| The day is a celebration of independence and liberty. | | | | fighting for that remains symbolic for the people of |
| Cities all over France will be celebrating the spirit of | | | | France, even to this day. Truly a cause for celebration! |
| freedom and democracy but the major events will be | | | | Bastille Day, or Fete National as it is known to the |
| held in the Capital, Paris, making it a great time to plan | | | | French is celebrated over two days. Traditionally, the |
| your visit and take part in the celebrations. | | | | fire stations in Paris open their doors to the public |
| Bastile Day marks the anniversary of the storming of | | | | between 9pm on the 13th July and 4am on the 14th, |
| the Bastille in 1789, a prison which held political rebels | | | | for music and dancing, spilling out onto the streets for |
| who were considered by King Louis 16th to be | | | | the public to enjoy. A list is published of those stations |
| unlawfully outspoken and troublesome. | | | | which will be open in the weeks leading up to the |
| At the time, France was ruled by a wealthy King and | | | | event in local papers and a small donations is usually |
| Queen who did nothing to improve the life of the poor, | | | | collected on entry. All the money raised goes to the |
| many of whom were starving on the streets. The | | | | Paris Fire Brigade Association. |
| middle class was growing and becoming more and | | | | The Town Hall of Paris usually hosts an evening of |
| more resentful of the life of luxury their leader was | | | | dancing in the Bastille Square, the original site of the |
| living, thanks to the heavy taxes imposed by the King, | | | | prison. Each year a theme is chosen, reflecting one of |
| while France suffered massive foreign debt, and an | | | | the many nationalities of which France has citizens |
| unstable financial future. | | | | today. In 2007, the theme was African Music and the |
| Through their writings and public assemblies, these | | | | square was alive with bongo drums and percussion |
| people called for rejection of the powerful monarchy | | | | instruments late into the night. |
| and for the establishment of a free and democratic | | | | On the 14th at about 10: 30am a grand parade is held |
| society, with leaders elected by the people. Anyone | | | | on the Champs Elyses from Arc de Triomphe to the |
| seen to be challenging the authority of the King was | | | | Place de la Concorde. People line the streets to watch |
| arrested and imprisoned in the Bastille. A large cache | | | | the parade led by the president of France, followed by |
| of weapons was also stored at the prison, making it | | | | police cadets, infantry and motorised troops of the |
| the perfect symbol of the Kings power and tyranny. | | | | military. Military jets will accompany the parade from |
| On the 14th July, 1789, a public demonstration protesting | | | | the air, streaming red, blue and white to represent the |
| the incarceration of these prisoners and rejecting the | | | | colours of the flag. |
| rule of the king gathered momentum outside the prison | | | | The parade lasts about 2 hours and is a great |
| walls. At least 1,000 citizens managed to overpower | | | | spectacle to enjoy, but if large crowds and marching |
| the guards and take hold of the building, burning it to | | | | bands is not your thing, a great alternative is a visit to |
| the ground. 98 attackers were killed, as well as one of | | | | the Lourve Museum, which is open free to the public |
| the guards defending the prison. It was the start of the | | | | on this day. It's an excellent chance to enjoy some of |
| French Revolution. As the middle class took to the | | | | the worlds greatest art in the worlds most famous art |
| streets, building barricades and fighting the royal army | | | | museum. |
| who were struggling to gain control, the King fled with | | | | Later in the afternoon, the Hippodrome de Longchamp |
| his wife for Versailles, relinquishing his control of the | | | | is preparing for the only night of the year where horse |
| nation. | | | | racing is allowed after dark. The gates open at about |
| Soon after this event, the Declaration of the Rights of | | | | 4pm and the races start by 5pm. The main race is |
| Man and of the Citizen was drafted, outlining man's | | | | held at 8pm followed by dancing long into the night. For |
| equal liberties, the rights to elect their own | | | | children, pony rides, a barbecue and fair with rides is in |
| representatives, reject oppression and communicate | | | | full swing throughout the evening. A great option for |
| freely, without fear of prosecution. The country was | | | | families. |
| later declared a republic for the first time in 1792. | | | | The most popular event of the day however is usually |
| A year after the storming of the Bastille, a festival | | | | the fireworks display which takes place that evening. |
| was held to mark the anniversary of its destruction, | | | | The main show is launched from from the Eiffel |
| and the French have continued to celebrate the | | | | Tower but smaller displays are usually held around |
| moment since then. In 1880, Bastille Day was declared | | | | other parts of Paris, followed by more parties and |
| an official national holiday under the motto of 'liberty, | | | | clubs until the early hours of the morning. |
| equality and fraternity', the values which are | | | | Bastille day is the one day in the year where just |
| represented on the French flag- le Tricolour. | | | | about everyone in Paris is free from work and school, |
| Although France was not free continuously from that | | | | to celebrate the democratic foundation of their country, |
| moment on, it was the values that these men were | | | | in a most spectacular way. |