Changes to Paris’ July 14 celebrations this year - see what is planned
Military parade will coincide with arrival of Olympic torch in city
The route of the iconic parade is changing for the first time in over 40 years
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The iconic military parade through Paris – the high-point of celebrations on July 14 – will be slightly different this year, with the usual route out of bounds.
The parade will not travel down the Champs-Élysées for the first time in 45 years due to preparations for the Olympic Games which have placed the world-famous street temporarily off-limits.
It will instead travel along the neighbouring Avenue Foch (one of the other streets that leads to the Arc de Triomphe).
The parade, which will have a special theme commemorating 80 years since France’s ‘Libération’ in World War Two, will still begin at the iconic Parisian landmark. A secondary theme of the parade will be the 90th anniversary of the creation of France’s air force.
Unlike in previous years, the parade will travel south-west towards the Porte de la Dauphine metro station, as opposed to further into the heart of the city along the Champs-Élysées.
The president will arrive for the parade just after 10:00 (although preparations will take place before), and leave at midday, with the parade taking place in between.
Around 4,500 soldiers, 45 planes, and 22 helicopters will join the parade.
Olympic torch arrives on same day
In addition, the Olympic Torch Relay will make its way through the centre of the city on the same day.
Read more: Paris 2024: Olympic flame’s route through France is revealed
It will pass iconic landmarks including the Notre-Dame cathedral and the Louvre museum, before ending at Hôtel de Ville, where an overnight vigil for the torch will be open to the public until 05:00 the following day.
A fireworks display will also be held at the Eiffel Tower, which can be viewed from all over Paris. Closer access to the monument during the night may not be possible, due to the ongoing works at nearby sites in preparations for the Olympic Games.
The military parade is not the only famous event normally held down the Champs-Élysées that is being disrupted due to the Olympic Games.
This year the Tour de France will finish in Nice as opposed to at the Arc de Triomphe, due to final preparations for the Games.
