Bastille Day Traditions
Bastille Day, France’s biggest national event of the year is celebrated on the 14th of July. Known as La Fête de la Bastille or La Fête Nationale, the annual celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 and the first major event of the French Revolution of 1789. Very proud of their history and particularly passionate about Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, the French celebrate this momentous occasion with gusto.
“The destruction of the Bastille prison in central Paris was chosen as a symbol of France’s first stirrings of democracy, though it would take several reinstated monarchies and bloody revolutions to establish an enduring Republic.” – Go Paris
5 Bastille Day Traditions in Paris
A national holiday is often defined by the annual traditions that the public and government establish. Here are five of the major ongoing French Bastille Day Traditions held in Paris. If you are lucky enough to coincide your visit to Paris with Bastille Day you are in for a treat!
Military parade from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde
This is a spectacle to behold. The parade commences at 10am at the Arc de Triomphe and ends at the Place de la Concorde. The President of France leads the parade while French jets fly overhead. The Arc de Triomphe creates a dramatic backdrop as waves of soldiers and marching bands make their way down the Champs-Élysées.
Louis XIV knew what he was doing when he carved the wide avenue of the Grande Promenade down the heart of Paris in the 17th century. This parade is the oldest and largest military parade in the world. Bringing up the rear of the parade is the fire brigade, the largest fire-brigade in Europe.
Bal de Pompiers (Fireman’s Ball)
On the evening of 13 July, the night before Bastille Day, the city comes alive for a very special party. The fire stations around Paris open to the public for the Fireman’s Ball. Firehouses open their doors to the public for dancing, live music, drinking, and demonstrations. The dancing starts around 9pm and goes as late as 4am. All the firemen wear their uniforms, with a pretty quick turn around to be at the parade the next morning!
It is rumoured that a firehouse last year featured a firemen striptease. No wonder the lines are hundreds of meters long as people wait to be let into the party. The Bal de Pompier is a fundraising event and the money collected goes towards funding fire stations all over France.
Bastille Day Fireworks
All over France fireworks erupt on the night sky on July 14. Sizzling and clapping, fireworks displays are enjoyed in rural villages in Brittany and beyond.
The most famous and spectacular fireworks of all are seen on the Eiffel Tower. Gather around the Champs de Mars or along the Seine to witness a spectacular music concert beginning around 9pm and wait until 11pm for the show-stopping fireworks. A half hour of bright yellow, blue, pink, green, and gold explosions around the Eiffel Tower will leave you with memories for years to come.
What’s happening at the Louvre?
On Bastille Day admission to the Louvre is free for everyone all day! What better day to revel in some rebellious artwork depicting the French Revolution? An empty museum and full pockets, sounds pretty good to me. Just remember to tear yourself away from the artwork in time for the fireworks!
Fountain show at Versailles
When Bastille Day falls on a Saturday you have the unique opportunity to catch a water and fireworks display at the royal palace of Versailles.
When night falls, the Gardens are transformed to offer a stunning visual and musical treat as fountains and groves come alive with colourful and dramatic lighting effects. Lighting and stage-effects artists light up the gardens: water features in the Mirror Fountain, lasers streaking across the dark in the Colonnade Grove and the fireworks display in front of the Grand Canal by the Groupe F to conclude the evening’s entertainment.
Why not plan your visit to Versailles around one of their Saturday night fountain and firework shows? What a magical way to spend Bastille Day!
Bastille Day Outside of Paris
In villages and outside of city centres, families and friends celebrate Bastille Day with backyard barbecues, picnics in the park drinking champagne, and community games of petanque.
Check our Calendar of French Traditions & Celebrations to find out about all French national holidays, celebrations and remembrance days.
