Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called Fête nationale. The French National Day is the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a major event of the French Revolution.

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One that has been reported as “the oldest and largest military parade in Europe” is held on 14 July on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, along with other French officials and foreign guests.

If you are lucky enough to spend Bastille Day – known in France as La Fête Nationale (French National Day) or Le Quatorze Juillet (July 14th) – in Paris, you’ll get to experience the biggest summer celebration in the city.

Champ de Mars is also the site of free open air concerts through the early evening hours.  At 9:10pm, a special concert of classical music and opera featuring internationally acclaimed artists begins with musicians performing from the base of the Eiffel Tower and special lighting effects, and will also be aired live on France Inter and France 2 TV.

Fireworks start at 11pm, once the sky is finally almost dark, and the show lasts about 35 minutes.

The Fête de la Fédération on 14 July 1790 was a celebration of the unity of the French nation during the French Revolution. The aim of this celebration, one year after the Storming of the Bastille, was to symbolize peace. The event took place on the Champ de Mars, which was located far outside of Paris at the time.

After the end of the official celebration, the day ended in a huge four-day popular feast, and people celebrated with fireworks, as well as fine wine and running nude through the streets in order to display their great freedom.

RATP ::: Metro timetables • Bus timetables • Tramway timetables • RER timetables

⇒ Also сheck оut мore info: Public transport (parisinfo.com) • Getting to France (uk.france.fr)

BUS: sobus.travel — sells bus tickets for all the bus companies. The Noctilien (Map of Noctilien) is a night bus service that operates in Paris and the Paris region from 12.30am to 5.30am.

TRAIN: For regional trains, schedules can be found at ter.sncf.com. For long distances, use the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, or High-speed train) on which reservations are obligatory. TGV • Thello • Ouigo. + RailEurope • Eurostar • Thalys • izy (Paris-Brussels) • TGV Lyria (Switzerland) • DB (Germany) • RENFE (Barcelona)

AIRPORT: parisaeroport.fr – Paris airport information. aeroport.fr – list of airports in France.

• Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport by public transport
• Paris-Orly airport by public transport
• Beauvais Airport / Paris ↔ Airport Shuttle

FERRY: Batobus – Eiffel Tower ⇒ Musée d’Orsay ⇒ St Germain des Près ⇒ Notre-Dame Cathedral ⇒ Jardin des Plantes ⇒ Hôtel de Ville ⇒ Louvre ⇒ Champs-Elysées ⇒ Beaugrenelle. + Getting to Paris by boat /  More Info about Passenger Boats

There’s an old travel mantra that you should avoid Paris in summer, when its citizens traditionally go on vacation. Don’t listen! Sure, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dentist or an accountant working in August. But Paris is never deserted (where would 2.2 million people go?), and you’ll find it easy to tap into the city’s breezy summertime fun. And, if you time your trip right, you’ll be in town for a big party.

On July 14, France celebrates Bastille Day with a huge, patriotic bash — and everyone’s welcome to join in. You’ll get a taste of the fun in this clip from my new, one-hour Rick Steves’ European Festivals public television special.

⇒ video source: Rick Steves’ Europe / youtube.com /

How do you obtain a VISA for a stay in France – and what are the customs procedures? + Customs and Visas (france.fr)

The practical travel and tourist information pages on Paris, French regions, driving in France, and a whole lot more.

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