What to do on Bastille Day?

We%26#39;re going to be in Paris on Bastille Day. I know there will be a parade on the Champs Elysee but will restaurants, stores and museums be open?

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No stores but restaurannts will be open.

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Hello Scotusa,

Bastille Day is much as the Fourth of July here. The night before there are dances at many of the firehouses........all night long and I have heard much fun. Then the parade in the morning, picnics around town, musical groups playing in many areas, free concerts here and there and in the evening big fireworks. The museums are opened too.

It can be a fun day.

Bea

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We were in Paris on Bastille Day 2004. If you want to watch the fireworks, allow yourselves ample time to find a good spot, preferably near the Eiffel Tower, and don%26#39;t make the same mistake we did: We waited till an hour before the fireworks were about to begin and took the Metro, which was so packed that it was difficult to get on, and if you were lucky enough to squeeze in, it was so chaotic that people were getting separated from one another on the train---frightening if you%26#39;re traveling with kids. At each stop, a passenger at the door of our train was literallly beating others off as they tried to board, which was scary.

Because of all the trees along the Seine, it was almost impossible to find a place to stand where we could see the fireworks without the trees blocking our view, as all the good spots were already occupied. I think the view might have been better closer to the Eiffel Tower, where I imagine one could simply look skywards instead of %26quot;into the distance%26quot;, as we did from our spot near the Pont de l%26#39;Alma station.

Of course, the Metro was once again packed after the fireworks, so we loitered in the area for about an hour before being able to ride it back to our hotel.

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Just a suggestion. There are many good places to watch the fireworks at a distance if that would interest you. Last year we watched them from the Pantheon........Somewhat of a distance, but good enough for us to dodge the crowds.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;What to do on Bastille Day?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Luckily, as a national holiday, the French Army recruiting offices will be closed, otherwise you might be seduced by all of the military pomp and pageantry to enlist in the French Foreign Legion--a branch of the French Army that most tourists have a natural affinity for. It%26#39;s unofficial motto, %26quot;..March or Die..%26#39;, is something many tourists understand only too well.

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I will be there on Bastille day~ I can send you my itinerary for the night before and the Bastille day if you like~

Sue

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Sue, I%26#39;d love to see your itinerary. I%26#39;m on paris@hxor.com Thank you

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Tuesday July12th

Depart from Newark Airport

Flight C0 54 @ 10:10 Set your watches to Paris time @5:10am

Wednesday July 13th

Arrival at CDG @ 11:20am

Hotel Van Service to pick up at Exit Gate of Customs

Arrive at Hotel Le Grand Intercontinental by approx. 1:30

Check-In, Unpack, Freshen-up

Buy Metro Pass need your photo

Lunch

Explore Opera Neighborhood

Galeries Lafayette :

Welcome Center 10% discount card

Check out the roof top observatory for pics

Buy: blue, white and red, the %26quot;tricolore%26quot; of France shirt for Bastille Day

Buy:postcards

Lafayette Gourmet for Breakfast stuff in building #2

Willies Wine Bar, Harrys New York (order Bloody Mary) and Budda Bar one drink in each

Explore Place Vendome Town Square

Bastille Night celebrations

10pm %26quot;Bal des Pompiers%26quot; (on rue de Sevigne)

Thursday July 14th

Bastille Day

Champagne Breakfast in hotel room watching the parade

Check out the festivities for Bastille day~

Left Bank walk(River Gauche) Start at Ponts des Arts

St.Germain Des Pres

Have a drink at historical Cafes:

Brasserie Lipp, Les Deux Magots and Le Cafe de Flore

Tati Or ( 19 rue de la Paix)~ jewelry store with charm bracelet

Luxembourg Garden %26quot;Incredible Picnic Lunch%26quot;

Le Pantheon

View the fireworks:

Pont au Change or the Pont Notre-Dame

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%26quot;The Incredible Picnic%26quot;- Over 3 million people will attend what will most certainly be the world���s largest picnic, to be held between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. along the 620 mile-long M��ridienne Verte. This epic %26quot;d��jeuner sur l���herbe%26quot; will take place from Dunkerque--via Paris-- to the Pyr��n��es town of Prats-de-Mollo, through 8 regions and 337 towns and villages.

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Hi all,

About %26quot;Incredible Picnic%26quot;.......Sounds great. Where did you hear about it? Would love to read about it if you have a net address.

We were there on Bastille day 2000 and the city and the around the country they set up neat picnic tables with red checkered (?) table clothes all over Paris. Blocked traffic in front of Opera Garnier and had picnic tables set up there.........and at the parks.......other areas...Twas great.....so unusual for a city the size of Paris. Also had several nice free concerts around Paris.

Bea