After an audacious opening ceremony, France went above and beyond with the Olympic flame – lighting a vast cauldron that was attached to a hot air balloon floating over the Tuileries gardens in central Paris.

While the flame went away once the Olympics ended, it has returned for the Paralympics which will run from August 28th to September 8th.

The Paralympic torch will be housed at the Tuileries gardens from August 28th to September 7th, and possibly after if they city’s mayor gets her way.

The flame – which is not actually burning, but rather it is a type of optical illusion using a cloud of mist and LED lights to make it appear to be on fire – is carried in a cauldron attached to a floating hot-air balloon.

A new Parisian icon is born pic.twitter.com/VW4H84258t

— Michel Rose (@MichelReuters) July 28, 2024

During the daytime, it sits just above one of the pools in the Jardin des Tuileries, and at nighttime it floats up to 60m above the ground, making it visible from a long distance.

The balloon itself is a nod to the first flight in a hydrogen-filled balloon, which took off from the Jardin des Tuileries (where the flame is currently located).

READ MORE: How many of the French references did you get in the Olympics opening ceremony?

The floating flame – known as la vasque in French – has been a huge success, particularly once people found out that it is free to visit.

However, it is still required to reserve a time slot in advance.

Tickets

There will be an opportunity to see the torch being lit during the opening ceremony without advance registration, though you will want to arrive early. There will be standing-room space for 3,000 people by the Louvre, according to Le Parisien.

From August 29th, the site will once again be open from 10am to 7pm, and you will need to show a single-use QR code to enter. As the site is outdoors, Olympics organisers advise that people check the weather forecast before planning a visit.

Tickets can be booked online here – but be warned, they sell out fast. New booking slots will be added each day during the next opening period.

How can I see it without a ticket?

During the day, it might be hard to see the flame from outside the garden, but the hot-air balloon floats up to 60 metres in the sky at night. Take-off starts around sunset – although if the weather is bad the liftoff can be delayed or cancelled.

During the break between the Olympics and Paralympics the balloon may be taking off less frequently.

A decade in Paris and I think watching the Olympic Games Cauldron rise above the city, the Louvre and the Seine – in the form of a hot air balloon and all that symbolically represents to the French – has been one of the most magical and memorable moments 🇫🇷 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/8WjBMvHD8t

— Chris Neri (@christianneri75) July 28, 2024

Once it is in the air, the flame is visible from “hundreds of metres away”, according to Olympics organisers.

Here are some suggestions for places that should give you a good view.

Rue de Rivoli and Place des Pyramides – If you have access to a balcony near the rue de Rivoli, then you would likely have a good view. You could also try the Place des Pyramides near the golden statue of Joan of Arc.

From Place du Carrousel – This is the traffic circle area located near the Louvre museum and its famous pyramid at the end of the Jardin des Tuileries. This spot will give you a great view directly through the gardens to the balloon, although it will likely be pretty crowded.

Atop the Arc de Triomphe – The Arc stays open every day until 11pm, though you need to purchase a ticket. From the roof of the Arc, you should get a good view of the flame.

From the Champs-Elysées – You’ll have to put yourself somewhere between the Arc de Triomphe and the Franklin D Roosevelt station, as the Place de la Concorde is being used as an Olympics venue. You can try this out, but you do risk having your view blocked partially by the stands.

Along the riverbank – If you go to the other side of the Seine, you could get a decent view of the flame from the Quai Anatole France or Quai Voltaire. 

Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur – You will certainly be moving away from the hot-air balloon, so it’ll appear smaller, but you should be able to make it out as you will get the full panorama of the capital from Sacré-Coeur. Consider bringing some binoculars.

Rooftops – This might be a good excuse for a night out at a nearby rooftop bar, or a shopping spree that involves climbing to the top of one of one of Paris’ many department stores (BHV Marais, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps) that offer panoramic views of the city. Though you might want to pack some binoculars.

Will it stick around after the Paralympics?

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the France Bleu broadcaster that she hoped that the popular hot-air balloon could find a permanent home in Paris.

She had the same goal for the Olympic rings at the Eiffel Tower, as well as the statues of 10 French women that were part of the Olympics opening ceremony.

“We should explore possibilities for these three symbols,” Hidalgo said. “These three artistic, symbolic and magnificent objects deserve our full attention.”

Hidalgo acknowledged, however, that any decision to keep them on display was not hers alone “so I cannot promise today that they will stay”.

READ MORE: Paris wants to keep balloon and Olympic landmarks after Games