14 July
The Arc de Triomphe on Bastille Day
France's national day starts at the arch and runs down the Champs-Élysées — what happens, and what it means for a visit.
Check tours on Viator ↗The parade starts where the arch stands
Bastille Day, 14 July, is marked across France, and in Paris the centrepiece is a military parade that starts at the Arc de Triomphe and moves down the Champs-Élysées towards Place de la Concorde, opened by an air force fly-past. It is one of the oldest regular military parades in the world.
The arch is closed to visitors
The operator lists 14 July among the arch's annual closure days, and the surrounding streets are under heavy security restrictions from early morning. Anyone wanting to climb the arch should plan it for another day of the trip.
Watching the parade is a separate, free experience
The parade can be watched from the pavements along the Champs-Élysées at no cost, though positions near the arch and along the avenue fill early given the size of the crowds. It's a different occasion from visiting the monument itself, built around the parade rather than the climb.
The days either side
The arch has no listed closure on 13 or 15 July, though the operator notes it can close partly or fully at short notice for state ceremonies — worth a check before you go. The 18:30 flame ceremony is held every evening.