Paris From Above

Jul 18, 2013 

Last Sunday, France celebrated Bastille Day, commemorating the start of the French Revolution in 1789 -- the end of monarchy and the beginning of modern France. Reuters photographers Charles Platiau and Gonzalo Fuentes took to the skies above Paris for the occasion, capturing images of the capital city, its unique blend of historic and modern architecture, and some of its residents and visitors enjoying the sunny day. [27 photos]

The Eiffel Tower, illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris, on July 14, 2013.(Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)

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The Sacre Coeur Basilica and rooftops of residential buildings on Montmartre in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Arc de Triomphe at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as the "Place de l'Etoile", on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Place des Vosges in the Marais district of Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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Graves at the Montparnasse Cemetery, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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People relax in chairs around a fountain as they take in the sun in the Palais Royal Garden in central Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Center Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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A closer view of the Center Pompidou, which houses the National Museum of Modern Art, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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Renovations including a new greenhouse (left) at the zoo in the Parc de Vincennes in the east of Paris, on July 14, 2013. The 131 million euro project will transform the zoo in several ways, creating new habitats and modernizing interactions with the animals. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Gare de l'Est railway train station, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Eiffel Tower, the Seine River and the Paris skyline, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The National French Radio building (Maison de la Radio) which stands next to the Seine River, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Arche de la Defense building (center) in the financial and business district, near Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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People wait outside the Pyramid of the Louvre Museum in central Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Sacre Coeur Basilica on Montmartre, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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Contruction of the Canopy, as part of the renovation of Les Halles district in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The construction site of the Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation art museum designed by architect Frank Gehry in the Bois de Boulogne, western Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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Rooftops of residential buildings in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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A military Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft, followed by Rafale and Mirage fighter jets flies past the Eiffel tower as part of the traditional Bastille Day parade, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Ile Saint-Louis, in the Seine River in central Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Parc des Princes stadium (left) and the newly renovated stadium Jean Bouin by architect Rudy Ricciotti, on July 14, 2013. The Parc des Princes hosts soccer matches of French Ligue 1 team Paris St Germain. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The Hotel des Invalides, with royal courtyard, the Church of Saint Louis and the Dome, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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Troops march down the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day parade, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The French aerial display team Patrouille de France (French Aerobatic Patrol) flies in front of the Eiffel tower as part of the traditional Bastille day military parade, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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The aerial subway and the city rooftops in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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The Invalides and the Arc de Triomphe, during the evening of Bastille Day, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the Bastille Day fireworks display, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

From: The Atlantic