes du Pont Neuf or Bateaux Mouche have info at this early date. Thanks for any info on July 14th, 2011.

I was there for the fireworks several years ago. It was REALLY crowded. My friend actually almost had a panic attack it was so mad. We were somewhere in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower. It was exciting and all, but not the kind of thing where you just stake out a spot on a lawn somewhere and relax while watching fireworks. I don't know if there are places like that but the whole area we were in was people just standing and moving about. Also, doesn't get dark out till well after 10:30 so they didn't start till around 11pm.

Last year Kerouac posted this charming account of "firemen's ball" celebrations at the Fete Nationale in a town outside Paris.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-in-paris.cfm

We arrived in Paris around 6 p.m. July 14 last year, due to a late arriving flight. Our plane landed in Brussels instead of Paris due to bad storms. July 14 is our wedding anniversary and we didn't want to miss the fireworks. Rushing over to the Eiffel Tower we claimed a spot on the lawn, waiting until 10:15 p.m. when the fireworks started. Everyone stood up to watch, so claiming a spot on the lawn turned out not to be important. In fact, the fireworks are on the other side, so the tower blocks many of them. I think being on the Trocadero side would give you a better view.

Several people even walked to the area closer to dark, and saw the fireworks as well as we did. The key I think, is to be able to walk back to your hotel, as the metros will be very crowded.

We will be enjoying the festivities of La Fete Nationale this year as well. We actually extended our trip by a day to do this. Here is what I have learned:

For a good viewing of the parade you should arrive on the Champs Elysees no later than 9 am for the start at 10 am.

The Louvre is free this day! Will probably be crowded but we plan on going to check out some of the rooms we will have missed on our first go round earlier in the week.

I was told by someone on this forum, I think, that the best fireworks viewing is from the Palais Chaillot. This is on the opposite side of the river from the Eiffel Tower. Many people also gather at the Champs de Mars right at the Eiffel Tower.

If any of this is not so I am sure the resident Paris experts will chime in. Hope you have a great time.

We were in Paris a couple of years ago for Fete Nationale. Came out of the train station just as the tanks came rolling by, quite a sight and quite a surprise as well! We bought yummy picnic fare at Rue Cler then made our way over to Champs de Mars about 7.00 pm to claim a spot. It was pretty crowded even then but we joined the happy throng to listen to the concert (Johnny Halliday, no less) and wait for the fireworks about 11pm. Our view was hampered by people standing up etc. but still really enjoyed the spectacle. We had four college aged kids with us who loved being part of the crowd and shared food and conversation with other young people. All in all a fabulous evening, the kids rated it as one of their highlights. We had a long walk back to St. Germain as the metro was incredibly crowded and we envied our other friends who were staying nearby. Just a thought, the other great thing to do with kids that age (and kids at heart) is do a Segway tour around Paris. We absolutely loved it.

Thanks for your feedback everyone! I am a little concerned about the fireworks crowds and the long walk back to St Germain afterward, so I was wondering if you can see them from further back standing on a bridge or something although the concert mentioned sounds like fun. I did see Kerouac's firemen's photos from outside of Paris and it looked like an interesting experience. I read that there is a big one in the 5th, but don't really know much more about it. Toni, your Segway tour sounds interesting. We did one once in Amelia Island, FL on trails, but can't imagine doing one in a busy city like Paris...I'll check it out. Any more info on balls, parade viewing and fireworks viewing and strategies is appreciated! Also any other ideas on things of special interest to the college aged crowd.. Thanks so much!

The fireworks are designed to be seen from the Champ de Mars, not the Trocadéro side. The speakers and other effects face the river. Your personal crowd tolerance is the main thing to worry about. If you arrive from Ecole Militaire or La Motte Piquet-Grenelle metro stations, you can easily approach the tower to the distance you find suitable.

The official starting time of the fireworks is 22:30 but the real starting time is 22:45.

What info do you want on the bals? They are at fire stations all over Paris and are very popular. Most are the 13th, but I think a few have them on the 14th, also. I've been in Paris on that holiday quite a few times, they always have them listed in the paper or entertainment guide that week (good listings in the newspaper of everything going on, when and where). They have addresses, although you can look at their website for them http://www.pompiersparis.fr/ Bastille Square is a popular place for people to hang out and dance on that holiday's eve, also, in general. Well, the bals are nominally free but you may be asked for a donation. The Paris touris info website may hve info on them, also, closer to the actual holiday.

Since the 14th is on a Thursday this year, most of the fireman's balls will indeed by on the 13th, but quite a few fire stations will have them both nights anyway. A lot of the suburban towns will have their fireworks on the 13th as well, and if you are at a high point in the city (such as the Eiffel Tower or Sacré Coeur) around 11 pm, you will see fireworks shooting off in about a half dozen or more locations.

We have been in Paris twice for Bastille Day. Be prepared for huge crowds and trouble getting around. For the parade, figure out which side of the Champs Elysees you want to be on (i.e. the side your hotel is on) because you will not be able to cross that street once the parade starts. Unless you have a first or second row viewing spot, it will be difficult to see much. We finally found a bench and stood on that to get a glimpse of the parade.

