It’s the best guide to the Bastille Day balls you’ll find on the web, giving you the best chance of fireman-related fun around Bastille Day.

Fifteen fire stations will be open on the night of the 13th July 2011, but only seven will still be partying the following night, on Bastille Day itself. We give you the rundown, area by area, with maps to show you quickly where the party’s startin’…

photo by Franck Torralba used under cc licence

Not much changes from year to year when it comes to the firemen’s balls. The 2011 edition of the traditional Bastille Day dance ‘n’ drink events are very similar, apart from two fire stations that were open both nights last year and will only be partying hard one night this year. Here’s the full details for each night – it’s the clearest guide you’ll find for the 2011 Bastille Day firemen’s balls in Paris!

(Just one thing: when we rang them, some fire stations treated their info like a state secret and refused to give us details, or even confirm whether last year’s were still valid. One put the phone down on me when I insisted and asked just what time it was starting. Silly fireman!).

Wednesday 13th July 2011.
Things get going late, around 9pm, and generally continue until around 3 or 4am.
All events are free unless stated. You’re encouraged to donate at the entrance.

Paris 1st arrondissement – Rousseau – 21 rue du Jour (map here)

What to expect: group, champagne bar with DJ

Ambiance: old school French chanson in the courtyard, techno inside

Paris 4th arrondissement – Sévigné – 7 rue de Sévigné (map here)

What to expect: 2 DJs, one in the courtyard, one inside

Ambiance: hits in the courtyard, more techno indoors

Note that this place is small and gets very full very quickly.

Paris 5th arrondissement – Les Arènes de Lutèce (map here)

It’s only the 3rd time that a ball has been organised outside a fire station (in this case, in the historic roman arena).

What to expect: gymnastics display (15 minutes, right at the beginning, so get there early), followed by the usual traditional ball. Bar, champagne bar and snacks available.

Ambiance: Old school French

Paris 6th arrondissement – Colombier – 11 rue du Vieux-Colombier (map here)

What to expect: DJ, champagne bar, soft drinks, no food served

Ambiance: all styles of music, but check out this footage of the DJs from last year that at coming back in 2011…

Paris 9th arrondissement – Blanche – 28 rue Blanche (map here)

What to expect: giant 400m² dancefloor, bar, tombola, champagne bar.

Ambiance: all styles

Paris 10th arrondissement – Château-Landon – 186 quai de Valmy (map here)

What to expect: traditional group

Ambiance: Old school French and some more recent stuff

Paris 12th arrondissement – Chaligny – 57 boulevard Diderot / 26 rue Chaligny (map here)

What to expect: Group, drinks stand, games…

Ambiance: Old school French

Paris 13th arrondissement
Your in luck if you go to the 13th arrondissement. They have two fire stations that will both be partying two nights running!

Port-Royal – 55 boulevard de Port-Royal (map here)

What to expect: DJ

Admission: 5 euros

Masséna – 39 boulevard Masséna (map here)

What to expect / Admission : No info, except that it’s an indoor event. Could come in handy if the weather gets nasty!

Paris 15th arrondissement – Grenelle – 6 place Violet (map here)

What to expect: DJ (all styles of music), champagne bar, snacks

There are two balls in the 17th arrondissement

This is the headquarters of the Paris firemen! Get ready for something extra fiery!

Place Jules Renard (map here)

What to expect / Admission: no info, but almost certainly free

Boursault – 27 rue Boursault (map here)

What to expect: group, tombola, bar

Paris 18th arrondissement – Carpeaux – 12 rue Carpeaux (map here)

What to expect: no info

Paris 19th arrondissement – Bitche – 2 place de Bitche (map here)

Ambiance: Group, old school French et musique du moment

Paris 20th arrondissement – Ménilmontant – 47 rue Saint-Fargeau (map here)

What to expect: DJ, tombola, bars. La rumeur veut que cette caserne est la seule à organiser un spectacle de striptease fait par des pompiers. Nous voulons des photos !!!

Admission: 3 euros

photo by Rafael Garcia-Suarez used under cc licence

Jeudi 14 juillet.
Things get going late, around 9pm, and genereally continue until around 3 or 4am.
All events are free unless stated. You’re encouraged to donate at the entrance.

Paris 1er – Rousseau – 21 rue du Jour (map here)

What to expect: group, champagne bar avec DJ

Ambiance: old school French dans la cour, techno à l’intérieur

Paris 4th arrondissement – Sévigné – 7 rue de Sévigné (map here)

What to expect: 2 DJs, un dans la cour et l’autre dans la salle à l’intérieur

Ambiance: tubes populaires dans la cour, plus techno à l’intérieur

Attention: cette caserne est assez petit. Arrivez tôt !

