Bastille Day
July 14, 2026, Independence Day
What is Bastille Day?
France's national holiday takes place every year on July 14. It commemorates the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789
What happened on July 14, 1789?
On July 14, 1789, in Paris, an angry crowd attacked the Bastille, a fortified prison symbolizing royal authority and absolutism. Parisians, exasperated by the economic crisis, rising prices and political tensions, sought weapons to defend themselves against royal troops. After failed negotiations with the governor of the Bastille, Bernard-René de Launay, the insurgents stormed the fortress.
The storming of the Bastille caused several deaths, but it marked a decisive turning point. The governor was captured, executed, and his head paraded on a pike. This event became the symbol of the struggle against royal oppression and triggered a revolutionary wave across France.
Bastille Day Celebrations
July 14 is the occasion for a grand military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, with the participation of the President of the Republic. Nighttime shows with fireworks are also organized on the eve of July 14 throughout France, along with dances and popular festivities.
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