Bastille Day commemorates the 1790 “Fête de la Fédération”, held on the first anniversary of the dismantlement of the Bastille fortress on 14 July 1789.
The storming of the Bastille was an important symbol of a new era in the country and preceded the First Republic.
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BASTILLE DAY
The parade is opened by cadets from the most prestigious French military schools (Ecole Polytechnique, Saint-Cyr and Ecole Navale). The future officers are then successively followed by military infantry troops, including the French Foreign Legion troops, motorised and armoured troops. One of the most awaited moment that delights old and young alike is the aerial parade in which hundreds of aircrafts and helicopters participate, especially the “Patrouille de France”. The impressive flypast is a unique event in the sky of Paris, as flying over the city is forbidden for security matters. Parallel to the foot parade, the ceremonial flight of aircrafts perform along a straight line following the “Historical Axis” (La Défense, the Champs-Elysées and the Tuileries).
Until 2009, right after the Parade, a garden party was held at the Elysée Palace, hosted by the French President. In 2008, some 8,000 guests were invited from all over the country to join the party at the Presidential Palace.
The Paris parade is arguably one of the most popular events in France to be broadcasted on French TV.
At night, an amazing firework display sets off the festivities with the Eiffel Tower as the general focus.
But of course, Paris is not the only place to celebrate Bastille Day in France. From every city to every village, the “Fête Nationale” is the occasion for Bals Dansants, firework shows, local parades, or large-scale picnics.
BASTILLE DAY is the French national holiday and is celebrated on the 14th July each year. It is called “Fête Nationale” in France and also more commonly “le quatorze juillet”.
Among the festivities which are held the morning of 14 July, the largest is the military parade on the Champs-Elysées in Paris which dates back to 1880. 4,000 soldiers, 240 horses and 460 vehicles and some 100 aircrafts parade down the Champs-Elysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, in front of the President of the Republic, the French government, foreign Paris-based ambassadors and other officials.
For many, the French parade is by far the largest and the oldest of that kind in the world. Surely, the setting of the Champs-Elysées contributes to its popularity as the avenue is large and long enough to host such an event.
Many of Paris’ world-famous landmarks also add a ‘magic touch’ to it: the Arc de Triomphe with a very large French flag floating under its arch, the Place de la Concorde with the traditional Presidential platform set up for the occasion, the Grande Arche de la Défense ... and the Eiffel Tower which is never far away!
Since Mitterand’s presidential mandate, it has become a tradition to invite guest military troops from other allied nation-states of France: Morocco in 1999, the USA in 2002, the United Kingdom in 2004 (for the centenary of the Entente Cordiale), Brazil in 2005. In 1994, Mitterand’s invitation to German troops stirred up some memories as it was the first time German soldiers had paraded in France since World War 2! Another great occasion of reconciliation occurred in 2007 - President Sarkozy’s first parade - delegations from the 26 member-states of the European Union passed down the Champs-Elysées. Never before had such a gathering of European army delegations been organised, with the European flag flown and the European anthem played.
The military parade
Beyond the parade: c’est la fête !
Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower
La Fête Nationale