14 July - Bastille Day fireworks at Carcassonne

A beginners' guide to joining one of the most watched events of the summer calendar

Carcassonne hosts the biggest firework display in France when around 100,000 euros light the night sky over the medieval Cité. The French don’t call it Bastille Day but simply “Quatorze Juillet”.

Carcassonne Fireworks on Bastille Day

The day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in Paris on 14 July, 1789. This momentous event triggered the French Revolution making it dear to Gallic hearts. It’s a popular spectacle at Carcassonne, attracting spectators from many kilometres away.

France does spectacles, well, spectacularly. This one's by the firework masters Lacroix Ruggieri. Tonight, they'll be lighting the blue touch paper at venues across France but Carcassonne's the main event.

As the town fills with euphoric locals, they’re joined by a large part of Montpellier, Toulouse and even Catalans who’ve commuted in from nearby Spain. Parking becomes an interesting experience and the best spots for taking pictures will be full by early afternoon.

First where not to be - the autoroute. Whilst the A61 offers uncluttered vistas of the Cité, it also offers excellent views of the gendarmes who’ll be there to make sure that you’re not a traffic hazard.

The adjacent service area, called la Belvedere de la Cité, will be closed for the evening. It only holds a tenth of the people who would like to park in it.

Carcassonne fireworks

So here’s a beginner's guide to the pyrotechnic event of the year. . .

The high-flying parts of the display can be seen from anywhere that you can glimpse the Cité. However some more subtle effects only peek above the battlements so you need to be where you can see the entire walls to enjoy these.

For the best vista of the whole show, it has to be the bridge across the river Aude or on the adjacent riverbank. Le Pont Neuf joins the Medieval Cité to the modern town. From there you'll have a clear view of the entire length of Cité wall.

Any really serious photographers will be there from 14:00 staking out a space for their tripods. They'll jealously guard their spot until 22:30 when the first rockets take to the sky.

If you're planning to shoot a Hollywood blockbuster then you'll have to do the same. However ordinary mortals with families may prefer to arrive in the early afternoon, abandon the car while there’s still parking to be had, then relax on foot.

Medieval Citè fireworks display

There are worse ways to spend the afternoon and early evening than touring the Citè or taking in the shops in the modern town along the pedestrianised rue Georges Clemenceau. Everywhere cafés and restaurants beckon.

There'll be free open air concerts in place Carnot from 18h00 with Welsh guitarist and French musical institution, Michael Jones, followed by a full size dance orchestra.

Now, where to park - there are a number of car parks on the inner ring which surrounds the town centre -

- west side - boulevard Varsovie,
- south side - boulevard Barbès
- east side - square Gambetta
- north side - square André Chenier

A little further out of town there's the main tourist car park at the Cité itself.

Alternatively, excellent views of the Cité can had from the peripherique south of Carcassonne. Many locals enjoy a grandstand view from the vineyards between the main hospital and the Lycée Agricole. Please take care when parking, you won't be alone.

The whole thing's done with military precision - computer-controlled, of course. At 22:25, the street lights are extinguished to provide a clear night sky background, and at 22:30 it's showtime.

This is a real French experience to be savoured rather than hurried. You'll be sharing it with many local people. Enjoy the relaxed party atmosphere and you'll be talking about this long after the holiday's over.

Copyright note: French law regards a firework show as a creative work which is subject to copyright.

Spectators are welcome to photograph the event for their own personal use but professionals shouldn't market their photographs or videos without agreement from the event organisers, Lacroix Ruggieri.

We publish these images of the 2010 show with their kind permission

A selection of links to Pure France holiday rental homes in the Carcassonne area is included below. So if you're too late for this year, be sure to book early for 2012!

14 July - Bastille Day fireworks at Carcassonne

A beginners' guide to joining one of the most watched events of the summer calendar

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