Paris - Bastille Day questions

Hello!

Against my better judgement, we are going to be in Paris for the day on July 14th.

We have CDG hotel reservations that night in advance of a 2 PM flight back to the States on the 15th, but we have decided to spend the final day in Paris. We are coming in to Gare de Austerlitz at around noon.

My questions revolve around a few concerns:

1. Can I leave my luggage at the Austerlitz station; that is, are there lockers or is there a baggage claim area with a human?

2. Where would be a good place to spend the day/early evening? Is there a central celebration place and fireworks? Is this a celebration akin to NYC Times Square that I might want to avoid and simply find a cafe at a distance to absorb the festivities? Is there a place to avoid?

3. If I choose to take a taxi to my CDG hotel at say 9PM, is this something that will be available or will everyone be off work and celebrating?

Thank you in advance!

|||

Beware, usually it is veeeery hard to find a taxi on the 14th July. Last year i couldn%26#39;t find one, they were all occupied. So i wouldn%26#39;t rely on a tawi to the airport hotel, but chck the RER B timetable, for the 14th july they may have some lines running all night through. Bastille is usually a good bet for the 14th.As for the luggage lockers, i don%26#39;t think there is any...but am not sure

|||

I am bumping a thread about left luggage facilities at Gare d%26#39;Austerlitz.

There ARE such facilities according to KDKSAIL...

|||

I%26#39;d advise you to book a hotel in central Paris on July 14, then taxi out to CDG the next morning.

The fireworks will not begin until dark, after 10 pm. I saw them last summer in the Champ de Mars, and will be doing the same this year.

|||

I have decided to slightly change my plans (thanks to luveurope!) and have booked a central Paris hotel for the night of Bastille Day. Our flight out the next day is not until 2PM so we should be fine with a relaxed morning.

My new question is this: We have been in France for Bastille Day before, but never Paris. Are there things to avoid, places to go without a doubt, or is the entire city simply in a festive mood?

We are staying on the Ile St. Louis and we are not into the military parade or massive crowds, but we would like to experience how Paris celebrates their big day.

Any tips are appreciated!

|||

Any tips out there?

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;There ARE such facilities according to KDKSAIL%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Not according to KDKSAIL....but according to the SNCF--French National Railways--which actually maintains and operates these Left Luggage (Les Consignes) facilities at many of their TGV train stations--

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/info_resa/passenger_guide/available_services/luggage/home.htm?LG=FR%26amp;Rubrique=Available+Services%26amp;Theme=Luggage

%26quot;..Left luggage--

If you have arrived early for your train or do not wish to have to carry your baggage around, you can leave luggage with the station%26#39;s left luggage office or use the coin-operated lockers available in most stations.

Coin-operated lockers fitted with electronic locks issue a printed ticket with a code number. This ticket must be conserved and used when recovering items.

Lockers should not be used to store valuables. All items and suitcases are stored under their owners%26#39; responsibility.

Left luggage charges (per 24 hours)

4.5 ���(1) per item for luggage and parcels.

5.3 ���(1) for bicycles, wheelchairs and baby strollers.

Coin-operated locker charges:

Key locker: 0.7 ���(1) or 3 ���(1) according to volume (for 24 hours).

Electronic locker: 3 ���(1) , 4.5 ���(1) or 6.1 ���(1) (for 72 hours).

Passengers should note that manual storage services and lockers may be temporarily unavailable for security reasons in certain stations.

(1) All price information is valid as 1st january 2002.

***Paris Austerlitz/Est/Lyon/Montparnasse/Nord*** En gare de Paris Montparnasse, un certain nombre de casiers acceptent le paiement par carte bancaire.

And the Paris Tourisme Office--

parisinfo.com/guide_paris/…6481

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Passengers should note that manual storage services and lockers may be temporarily unavailable for security reasons in certain stations%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

This is an important detail to bear in mind. The French national security system is most commonly known as VIGIPIRATE and is akin to the US Homeland Security alert system. July 14th, BASTILLE DAY is as you know a MAJOR national holiday throughout France--and also an occasion for every crackpot and nutcase to make a name for themselves....and in the process, raise the VIGIPIRATE alert stauus. This can have an effect on whether things as simple as streetside litter baskets and postal boxes....and Left Luggage facilities are temporarily removed or suspended. There%26#39;s absolutely no way of predicting whether such an increased alert stautus MAY be enacted...but it is a potential complication you need to be aware of.

|||

Thanks! Are the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower so that if one can see the Tower you are assured to see the fireworks?

Thanks!

|||

If you want to be assured of a great view of the fireworks, do be near the Eiffel Tower. As an aside, I have heard of some people viewing the fireworks from one of the several tour boats available. That sounds wonderful to me, though I have yet to try it.

You don%26#39;t say how old you are, but perhaps you might enjoy going to one of the many Bals des Pompiers thoughout the city. Contrary to what some have said (here and in other forums) these Bals occur on the 13th AND the 14th. Last year the one I went to on the 14th was in the 6eme on Rue de Vieux Colombier.

I rather enjoyed the parade, but I suppose it is not for everyone. Afterwards I took a stroll and just happened upon the paratroopers landing in the Esplanade des Invalides. Also, kids and adults alike (myself included) were sitting in or standing on a variety of military transport vehicles.

Bastille Day is a great time to be in Paris!