Paris 6th arrondissement – Colombier – 11 rue du Vieux-Colombier (map here)

What to expect: DJ, champagne bar, soft drink, no food served

Ambiance: all styles of music

Paris 12th arrondissement – Chaligny – 57 boulevard Diderot / 26 rue Chaligny (map here)

What to expect: Group, bar, games…

Ambiance: old school French

Paris 13th arrondissement

Port-Royal – 55 boulevard de Port-Royal (map here)

What to expect: DJ

Admission: 5 euros

Masséna – 39 boulevard Masséna (map here)

What to expect / Ambiance / Admission : no info. Indoor event.

Paris 15th arrondissement – Grenelle – 6 place Violet (map here)

What to expect: DJ (all styles of music), champagne bar, snacks

Official Paris firemen site: www.pompiersparis.fr

The most popular public event of the year? Quite possibly. Dodgy French chanson + tipsy firemen = an unforgettable evening, and we’ve got all the details…

photo by franck_torralba used under cc licence

Yep, it’s already the bal populaires season! The 13th and 14th July are always a bit wild in France, and especially in Paris when fires stations are opened to the public for a couple of nights of rowdiness and tomfoolery. You’ll be force-fed music from the 40s or bombarded with cheap techno, but nobody goes for that: it’s all about ambiance and fun, so realx and go with the flow! Maybe some of the firemen will do the same…

Details of the 2009 lineup haven’t been released yet, but they will be shortly (we’ll keep you updated) and generally the programme is the same each year. Below you’ll find the details of last year’s events so you can get yoursefl organised.

So here’s the list of fire stations that will be open, and the details of what they’ll be offering. The listing will be updated very shortly. Have fun!

photo by tchuntfr used under cc licence

For all the details about the firemen’s balls all over Paris (including the striptease in the 20th arrondissement!) read on…

Paris 1er – Rousseau – 21 rue du Jour (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: group, DJ (one of the firemen!), champagne bar
Style: French ‘variété’ and current hits
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 4th arrondissement – Sévigné – 7 rue de Sévigné (map)

photo by philyook used under cc licence

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: orchestra in the courtyard, DJ inside (the DJ is one of the firemen!)
Style: very varied for the orchestra, the DJ will be playing club stuff
Entrance fee: 6 euros, which includes a free drink
Please note that this fire station is very small and very quickly full. Get there early!

Paris 6th arrondissement – Colombier – 11 rue du Vieux-Colombier (map)

photo: MorganeC

Paris 9th arrondissement – Blanche – 28 rue Blanche (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: tombola, music
Style: they’re not quite sure yet…
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 10th arrondissement – Château-Landon – 186 quai de Valmy (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: Starts 9pm
What’s on: special afternoon opening with kids activities. Orchestra in the evening
Style: French ‘variété’ et more current stuff
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 12th arrondissement – Chaligny – 57 boulevard Diderot / 26 rue Chaligny (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: The Orchestre Normandie will be playing, drinks, knock-em-down style country fair games…
Style: French ‘variété’
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 13th arrondissement – Port-Royal – 55 boulevard de Port-Royal (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: DJ
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 13th arrondissement – Masséna – 39 boulevard Masséna (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: should be starting 9pm
What’s on: they refused to answer any questions!
Style: they refused to answer any questions!
Entrance fee they refused to answer any questions! All we know is that everything is indoors, which could be handy if the weather turns nasty.

Paris 15th arrondissement – Grenelle – 6 place Violet (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: DJ (all styles), champagne bar, snacks
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 17th arrondissement – Champerret – 1 place Jules Renard (map)

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: very large fire station with an orchestra in the courtyard and DJ indoors
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 17th arrondissement – Boursault – 27 rue Boursault (map)

Dates: 13th July 2008 only
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
What’s on: An English rock group (!), tombola, bar
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 19th arrondissement – Bitche – 2 place de Bitche (map)

Dates: 13th July 2008 only
Opening hours: from 9pm to 4am
Style: French ‘variété’ and more current stuff
Entrance fee: free, but you’ll be asked to donate something

Paris 20th arrondissement – Ménilmontant – 47 rue Saint-Fargeau (map)

photo by hotzeplotz used under cc licence

Dates: 13th & 14th July
Opening hours: from 8pm – 4am
What’s on: tombola, bars, Firemen striptease show !!! Group or DJ (to be confirmed)
Entrance fee: 3 euros

photo by Aldor used under cc licence

For further information, you can try the official Paris Firemen site (but there’s really not much on there). Enjoy yourselves!