All the info about the parade and the following army PR push called Les Franciliens accueillent leurs soldats, (“The people of the Paris area greet their soldiers”), an odd event with male and female soldiers to talk to and military vehicles to fondle (I wouldn’t try the contrary…)

It’s probably too late to ask for a seat along the Champs Elysées, and too tiresome (you have to send a letter addressed to the Direction Générale des Patrimoines, Ministère de la Culture, 182 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris). However, do not despair. Just turn up early and grab a spot standing!

The fun starts at 10am, but there’s a lot of setting up before that. All the details (in French) are here. And there’s a list of the helicopters, planes and other vehicles that will be whizzing or thundering by here.

Last year, Africa was the guest of honour. As this year is celebrating the French overseas territories, you’ll see regiments from New Caledonia, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, Polynesia and Réunion, as well as firemen, who are celebrating their bicentary. For the list of troops, click here.

And after the parade, you can go and meet the troops at eight places around Paris, including place Saint Sulpice, not far from our hotels. At Les Invalides, not much further away, there will be helicopters and other vehicles. Here’s a map to show you how to get there. The full list of places you can see soldiers is here. Looking at the poster, they could do with recruiting some graphic artists…

The army actually has a very comprehensive site about the parade, the preparations, etc. All in French of course, but click here to have a look.

As for public transport on 14th July around the Champs Elysées, be careful as some stations will be closed for part of the day:

– Tuileries: closed from 8 – midday
– Concorde: from 7am – midday, access only via (map here)
– Franklin Roosevelt: closed 8am – midday, and the change between lines 1 and 9 is closed too
– Georges V: may be closed at short notice if there are too many people
– Charles de Gaulle Etoile: from 8am – midday, access only via Avenue Carnot