- Fireworks were fired from the Eiffel Tower as part of the Bastille Day celebrations on the 14th July.
The 35 minute display had the theme of War & Peace to commemorate the 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. The display was put on by the renowned French firework company Group F who have also been involved in many major firework displays in the UK over recent years.
The display which started at 11pm was held simultaneously with displays across the country.
Bastille Day marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison by angry Paris crowds that helped spark the French Revolution. This year troops from the 76 nations involved in the First World War were invited to take part in the parade.
As well as fireworks on the Eiffel Tower the tower was bathed in light from 300 projectors. The tower was lit up with the colours of the soldier’s uniforms. More than 3500 troops took part in the parade along with aircraft, vehicles and horses.
Christophe Berthonneau the artistic director of the pyrotechnics and theatre company Groupe F has already coordinated large scale shows for events such as France’s hosting of the 1998 World Cup, the opening and closing ceremonies at the Athens 2004 and earlier this year a show for the 70th anniversary of D-Day before an audience of world leaders.
For the first time in 14 years Eiffel Tower had fireworks fired from it but with tourists still visiting the tower just hours before the display it meant Group F using all their expertise to rig the show in time.
