Grand Palais

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Paris this Bastille Day — France’s national holiday — you’ll be able to take some fabulous snaps of le tricolore, the French flag, in a variety of forms …

The Patrouille de France, with its tri-coloured smoke, leading the Bastille Day flyover and marking the start of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées military parade:

Paris Bastille Day Flyover

A super-sized flag fluttering beneath the Arc de Triomphe:

Arc de Triomphe flag

Blue, white and red bunting or banners strung along the streets:

Paris flags

Patriotic displays from the city’s windows:

Paris flag

And, the Eiffel Tower lighting up in tricolour glory during the evening’s fireworks display:

Eiffel Tower Bastille Day

But no matter the time of the year, Paris offers many inspired photo opportunities for flag lovers …

Head up to the viewing platform of the Panthéon’s dome, and you’ll be able to swoon over this stunning vista:

Panthéon Paris flag view

Then wander down Rue Soufflot to the Jardin de Luxembourg. Over at the octagonal pond, ask to hire the French boat, and snap it as it sails by the Senate, with its flag-adorned rooftop:

Jardin du Luxembourg boat

Peckish? Pop up to Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where Le Bonaparte’s photogenic terrasse is very tricolore-esque!

Le Bonaparte Paris

Afterwards, stroll over to the river, and jump on a Batobus. Lean on the rear railing, and you’ll be treated to a fabulous series of opps, like this:

Paris flag

From the Pont Alexandre III, focus your camera on the glass roof of the Grand Palais, and get creative with the various sculptures that pop into view as you move around:

Grand Palais flag

Head eastwards to the Pont des Arts, and look up to the fabulous baroque dome of the Institut de France. Spot the bleu, blanc & rouge:

Institut de France flag

Next, walk north into the Cour Carrée of the Louvre, and crane your neck to see the flag waving from the square-domed roof of the Pavillon de l’Horloge, just above a gorgeous quartet of caryatids:

Louvreflag

Feet tired from all of this flag-hunting? Hire a cute tri-coloured car from Paris Authentic, and cruise around the city’s lesser-known cobbled streets, such as the olde-worlde ways of Montmartre:

ph: Paris Authentic

Speaking of Montmartre, how fabulous is this café’s terrace furniture?

On that note, it might be time now to stop, order une flute de champagne, and say santé to la France!

Joyeux quatorze juillet, everyone!

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