SPOTLIGHT ON… Paris: Célèbrent jour de Bastille

Not that one is needed, but if ever there was a reason to celebrate all things French, it is most certainly Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale as it is known in France, held annually on July 14th. This national day of celebration commemorates the storming of the prison, Bastille on July 14th 1789—an event that marked the end of Louis the 16th arbitrary rule and the beginning of the French Revolution. Most importantly, the storming of Bastille signalled the French people’s fight for liberty and freedom from political oppression.

Traditions surrounding Bastille Day remain strong throughout France, most notably the annual Bastille Day Military Parade on the Champs Élysées Avenue, Paris, which is considered the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe.

With an estimated 70 million tourists visiting France annually, most of who travel through Paris, France is widely acknowledged as the most popular tourist destination in the world. France has, and continues, to offer travellers from far-and-wide a unique cultural experience with a graceful perspective of world history. From the historic World War I battlegrounds of the Western Front in which many Australian and New Zealand soldiers fell, to the pivotal World War II battlegrounds many of which saw the Allies play vital roles against enemy occupation, such as The Battle of France and The Battle of Dunkirk.

Commercially, France is synonymous with some of the most recognisable brands in fashion, beauty, design, and style, including Chanel, Louboutin, Dior, Givenchy, Gaultier, Vuitton,  and Yves Saint Laurent. Another commercial strength is the diverse and relevant French wine industry, including seven of the world’s most renowned and vital wine regions; from the Champagne region northeast of Paris to Bordeaux in the south-western corner of the country, each region offers unique varietals crafted by the finest vignerons. And, it would be remiss not to mention the culinary delights that France is famed for— from cuisses de grenouilles (frogs legs—the French eat 4000 tonnes per year) and escargot (snails), rich handcrafted chocolate and cheeses, crème brûlée, beef bourguignon, soupe à l’oignon (French Onion soup), delightful pastries, cakes, and custards.

Of course, fashion, wine, and food are just the tip of the iceberg; the French influence is all-encompassing. Exceptional perspectives in the areas of architecture, art, literature and philosophy were founded in France and garnered worldwide acknowledgment—the Art Deco movement of the 1920’s is a warranted example, as are the classic literary works of Jules Verne and Victor Hugo, and the philosophical views of Foucault and Voltaire.

However it is perhaps the beautiful City of Lights, Paris, which seems to attract the most attention. Home to the most recognisable landmark in the world the Eiffel Tower, the spiritual birthplace of the can-can dance at the Moulin Rouge, and perhaps the most dangerous (and historically significant) ’roundabout’ in the world, the Arc de Triomphe.

The city itself is divided in twenty arrondissements; the first (the Louvre) in the centre of Paris and the following ones spiralling outwards in a clock-wise direction thus giving visitors to Paris a ‘mud-map’ of sorts if daring to commandeer Paris sans map.

When in Paris, it is absolutely essential to take in as many sites as possible and setting about this in a logical fashion is imperative.

The Eiffel Tower is a must-see, though be prepared to queue if you want to climb to the summit (or purchase Skip the Line tour tickets) and of course the notable sites of the Louvre,  Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame, Champs Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. However if you want to see a grittier and relaxed though still refined side of Paris, check out the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank and in particular the roadside market stalls set up along the Seine River. Here you can pick up cheap souvenirs of your time in Paris, beautiful hand-painted artworks, and enjoy the delightful café and food scene.

Guided tours are available in all budget brackets, however perhaps the most affordable way to do this is the city’s double-decker, hop-on hop-off buses which run across various routes covering the major tourist areas of the city. Taking in the sights from the Seine on a river cruise or on the famous horse-and-carriage tours are also enviable ways to see Paris from a unique perspective and can be done on a budget if you search a little online prior to arriving.

From a relaxing Riviera holiday soaking up the annual 300 days of French sunshine, to a historical traipse through history, a tipsy month on the wine trail, or simply passing through Paris and taking in the relevant sites—70 million annual visitors can’t be wrong. If there’s a place to holiday, you’ll most certainly find what you’re after in France.

JOIN ME TOMORROW as author Juliette Sobanet chats all things Paris, romance and her sixth Parisian-set novel.