The Flame Returns to the Tuileries: Summer 2025 in Paris
One year after the Paris Olympics, the spirit of the Games lights up the capital once more.
One year on from the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Vasque fountain has returned to the Tuileries Garden, rekindling the flame—both literal and symbolic—of one of France’s proudest moments. Installed once again in the centre of the Grand Bassin Rond, the striking basin designed by Mathieu Lehanneur will remain on display throughout the summer.
Its reappearance, from 21 June 2025, marks the celebration of Olympic and Paralympic Day, a date that coincides neatly with the Fête de la Musique—a day when Paris becomes a stage and the city sings into the night. A public concert launched the installation, drawing crowds and cameras to one of the capital’s most elegant green spaces. We were lucky enough to see it on a recent long weekend in the French capital.
The torch—part sculpture, part balloon—sits beautifully in the Tuileries Garden, framed by the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and visible from several side streets leading into the park, including Rue du 29 Juillet. We viewed it from a range of angles across the garden, and could even see it rising above the rooftops from our balcony at the Hotel de la Madeleine.
The garden itself opens daily from 7 a.m., though access to the area around the Vasque is from 10 a.m. onwards. Throughout July, the gardens stay open late, with crowds gathering to celebrate the torch rising into the air. Expect street sellers, live music, and family gatherings. From August, timings shift slightly earlier—so it’s worth checking the official site before visiting, especially as weather can affect the show.
Whether you’re strolling through the Tuileries before dinner, catching the golden hour by the fountain, or watching the summer sky fill with light and sound, this is a moment worth witnessing—and capturing.