FETE NATIONALE CELEBRATIONS

La fête de la Bastille or la Fête nationale marks the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 and the beginning of the French Revolution.

The Bastille was seen as a symbol of the absolute power of Louis the 16th’s Regime and its storming and defeat represented a symbol of liberty in the fight against perceived oppression of French citizens by the Monarchy.

Bastille Day was declared a French national holiday in 1880, a celebration of the birth of the Republic.

Processions, fireworks, dancing, and a lot of celebrating mark the event every year throughout France.

SOME KIND OF EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN MOST TOWNS AND VILLAGES, HERE’S A ROUGH GUIDE TO WHAT’S USUALLY ON BUT ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE RELEVANT OFFICE DE TOURISME.

Arles sur Tech
Flame-lit parade, fireworks & balBanyuls sur Mer
Grillade & musicCanet-en-RoussillonFireworks and disco – plage centrale & Place MéditerranéeFormiguères Concert and fireworks – villagePerpîgnan
Fireworks & music – CastilletPort Barcarès
Fireworks – Place de la RépubliquePrats de Mollo
Parade with flames – fireworks – sardanesThuirLive music and dancing – Place de la RépubliqueVernet-les-bainsBal and fireworks – Place de la République & Pont du Rudyard KiplingArgeles-sur-Mer
Concerts, bandas & fireworksBanyuls-sur-Mer  Sardane and bal, place Paul ReigCéret Morning parade with vin d’honneurLe BoulouConcert and fireworksPradesBal with fireworksSaint Cyprien
Concerts, bal and firework displaySaint Féliu d’Amont
BBQ, concert and firework display

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BASTILLE DAY