It’s become sort of a tradition: to celebrate the end of summer, La Villette puts on a huge firework display. And it’s free! Bang!

photo by pixiduc used under cc licence


Groupe F are experts at full-on pyrotechnic displays, such as setting the Eiffel Tower on fire or illuminating the Olympic Games. At the Villette they will be putting on two different shows over five days.

photo by pixiduc used under cc licence

Firstly, on 16th, 17th & 18th September, at 9.30pm, you can see their ‘intervention / installation’ called “Préluminaires” (geddit?). But the main event is on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th September (also at 9.30pm): a huge fireworks display called “Les Paysages” which will try (brace yourself) “to bring back the ray of sun that is in all of us, the energy that is necessary to alight us all together.” Hmmm… kinda mystic don’t you think?

photo by pixiduc used under cc licence

The show itself is in the Parc de la Villette, near the Grande Halle, so the public has to be on the other side of the canal, next to the Cité des Sciences (nearer Porte de la Villette). Métro Porte de la Villette (line 7) or bus n°s PC2, PC3, 75, 151.