Paris Events

Tennis first became popular in France at the end of the 19th century. The first national men's competition was held in 1891 with the ladies' following a few year later in 1897. It welcomed its first international players in 1925. Since then, the French Open or Roland Garros Tournament (named after a French engineer and fighter pilot shot down during WWI) has developed into a major tennis event. It is one of the four tournaments that make up the Grand Slam championships (with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open), the most important championships in the tennis calendar. It is famous for its red clay courts, which many of the world's top players struggle to conquer. The championship takes place just a few weeks before Wimbledon in England and generates a lot of excitement within the game. The year 2006 saw the innovation of equal prize money for both men and women.

France’s premier film festival is a glamorous affair with events taking place at 15 venues across the city over two weeks in July. More than 30 French films are premiered as well as dozens of international offerings. It attracts high-calibre film stars and directors from around the world. A guest always ‘chairs’ the festival. In 2010 it was Charlotte Rampling.

A free outdoor film festival held in Parc de la Villette offers a series of well-curated art house flicks and classics. Don’t expect Toy story 3, instead François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard or Woody Allen.

France’s principal national holiday is held every 14 July with festivities and fireworks to commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789. It is officially called the Fête Nationale (The National Celebration). The best places to catch the fireworks is the Eiffel Tower and there are parades up the Champs-Élysées.

Sex, drugs and just the roll: It’s the grand finale of the world-famous bicycle race. It’s hard to understate just how fanatically the tour is followed in France. The recent controversies don’t seem to have tarnished the image too much. It finishes on avenue des Champs-Elysées.

National holiday on 11 November with laying of wreaths, military parade and review of troops by the French President of the Republic.

Every city has a central place to celebrate the coming of the new year. In Paris it’s the Champs-Elysées. Its crowded, drunken and great fun. Fireworks on the Eiffel Tower.

Inspired by the glitz and razzmatazz of American New Year celebrations, the Grande Parade de Paris is a fantastically showy affair that takes place in Paris on 1 January to welcome in the New Year. The procession involves choirs, marching bands and performers. The location of the Grande Parade moves each year with previous locations including Paris Grands Boulevards, Montmartre and Disneyland Paris. Since its inception in 1992, the parade has grown into one of the city's best-loved New Year celebrations and attracts thousands of spectators. The event follows the Grande Parade de Chantilly celebrations which take place the evening before on New Year's Eve in Chantilly 20km (12.5 miles) north of Paris.

How many marathons provide a cheese and wine break in the last five miles? This playful event is loved by marathon runners for its, well, Frenchness. It takes in some of the finest cityscape of Paris and is a fun event to watch, if you have already hung up your sneakers. The marathon starts approximately at 0900 on avenue des Champs-Elysées and finishes on avenue Foch.

This vast fair is a showcase for tourism, multimedia and gastronomy around the world. What that means in real terms, is lots of parties, fine food, wine and freebies. Over 1,000 representatives from more than 70 countries converge on the Paris Expo. Recently it has been split into three themes: home and environment, well-being and leisure and world cultures.