FIREWORKS 14 JULY. The authorities fear a July 14 under tension, in places, the drought is also to be taken into account. From there to cancel the traditional fireworks? Some municipalities have taken the plunge. From Paris to Marseille, via Strasbourg, Lyon or Perpignan, we take stock.
[Mis à jour le 13 juillet 2023 à 21h46] Does your town maintain its July 14 fireworks display? This year, between the drought and the tension still palpable fifteen days after the death of young Nahel, killed in Nanterre by a police officer at the end of June, many cities have resolved to cancel the festivities or at least the fireworks. In Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse or even Rennes, the pyrotechnic show will take place. On the other hand, in view of the risk of fire, drought obliges, the mayors of several large cities have preferred to cancel the fireworks of July 14. Are concerned: Strasbourg, Nîmes, Perpignan or even Arcachon. In Lorient, if the risk is lower, the municipality has also taken the same decision.
In Île-de-France and in the north of the country, several municipalities have canceled their July 14 fireworks for fear of new urban violence. Aulnay-sous-Bois, Bagnolet, Bondy, Charenton-le-Pont, Clichy-sous-Bois, Drancy, Draveil, Évry-Courcouronnes, Fontenay-sous-Bois, Gagny, Gennevilliers, La Courneuve, Le Blanc-Mesnil, Le Raincy , Maisons-Alfort, Mons-en-Barœul, Croix, Montargis, Montreuil, Nanterre, Neuilly-sur-Marne, Noisy-le-Sec, Osny, Pantin, Roubaix, Rosny-sous-Bois, Saint-Denis, Saint-Maurice , Saint-Ouen, Savigny-sur-Orge, Sevran, Sevran-Beaudottes, Tremblay-en-France, Vigneux-sur-Seine, Villemomble and Villepinte thus made this decision. Other municipalities, like Argenteuil, Bussy-Saint-Georges or even Vaires-sur-Marne preferred to postpone their pyrotechnic show. We take stock, below, of the most impressive fireworks maintained or canceled in the major cities of France on the occasion of July 14. You can also use the summary opposite.
The most spectacular of the Bastille Day fireworks is of course taking place in Paris, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, bringing together more than 500,000 people. In the program ? A 35-minute show that begins at 11 p.m. on the Champ-de-Mars, on the theme of overseas and Creole. “The Parisian sky will light up in the colors of the Caribbean, the Portuguese-speaking countries, or even Cuba”, announces the town hall of Paris. The fireworks, as well as the free symphony concert by the Orchester National de France which precedes it, will be broadcast live on television on France 2but also on the radio and on the internet, by France Inter.
Where to observe the fireworks of July 14, 2023 in Paris?
If the public is admitted, it is always recommended to go there from 8 p.m. to see it in good conditions from the Champ-de-Mars, the gardens and the esplanade of the Trocadéro, the Palais de Tokyo, or from the Debilly, Alma, Pont-Neuf or Alexandre-III bridges and footbridges. If the public is expected at these key locations, there are other viewpoints to get away from the crowds. The best places to observe it are the roof terrace of the Montparnasse tower, the Belleville park, the Trocadéro gardens or even from the Seine thanks to the Bateaux Parisiens which await spectators for dinner cruises. from 7 p.m. and for 2 hours from Port de la Bourdonnais. The ideal is to reserve a place from the Paris skythe restaurant of the Tour Montparnasse, on the 56th floor, or from the Terrace of the Café de L’Homme at the Trocadero.
The July 14 fireworks are fired from the heights of Fourvière in Lyon. On the theme of “Joy”, the sequences will be drawn around 10:30 p.m., lasting 20 minutes, in 5 acts with 150 scenes for 14 sequences. The fireworks can be admired from the banks of the Saône on the Presqu’île side.
The fireworks of July 14 will be fired between the stone bridge and the Place de la Bourse, on the banks of the Garonne at 10:30 p.m. It will be observable from the water mirror, the stone bridge, the Chaban-Delmas bridge, the Cité du Vin, the Parc de l’Ermitage, the right bank of the Garonne.
Near Bordeaux, other cities offer their fireworks: Arcachon at 10.30 p.m. on the seafront, Arsac at 11 p.m. on the Soubeyran site, Andernos les Bains at 10.45 p.m. on the esplanade of the pier, Artigues-près -Bordeaux at 10:45 p.m. at the town hall park, Carcans at 11 p.m. from the stadium, Coutras at 11 p.m. on the town hall square, Soulac sur mer at 11 p.m. on the beach, Parempuyre at 11 p.m. from the Gravière or Talence at 11 p.m. at the park Peixotto.
The appointment is given at 10:30 p.m. The fireworks are fired from 16 pontoons on the lake of the Old Port and from Fort d’Entrecasteaux. The pyrotechnic show will last 30 minutes with music. The best place to see the fireworks is of course on the Old Port but also the Quai de la Mairie or the Esplanade de la Tourette. The Pharo garden is open to the public to admire the pyrotechnic show.
Please note, in Rennes, the fireworks are set off the day before, this Thursday, July 13, 2023. A large musical pyrotechnic show is scheduled at 11:15 p.m. from the Stade de la Bellangerais. About twenty minutes long and called “Virus 60s'”, the fireworks refer to the exhibition “Forever Sixties: the spirit of the 1960s in the Pinault Collection” presented as part of the contemporary art festival Exporama.
The city of Toulouse is offering two fireworks this summer 2023 on the occasion of the National Day. The first fireworks are fired this Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:30 p.m. from the shores of Lake Reynerie. A real “open-air concert” is offered, to the rhythm of the disco songs of the group ABBA. On Friday July 14, 2023, there will be a second fireworks display at 10:30 p.m. from 24 barges and rafts installed on the Garonne river. The pyrotechnic show will echo the Rugby World Cup!
As part of the Cannes Pyrotechnic Art Festival, the bay of Cannes lights up at 10 p.m. on July 14, on the theme of Dante’s Divine Comedy. The pyrotechnicians interpret a fresco full of emotions, accompanied by famous or singular melodies. The pyrotechnic show will open with music with Woodkid and end with The Darkness.
The July 14 fireworks are fired at 11 p.m. from the Rocher de la Vierge. Access to the beach remains authorized, but swimming will be prohibited between the Rocher du Basta and the beach of the Côte des Basques, from 9 p.m.
The mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian took the decision to cancel the fireworks on July 14 due to “the unavailability of the fire and rescue services” in a context of “high” risk of fires due to Drought.
The city of Perpignan being placed in a crisis situation concerning a potential summer drought, the town hall took the decision to cancel the fireworks of July 14, 2023. On the other hand, the fireworks are replaced by a spectacle of lasers , which stands on the Basse near the Quai Vauban.