We spent the last three days of our European trip in Paris. We happened to be in Paris on Bastille Day (July 14). Bastille Day is a French national holiday celebrating the storming of the Bastille. It was a pivotal event to the start of the French Revolution.
If you happen to plan a summer trip to Paris, it’s worth it to be in the city on July 14th!
While we were eating breakfast on a sidewalk cafe, we got the unexpected treat of seeing the military airshow. We knew there were parades on Champs Elysees, but we decided to not mess with the crowds. So sitting there eating our croissants and drinking cafe ole by our apartment, we saw this amazing air show.
Since many of the museums and stores are closed on Bastille Day, we decided to take the train out to Versailles. We toured the palace and had lunch.
We wanted to be back in the city in the evening, as there is a spectacular fireworks display by the Eiffel Tower. We had walked over to the Eiffel Tower the day before, to “scope out” a great place to watch the fireworks. The fireworks are launched from the Trocadero (over the river and next to the Eiffel Tower).
What we didn’t realize, is that all of Paris comes out for the fireworks. We got to our spot two hours before the fireworks were to begin and the crowds had already started. It doesn’t get dark until 10:30 pm in the summer, but the lights in the city — especially the Eiffel Tower — are incredible.
The wait was worth it for the fireworks!!! We saw the best fireworks display ever. It lasted 30 minutes. And, it was like watching grand finale after grand finale.
If you ever get the chance to be in Paris on Bastille Day, take it! It will be a day (and night) to remember.