I do not recommend camping out on the lawn under the Eiffel Tower to watch the fireworks. We arrived a few hours before the fireworks were scheduled to start and the entire area was packed solid with people. We finally found a little spot to set up our blanket and picnic (note - they don't allow alcohol and they will check your bags) however when the fireworks started our view was blocked. People who didn't have great views started running towards the Eiffel Tower and the whole thing became very scary and dangerous. It was basically a stampede and there was so much dust in the air from the walking paths that it was difficult to see. We had our young daughter with us, so we gathered up our things and left during the show. The entire area is fenced in, so the only way out required us to walk several blocks out of our way to get back to our apartment.

Several months later, I mentioned our experience to a friend who lives in Paris, and she suggested that watching the fireworks from the other side of the Seine is a better alternative. Another option is to shell out the big bucks and take a Seine boat ride during the festivities.

Sometimes it rains -- no dust.

Oh please don't let it rain this year!!! So if I understand corectly, the area has security fences and checkpoints to enter around Champ de Mars and we won't have too great a view because everyone will be standing up? Can we bring water bottles into the secure area? Maybe I should start saving up for a dinner cruise! HA HA. Good point about standing on the correct side of the street for the AM parade so we can leave when we wish. Thanks for the tips! I'll share our experience in a trip report later this summer.

We had no security check last year, but it did rain earlier in the day, so no dust! Dry by evening. There were no problems with the crowds on the lawn.

I went last year and it poured heavily during the day, but cleared up by nightfall. I wish you better weather. I think you should consider changing your hotel to one within walking distance because the Metro is afterwards is unbearable. You'll love the fireworks though.

I was there last year as well! Like the Boy Scouts motto says, be prepared. It could be a nice day this year for it and then it might rain like it did last year, which was a real bummer. Before you leave for Paris, check weather.com to see what it will be like there for you stay. But as always, take some umbrellas.

My story from last year goes like this - my mom, sister and I were there and while the morning started out nice and sunny, the clouds moved in and then it just POURED! I should clarify that about midway through the parade in the morning it rained, then let up, then poured again. It was around this time (1130a) that we'd seen enough. The Metro was packed, but not too bad. We retreated to our apartment, dried off, rested a bit and then headed out. We thought the shopping center at Les Halles would be open, but it wasn't, so we turned back around to go to our apartment and it started to rain again! My mom and sister made it to this cafe near the Pompidou Center while I was stuck under and awning waiting for the rain to let up. Eventually I joined up with them, but it kept raining and then tapered off to a drizzle. Back to the apartment to dry off yet again and rest. The storms blew away, it got sunnier (and a tad cooler) and the rest of the day was fine.

As for your question about where to stand during the parade, like others on here I have to echo the bit about getting there early. There are barricades at the edge of the sidewalk and it gets pretty deep with people. Also be aware that the Police are there to check your backpack if you so desire to be in the crowd of people. If crowds aren't your thing, then you might want to watch it on TV. For the fireworks we didn't venture out to see them as we could see them very well from our apartment balcony, so we avoided the crowds and the crowded Metro.

I recommend seeing the parade at the area around Rond Point des Champs Elysées, which is wider and which gives a good view. The added advantage is that you are not stuck under the trees, so you have an excellent view of the spectacular aerial antics.

Kerouac I am stying in the 18th again, I notice a poster suggested one could see the fireworks from the Sacre Coeur, is this a possibility do you think? Is there anything happening around your hood for the festival or do you go into "town".
thanks, Schnauzer

I go into town if I want to see anything.

As anybody knows, you can't even see the Eiffel Tower from the steps of Sacré Coeur -- you have to go off to the right and then you get a tiny glimpse of it through some trees. It's pathetic.

However, a number of fire stations in the area have their wonderful balls, which everyone should attend at least once. Did you see my photo report from last year?

Thanks everyone for the additional info! I will definitely check the weather reports in advance. Kerouac, I found Rond Point on my map, but how early is early enough for the parade?

Oh sorry, I reread that trvlgirlmq said above to arrive no later than 9AM for 10AM parade. Sorry I forgot that she answered my question...any other experiences and tips appreciated. Will pack my umbrella, but hope not to repeat your wet experiences of last year.

Hello, sorry to be invasive but I too am looking for some information about 'La Fête Nationale.'

I know most shops will be closed on the actual day but I read somewhere that due to it being on a Thursday this year- the shops will be closed the following day as well.
Is this true?
I hope not, as what is Paris without visiting some of it's famous shops?

Also, if anyone would like to contribute to the 'Should I stay at Hotel de sers or Hotel de la tremoille' debate that I'm currently engaging in- please feel free!

Trafaelwyr -- what apartment did you stay at? I'm about to book for July 13, arriving early on the 14th and just put two-and-two together that we'd be arriving on Bastille Day. Would love feedback on apartments for 5 of us -- the youngest daughter is 18 and older daughters are 23 (twins) plus my husband and myself. This trip has come together so late so hopefully the rates won't be nuts on a holiday. We plan to stay at least 4-5 nights then fly to Venice for the back end of the trip. Many thanks for input!

