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Bastille District Reveals Free Museums, Markets, Performances for July 14
The 11th arrondissement offers markets, performances and free museum entry ahead of the July 14 national holiday.
How we reported this
Paris will stage its main Bastille Day fireworks display on Monday, July 13, with a 9:00 PM Concert de Paris at the Eiffel Tower followed by a 20-minute show featuring 1,600 drones at 11:00 PM.
The shift of the fireworks to the eve of the holiday gives residents in the Bastille neighborhood an extra day to combine citywide events with local options. Bastille Day commemorates the 1789 Storming of the Bastille and traditionally includes a military parade on the Champs-Élysées plus the Eiffel Tower fireworks.
Bastille neighborhood options
The 11th arrondissement runs the weekly Marché Bastille food market on Thursdays and Sundays from 7am to 2:30pm on Boulevard Richard Lenoir. Open-air performances take place around Place de la Bastille, while the Opéra Bastille and the Colonne de Juillet remain open for visits. The neighborhood also hosts the annual Bal des Pompiers on the eve of the holiday.
Many Paris museums, including the Louvre, provide free admission on July 14, though advance booking is required for high-demand sites. Seasonal open-air performances and cultural gatherings continue around the square throughout the summer period.
Summer beach access
Paris Plages runs from July 5 through August 31 and converts sections of Bassin de la Villette and Canal Saint-Martin into free beach areas that include safe swimming pools. The program adds three new Seine River locations this summer.
Visitors planning to attend the July 13 fireworks or July 14 events should check transport schedules and reserve museum slots early. The Marché Bastille schedule and Paris Plages hours remain consistent through the end of August.