Top choices - Paris e-guide: The Travel Guide with its Own Website - page 5

La Marche des Fiertés LGBT (Gay Pride)
www.fiertes-lgbt.org
This vivacious and flamboyant celebration of gay, lesbian,
bi- and transsexual culture attracts around 650,000
onlookers and performers. A week of exhibitions, events
and parties climaxes in the parade, which kicks off at
2pm and dances its way to place de la Bastille. It's
fabulous fun, but the underlying message of tolerance,
education and equality is serious. End Jun

park (scene of free open-air concerts). There's a penchant
for innovative and experimental music, with appearances
by big names such as Herbie Hancock, as well as a host
of local favourites such as Baptiste Trotignon. Sep

Le Quatorze Juillet (Bastille Day)
France's national holiday recalls the storming of the
Bastille in 1789 and the beginning of the republic. By
10am, hordes pack the Champs-Elysées for a glimpse of
French military might and the president reviewing the
troops. Later that night, thousands gather under the Tour
Eiffel to watch the fireworks at Trocadéro, as others head
off for more partying at the bals des pompiers (firemen's
balls) held in stations all over the city. Some of these
kick off the previous night, when Parisians can also
dance their heart out on place de la Bastille. 14 Jul

La Nuit Blanche
Check out all the activities at www.paris.fr
The brainchild of Mayor Delanoë, “Sleepless Night” is
designed to keep Parisians up all night with a hefty
dose of culture. And, it's all free, from nocturnal swim-
ming sessions and a 3am art crawl through the Centre
Pompidou, to techno concerts. A must for the culturally
curious, night owls and insomniacs. Early Oct Le Tour de France

See the action at www.letour.fr
The world's best road cyclists descend on Paris each
year for the final stage of the Tour de France. Riders loop
past place de la Bastille before completing nine laps
around the Champs-Elysées, place de la Concorde and
rue de Rivoli, including a final sprint up the Champs
Elysées to the finish line. End Jul

WINTER

Paris sur Glace
Place Hôtel de Ville, 4ème; place Raoul Dautry, 15ème
Both open noon-10pm Mon-Thu, noon-midnight Fri,
9am-midnight Sat, 9am-10pm Sun
It might not be a frozen lake in the Alps, but in the
depth of winter, an open-air Paris ice rink can be equally
enchanting. Two rinks are open to the public free of
charge - the one in front of the grandiose Hôtel de Ville
is the largest and perhaps the prettiest, ringed with fir
trees and twinkling lights when night falls. Skates are
available for hire. Early Dec-early Mar

AUTUMN

Festival d'Automne
01 53 45 17 00, www.festival-automne.com
Parisians are jolted out of their summer slumber with
the arrival of this forward-looking, city-wide arts festival,
showcasing new talent from around the world. It's all
about music, opera, theatre and dance not previously
shown in France; the kind of productions that make you
sit up and pay attention. Sep-Dec

Le Réveillon (New Year's Eve)
While some Parisians prefer to spend their Réveillon (or
Fête de St-Sylvestre) sitting around the table supping
oysters and reminiscing, more spirited folk take to the
streets. Crowds throng the Champs-Elysées, bars
around Bastille teem and the Quartier Latin is alive
with people throwing their arms around each other
and screeching “ Bonne année ! . 31 Dec

Jazz à la Villette
www.cite-musique.fr • Q Porte de Pantin
La Villette's annual week-long jazz festival spills out into
the Cité de la Musique (see p108) , local bars and the