Bastille Day - Bastille Day

The French National Day (Bastille Day) is celebrated every year on the occasion of the capture of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. Previously, on July 11, 1789, King Louis XVI expelled the reformist minister Jacques Necker and reorganized all ministries. This decision caused the people of Paris to rebel. Although there were only seven prisoners held in the Bastille at the time, the prison was a symbol of the oppressive rule of the Bourbon royal monarchy. As a result, approximately 1,000 civilians came to occupy the Bastille, against the king's 114 soldiers. After four hours of fighting, the rebels captured the Bastille. The French veterans and Swiss soldiers guarding the Bastille could not resist, and had to surrender. The event of revolutionaries with citizens and soldiers breaking into the Bastille marked the beginning of the French revolution, which later led to the depose of King Louis XVI.

The French celebrate Bastille Day with festivals, parties, fireworks and patriotic flags everywhere. The colors on the French flag include: red, white and blue which are said to represent the ideals of the French Revolution and came about because of this event. You'll likely find parties and celebrations across the country or in French communities around the world, but the biggest Bastille Day event is in Paris. In addition, if you walk on the Champs-Elysées, you will admire the huge military parade taking place here. The parade is the oldest in Europe, held on the morning of July 14 almost every year since 1880. It begins with the arrival of the President of France to inspect the army. Troops and officers then marched down the Champs-Elysées with military bands, accompanied by a fleet of jets that performed spectacularly in the sky. The Bastille Day Parade usually begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts for an hour.

The main event of Bastille Day in Paris is probably the evening fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. In general, things get very crowded so it's best to walk. The most popular place to get the best out of this free sight is Champ-de-Mars (it gets crowded if you don't mind the crowds) but you can also head to the banks of the Seine, an apartment or a balcony hotel, Montparnasse tower or beyond by Sacre Cœur or Amusement Park to see them. The evening begins at 9:30pm with a free concert at the foot of the Eiffel Tower from the Orchester National de France and the Chœur de la Maîtrise de Radio France. The fireworks start at 11am and last for half an hour.

Festival time: July 14, 2020