I was in Paris for Bastille Day 40 years apart. Both times were very festive. This last time we watched the fireworks from somewhere near the Hilton Hotel and I got some fabulous photos. So I believe that the view of the fireworks is as good from the tower side of the river as the opposite side (Trocadero). As others have warned, be prepared for huge crowds. As the time for the fireworks approached, it was absolute gridlock, and movement through the crowd was not possible without great difficulty. The show was fabulous and worth it, in my opinion.

I will be in Paris with my teenage sons during this same timeframe. I was considering going out to Versailles in the morning and returning to Paris early afternoon. Does anyone know if Versailled is open? Will it be difficult to travel by train back to Paris early afternoon? Thoughts appreciated.

yes, Versailles is open, I would expect it to be pretty crowded since it's a holiday. They have one of those special fountains with music thingies which costs extra (grandes eaux musicales). I'd try to get there right when it opened.

I don't think it will be difficult for any reason to travel back. Sometimes fewer trains run on holidays and they may be crowded, of course, but they are often crowded anyway on the route on a busy day (like Sat/Sun). I haven't tried that, though, but have certainly taken the regular metro in Paris and other RER on that day without giving it any thought. Sometimes there are no ticket clerks in the booths due to the holiday so be sure you have your ticket ahead of time, I would say (train ticket), or have plenty of euro coins to buy them by machine.

The only transportation problem on July 14th is the stops around the Champs-Elysees, as far as I know, they shut some of them off due to the crowds and the parade.

Stores can't afford to close any more than necessary, they need the business. SOme small owner-run place may decide to close because they want time off, but I can't imagine most businesses deciding to close on 7/15. I've been there on that date a lot over the years and don't ever remembering things being closed the day after, I'm sure I was probably there some year when it was on a Thursday (that would make more sense to me if it were a Friday, actually, to close the next day). I'm just speculating but it seems odd to me to think that would happen. Some stores are even open on the holiday now (regular stores in shopping malls like Les Halles). They want all the holiday business where people have free time to shop.

There is plenty to do other than shopping, anyway.

In the 1980s I saw the fireworks from the Jules Verne restaurant in the Effiel tower. At that time they didn't do the fireworks from the Effiel Tower itself.
I just booked 3 places on the Vedettes De Paris boat for the July 14 fireworks. This is the best way to avoid crowds and have the best spot.

It is not the best spot, because a lot of the effects are at ground level in the Trocadéro gardens, which you will be too low to see from river level.

Like what kind of effects?

Where would you have to be to see those ground level Trocadero effects? On the Effiel Tower itself?

Well it does avoid the crowds, so you can't have everything.

Where would you go for the Bal Populaire at the fire stations that might appeal to an over 40 people, my wife and I and my son age 13? I am staying in the Latin quarter. I know the Bastille is the main spot. I have never gone to one before.

Where is your opinion of the best and 2nd best place to watch the pararde? What time to get there? Where to buy those periscopes that let you see over people?

Go to a firemen's ball on the 13th. Most of the will be taking place on both evenings.

Rond Point des Champs Elysées is the best place to see the parade, in my opinion, because even if you can't get up front, you have an excellent unobstructed view of the aerial show.

The absolutely worst place is anywhere near the Arc de Triomphe.

Seeing the fireworks from the Siene boat Vedettes De Paris.

SURFERGIRL really had this figured out if you want to avoid the large crowds.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ene-cruise.cfm

YES, SURFERGIRL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!
Your ONLY access to the boats on Bastille Day is at Bir Hakeim, ALL THE OTHER ACCESS POINTS ARE BLOCKED.

I tried to get on the boat at about 5:30pm by just walking up the wide path on the Siene side of the street and that was blocked by police. None of about 8 different police (at different locations) knew anything about it even when they read the ticket and instructions in french. Finally a senior policeman figured it out and sent us back to Bir Hakeim and the road that is right next to the river and THAT was the access point.

The fireworks were beyond fantastic, so much better that I remember them 20 years ago. There were firework effects that I had never seen before, new advances in firework technology.

The theme for the fireworks was from Broadway to Paris. So all the big Broadway show music was played. From Hello Dolly to Hair and everything in between.

The music to the fireworks is broadcast over the radio and the boat played that music right on the boat. So anyone watching them anywhere else bring a portable radio with you!!!!!!!

So much of what I saw would have been blocked by the Effiel Tower. There were NO fireworks from the Effiel Tower itself. Although there was a concert in front of the Effiel if you want to be with 500,000 other people. This is the ONLY way to see the fireworks.

ON GETTING BACK TO THE LATIN QUARTER AFTER THE SHOW.
We walked south along the Siene to the number 10 Metro that goes direct to the Latin Quarter. We tried to hail a cap along the way with no luck. It was about a 15 minute walk to there and the station was not overly crowded. Then direct to the Latin quarter.

Quite clever to walk to Javel to get the metro! Glad you had a good time.