Fête Nationale of the 14 July in Paris - practical information

Activities:
Fireworks are almost always on the menu in Paris celebrations, and usually light up the skies at around nightfall on 14 July. Often launched in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower, the Saint Germain des Près district, and around Montparnasse, fireworks displays can be enjoyed from other spots around the city, providing you are high up enough to get a good vantage. Some suggested spots are the viewpoint from the roof of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Montmartre, or Belleville.

The Bal du 14 juillet is a giant dance party traditionally held on the Place de la Bastille (where the stormed prison once stood)on the evening before Bastille Day (July 13th). A different theme is chosen each year, usually providing an opportunity to don elaborate costumes and hear live music.

A traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysées starts near the Arc de Triomphe (closed during the morning) on the famed Avenue on the afternoon of July 14th and spreads across Paris.

Firemens'Galas: France has a unique-and quirky- tradition of firehouses opening their doors to the general public on July 13th and 14th for the occasion of Bastille day, offering live demonstrations and dancing. Kitschy fun guaranteed. Donations are generally asked for at the door.

Store openings

Typically most stores in Paris are generally closed on Sundays and major holidays such as July 14. But this is a general rule.

Les Soldes (bi-annual sales) began this past week and will go through the entire month oh July. Typically, stores will select a few Sundays open. Given Fete Nationale is on a Monday, I would bet money that many stores will be open on Sunday - but may close on Monday.

Museum Openings
Many museums will be open such as the Louvre. I recommend checking the website for those you may be considering to check.

Fete de Tuilleries
This festival begins this weekend in Paris and will continue for the remainder of the summer. There is a beautiful ferris wheel that offers a fabulous view of Paris and other activities. You can't miss it - the entrance of Tuilleries from Place de Concorde.

Thansk Jona for all infor, you did a great job of keeping us informed.

Question, isn't it Bastille Day anymore.. my family have always called it Bastille Day,, they are of course all very old,,LOL

The term "Batille Day" is the English version and is not always welcomed in France. It is National Day and at times using the English version can be met with a bit of resistance. The French would rather that nothing be "anglais-fied" so to speak.

If you as someone in Paris about Bastille Day you may not understand their confused look.

Fantastic information as we are arriving on the 12th for 9 days. We can't wait! Is there a parade route online anywhere or do we need to wait to find this information once we arrive? Thanks.

Parade Route

Begins at Arc de Triomphe down the entire Champs Elysees to Place de Concorde.

If you plan to go to watch the parade - you will need to arrive early and plan to bring any water and food you may want. Unlike the states, you will not see food vendors walking about. (Although there will be some that are normally along the route - but line are insane).

The Parade is also always televised if you don't want to stand in the crowd.

Thank you for the useful information. I wonder if you could help with a slightly related question. We are visiting the Le Mans Classic and travelling home on the 14th July. One friend has warned us that all petrol stations will be closed on the Monday... even on the motorway service stations. As our car only does 150 miles on one tank we are rather worried about getting back.
Is this information true?
If so should we go home on the sunday?
I do hope you can help
Thanks

re the gas/petrol stations...they will be open on the autoroute.

and for people vistiting Paris...on the 13th...you might want to take a train to a neighboring town...most of the suburb cities/villages do the fireworks on the night of the 13th

Hi. We will also be in Paris for the 13th and 14ht. I'm very excited but wondering about the firemen's balls. What's the dress code for these events? Thanks in advance for any help.

What time do the fireworks start? Thanks!

Trans by Babelfish. Some info re: 14 july: Traditional appointment of the Town of Paris, the fireworks of July 14 will travel in the middle of the broaddest topics of the opera. Fire will be drawn from Trocadéro. The public will be installed on the Champ de Mars and the high quays, on both sides of the bridge of Iéna for this 35 minute old spectacle. The fireworks will profit for the 1st time from a sound in stereophony and a setting in total light from the Palate from Chaillot thanks to 180 projectors. Giant images of 400 m ² (visual) will be projected on the square of the human rights. During 30 minutes, 10 acts taking again the chiefs of work of Mozart, Bizet, Gershwin, Puccini and well of others, will be sublimated by a choreography pyrotechnics thoroughly orchestrated. The last part of the spectacle will largely pay homage to Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti who will enclose the evening at the time of an unexpected duet. In opening, a homage will be paid to Quebec for the 400 years of the creation of the city. PRACTICAL INFOS Will be prohibited with the motor vehicle traffic and to the pedestrians the axes of circulation and the places following: - the place of Trocadéro in its half side Palate of Chaillot, the place of Warsaw, avenues of the United Nations and New York, road tunnels of the expressway left bank which can remain open until 20:30. - the bridge of Iéna in its totality Subway stations: closing of the two accesses to the subway station Trocadéro being next to the Palate of Chaillot, closing of the station Military academy as of 17:30. The stations Bir Hakeim and La Motte Grenelle Stake will remain open. Stations of the RER C: closing starting from 18:00 of the Kennedy stations, Alma Bridge and Champ de Mars (reopening of these the first 2 stations only at the conclusion of fire starting from 23:15) CAUTION! Because of the additional multitude awaited for the free concert envisaged of 20:45 to 22:45 on the Champ de Mars, come in advanc