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 & bal

Banyuls sur Mer
Grillade & music

Canet-en-Roussillon
Fireworks and disco – plage centrale & Place Méditerranée

Formiguères
Concert and fireworks – village

Perpîgnan
Fireworks & music – Castillet

Port Barcarès
Fireworks – Place de la République

Prats de Mollo
Parade with flames – fireworks – sardanes

Thuir
Live music and dancing – Place de la République

Vernet-les-bains
Bal and fireworks – Place de la République & Pont du Rudyard Kipling

Argeles-sur-Mer
Concerts, bandas & fireworks

Banyuls-sur-Mer 
Sardane and bal, place Paul Reig

Céret
Morning parade with vin d’honneur

Le Boulou
Concert and fireworks

Prades
Bal with fireworks

Saint Cyprien
Concerts, bal and firework display

Saint Féliu d’Amont
BBQ, concert and firework display

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BASTILLE DAY