What is Bastille Day?
In France it is simply le 14 juillet, the national day. It commemorates two events: the storming of the Bastille, the royal fortress-prison in Paris, on July 14, 1789, the moment that came to symbolize the start of the French Revolution; and the Fête de la Fédération held a year later, on July 14, 1790, a great celebration of national unity on the Champ de Mars. The day was made the official national holiday in 1880.
In Paris, the day has a fixed shape. It opens in the morning with a military parade down the Champs-Élysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, watched by the President. Held every year since 1880 and on the Champs-Élysées since 1918, it is often described as the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe, with marching troops, horses, vehicles and a fly-past by the French air force trailing blue, white and red smoke.
The night belongs to the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower, watched by huge crowds on the Champ de Mars and along the Seine. Across France, towns and villages have their own celebrations, with fireworks, concerts and the much-loved bals des pompiers, dances held in fire stations, on the evenings of the 13th and 14th.
What to expect
The celebrations in Paris run from the evening of July 13 to the night of July 14.
July 13
The firemen's balls
On the eve, many of Paris's fire stations open their courtyards for dances, with music, drinks and a festive crowd, often running late into the night. Some towns also hold their fireworks on the 13th.
July 14 morning
The parade
The military parade starts mid-morning on the Champs-Élysées. The fly-past of jets and helicopters opens it, followed by marching units and vehicles. Crowds line the avenue from early morning.
July 14 night
The fireworks
After an evening concert on the Champ de Mars, the fireworks begin at around 11pm over the Eiffel Tower, lasting about half an hour. The whole city looks towards the tower.
The fly-past over the Champs-Élysées on Bastille Day
Planning your trip
Getting there
Paris is served by two major airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, and by high-speed trains and Eurostar from across Europe. On July 14, several metro stations near the Champs-Élysées, the Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower close for security; check the transport authority's announcements, and expect to walk.
Where to stay
Anywhere central works, as long as you are close to a metro line. Hotels with views of the Eiffel Tower are in high demand and expensive for the night of the 14th. July is high season in Paris, and many Parisians leave for their holidays around this date.
What it costs
The parade, the concert and the fireworks are free, though some viewing areas along the parade route are reserved. Paris is expensive in July, and the cost of a room rises around the holiday. Dinner cruises on the Seine with a fireworks view sell out early and are priced accordingly.
Go like you know
- Bring a picnic to the Champ de Mars in the afternoon if you want to be close for the concert and the fireworks.
- Go to a bal des pompiers. Entry is often free or by donation, and the money supports the firefighters.
- Don't call it Bastille Day in France; say le 14 juillet.
- Visit the Place de la Bastille itself; the prison is long gone, but the July Column marks the spot.
- Lyon's Fête des Lumières is France's great winter festival of light, in December.
- Paris's harvest festival, the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, fills the hill of Montmartre in October.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bastille Day?
Every year on July 14, a public holiday across France. Celebrations start on the evening of July 13 with the firemen's balls and some fireworks, continue with the military parade on the morning of the 14th, and end with the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower that night.
Where can I see the parade?
Along the Champs-Élysées, between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. Arrive very early, by 7 or 8am, to get a place near the front. Some sections are reserved for invited guests. The fly-past can be seen from much of central Paris.
Is it celebrated outside Paris?
Yes. Towns and villages all over France hold fireworks, dances, parades and concerts on the 13th and 14th, often more relaxed than in Paris. Wherever you are in France on July 14, ask at the town hall or tourist office about the local programme.
