Taking Paris by Storm

Time’s a-wasting if you want to be on the Champs-Elysees for this year’s Bastille Day festivities.  Celebrated each year on July 14th, this French National holiday commemorates the 1789 storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution.  In Paris, festivities include a military parade, plenty of joyous merry-making and concludes with fireworks.

The impressive Arc de Triomphe sits at one end of the Champs des Elysees

Here are some great viewing locations in Paris:

• Hotel Raphael – You can grab a front row seat for the parade at this hotel that’s located just steps away from the Arc de Triomphe (map), in an environment that offers traditional decor with a modern twist.  It’s elegant and charming, and would make a great place to stay.  An added bonus:  the rooftop affords an excellent view of the Eiffel Tower’s (map) fireworks display.  (map)
• Villa Hotel & Majestic – Charming and chic, this relatively new hotel combines classic French styling with contemporary abstract artwork and modern furnishings and somehow manage to make it all work.  Conveniently located near the Arc de Triomphe, Champs des Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower. (map)
• Hotel Regina – Located directly across from the Tuileries Garden (map) and the Louvre (map), this hotel features appointments of beautiful fabrics, rich colors, and period furnishings.  An added bonus:  you’re steps away from the Louvre, which offers free admission on Bastille Day.  (map)

Although the biggest and most impressive festivities are in Paris, there are plenty of other Bastille celebrations in other hot spots that are worthy of making the trip to France.  Here are a few:

• Hotel du Palais, Biarritz – Once the summer mansion for Napoleon III and Empress Eugenia, this grand oceanfront hotel has beautifully restored 19th century antiques.  Other specialty features include a Guerlain spa, a bunker a putting green for golf fans.  (map)
• Pan Dei Palais, Saint-Tropez – Once a historic mansion, now a boutique hotel, this is a prime spot to enjoy the magnificent sights of the French Riviera.  The hotel offers a blend of Asian-inspired architecture, modern amenities, and the chic atmosphere of the Riviera.  (map)
• Palais Stephanie, Cannes -  The hotel sits on the site of the original Palais des Congres, the spot where the first Cannes Film Festival was held, and pays tribute to its film heritage in it design and decor.  It’s located mere steps from the beach, combining beach chic with modern European luxury.  (map)

Vive la France!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons