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Gems of Paris by French Moments

We have researched for our readers some useful information about the fireworks display which will be launched from the Eiffel Tower on the night of the 14th July 2015. 

The traditional fireworks display celebrates Bastille Day and draws millions of people on the streets of Paris, from the Champ-de-Mars and the Trocadéro to the bridges of the Seine and the terraces of many restaurants, hotels and monuments.

Unlike London and Sydney, Paris does not offer a giant fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. One of the reasons for this is the tradition of having breathtaking fireworks on Bastille Day (13th July in French cities and 14th July in Paris).

 

The Concert on the Champ-de-Mars

The celebrations will be launched with a free concert on the Champ-de-Mars. Gathering 250 musicians and singers from the Orchestre National de France and the Choeur de Radio-France, the concert will start at sunset (9.30 pm). It will star some of the greatest international artists: Gautier Capuçon, Ray Chen, Joyce DiDonato, Julie Fuchs, Lang Lang, Fabio Sartori, Bryn Terfel and Sonya Yoncheva.

The concert will play music from an eclectic range of composers: Hector Berlioz, Leonard Bernstein, Sergueï Rachmaninov, Carl Off, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Charles Lecocq, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Gershwin, Jacques Offenbach…

 

The Fireworks Display at the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower, Bastille Day fireworks in 2005 © Beivushtang - Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Eiffel Tower, Bastille Day fireworks in 2005 © Beivushtang – Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The spectacular fireworks display will be set off from the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro Garden at 11 pm.

The fireworks display costs approximately 700,000 euros which is far less expensive than that of New Year’s Eve in London (2.3 million euros for 11 minutes) and Dubai (5.3 million euros).

Fireworks © Yann Caradec - licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Fireworks © Yann Caradec – licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Each year a theme is set for the 35 minute-long fireworks display: “The Disco Years” in 2012, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” in 2013, “War and Peace” in 2014… In 2015 the theme will be “Paris accueille le monde” (Paris welcomes the world) which echoes the upcoming Climate Change Conference which will be hosted by the French capital in December 2015.

 

Where are the best places to view the Bastille Day fireworks in Paris?

Fireworks in Paris - licence [CC BY-SA 2.5] from Wikimedia Commons© Thierry Bézecourt
Fireworks in Paris – licence [CC BY-SA 2.5] from Wikimedia Commons© Thierry Bézecourt

Undeniably, the best spot to admire the fireworks display lit from the Eiffel Tower is at the Champ-de-Mars. If you don’t mind being part of a huge crowd of 800,000, it is better to arrive early from 2-3 pm.

The Eiffel Tower can be seen from many squares, streets and bridges all across Paris. Therefore the fireworks display can be enjoyed from places that are not over-crowded such as the Champ-de-Mars and the Trocadéro.

Many bridges spanning the Seine offer great views of the Eiffel Tower, near or far: Pont des Invalides, Pont Alexandre III, Pont de la Concorde and even Pont-Neuf. If you choose to view the display from one of these bridges, make sure to arrive early to get to the perfect place!

One of the best options is to book a dinner cruise on a boat navigating on the Seine River that night.

All the Parisian terraces that have a view of the Eiffel Tower should be recommended (Montparnasse Tower, Hyatt Hotel in Porte Maillot, Quai Branly museum…).

If you are staying in Paris or elsewhere in France and prefer not to join the crowds, watch the fireworks display live on French TV channel France 2.

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

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