Paris from a bird's eye view

On July 14, 2013, France celebrated Bastille Day, dedicated to the French Revolution in 1789, the end of the monarchy and the beginning of modern France. To mark the occasion, Reuters photographers Charles Platio and Gonzalo Fuentes took to the skies above Paris to capture breathtaking images of this unique city, a perfect blend of historic and modern architecture.

(Total 27 photos)

1. The Eiffel Tower against the backdrop of fireworks during the celebration of Bastille Day in Paris, July 14, 2013.

2. Sacré-Coeur Basilica and residential buildings around in Montmartre.

3. Arc de Triomphe in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as Place de l'Etoile.

4. Place des Vosges in the Marais.

5. Cemetery Montparnasse.

6. People relax around the fountain in the Palais Royal park in the center of Paris.

7. Center Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg.

8. Center Pompidou, which houses the National Museum of Modern Art.

9. Reconstruction of the Vincennes Zoo in the east of Paris. 131 million euros were allocated for the reconstruction.

10. Train station Gare de Lest.

11. Eiffel Tower.

12. The building of the National French Radio.

13. Large Arch of Defense in the financial and business district in the suburbs of Paris.

14. Pyramid of the Louvre in the center of Paris.

15. Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre.

16. Les Halles, under reconstruction, in Paris.

17. Construction of the Louis Vuitton Museum of Art by architect Frank Gehry in the Bois de Boulogne in western Paris.

18. Roofs of houses in Paris.

19. Airborne early warning and control aircraft and Mirage and Rafal fighters fly past the Eiffel Tower during the parade in honor of Bastille Day.

20. Ile Saint-Louis in the center of Paris.

21. Parc des Princes (left) and the recently renovated Stade Jean-Bouin.

22. Les Invalides.

23. Traditional parade on the Champs Elysees in honor of Bastille Day.

24. Aerobatic team Patrol de France flies over Paris as part of a military parade in honor of Bastille Day.

25. Roofs of the French capital.

26. The illuminated Les Invalides and the Arc de Triomphe stand out from other buildings in Paris.

27. Fireworks in honor of Bastille Day near the Eiffel Tower.