Eiffel Tower with Bastille Day fireworks in Paris
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Bastille Day 2025: France's National Day Celebration Guide

November 2, 20247 min read

Experience the grandeur of Bastille Day with our guide to France's national holiday, from military parades to Eiffel Tower fireworks.

Bastille Day: Celebrating French Liberty

Bastille Day, known in France as La Fête Nationale or Le 14 Juillet, commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, a pivotal event in the French Revolution.

Bastille Day 2025

  • Date: Monday, July 14, 2025
  • Public Holiday: France and French territories
  • Historical Significance

    The storming of the Bastille symbolized the uprising against the monarchy and the birth of the French Republic. The fortress prison represented royal authority and its fall marked the beginning of revolutionary change.

    Traditional Celebrations

    The Military Parade

    The Champs-Élysées hosts the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe:

  • French President presides
  • Troops march from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde
  • Military aircraft perform flyovers
  • International troops sometimes participate
  • Fireworks

    Spectacular fireworks displays across France:

  • Paris: The Eiffel Tower display is world-famous
  • Duration: 30-35 minutes of stunning pyrotechnics
  • Best viewing spots fill hours in advance
  • Bal des Pompiers

    Firefighters' balls held at fire stations across France:

  • Open to the public
  • Live music and dancing
  • Held on July 13th and 14th evenings
  • French National Symbols

  • La Marseillaise: The national anthem
  • Tricolor Flag: Blue, white, and red
  • Marianne: Symbol of the French Republic
  • Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: The national motto
  • Planning Your Bastille Day Calendar

  • Book accommodations in Paris well in advance
  • Arrive early for parade viewing spots
  • Plan your fireworks viewing location
  • Make dinner reservations for the evening
  • Check for Bal des Pompiers near you
  • Celebrations Beyond Paris

  • Lyon: Festival of Lights preview events
  • Nice: Beach fireworks
  • Marseille: Old Port celebrations
  • Bastille Day celebrates the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that define the French Republic.

    Tags

    #Bastille Day#France#July#National Day

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