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Bastille day

La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday July 14

The July 14 'Bastille Day' celebration features a military parade in Paris and means a day off work - although in 2024 it falls on a Sunday

What is the origin of France's July 14 bal des pompiers?

Parties at fire stations are a long-standing tradition in France that officially began in 1937 when a group of people followed firefighters back from a fête nationale parade

Why has feeble victory at the Bastille become France’s national day?

It only freed seven prisoners but is now the symbol of French freedom

news

French air force confirms July 14 red smoke error

A French Alphajet that displayed a red plume of smoke instead of blue as part of the traditional July 14 Fête Nationale flypast over Paris did so in error, the French air force has confirmed.

Military parade but less fireworks: How France is celebrating July 14

The traditional fête nationale military parade is back this year, but some cities have still chosen to cancel their fireworks shows due to the pandemic and concerns over the Delta variant

What will France's July 14 celebrations look like this year?

Celebrations will still take place in France on 14 July this year, but with some differences due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Nice has first fireworks show since 2016 terror attack

The first firework display in Nice since the terrorist attack of July 2016 has taken place in celebration of today’s July 14 Fête Nationale .

France to create new Space army command

France is to create a new Space army, to “ensure the development and strengthening” of the country’s “spatial capacity”, President Emmanuel Macron has announced.

France celebrates July 14 with Paris military display

France is celebrating its Fête Nationale today (July 14), with commemorative events in Paris including a military parade and flypast in front of President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders.

14 reasons why life in France is fabulous for July 14

Ahead of the 2019 Fête nationale celebrations, Samantha David takes time to remember a few things that make living in France just a little bit special - from the food, to the rules on buying a house...

July 14’s military parade: out of date or respectful?

Every July 14, France’s military parade rolls down the Champs-Elysées while jets streak the sky with the colours of the ‘tricolore’.

Fireworks return to Nice promenade after 2016 terror

Fireworks are to return to the Promenade des Anglais in Nice this August, more than two years after the show was stopped by the terrorist attack of July 2016.

Paris lock down for Bastille Day and World Cup final

12,000 police on duty over weekend in capital

Trump visit and Jupiter returns to human life

Editorialistes (opinion writers) hold a major role in the French press. Here, in a new regular column French journalist Paul de Villepin examines recent ‘hot topics’ which have featured in the columns of the country’s media

The Guillotine... quicker than lethal injection

BASTILLE Day on July 14 has come to symbolise the French Revolution but its real symbol is the guillotine, which ended the lives of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette and thousands of others linked with the aristocracy in the Reign of Terror.

Bastille day

La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday July 14

What is the origin of France's July 14 bal des pompiers?

Why has feeble victory at the Bastille become France’s national day?

French air force confirms July 14 red smoke error

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Military parade but less fireworks: How France is celebrating July 14

What will France's July 14 celebrations look like this year?

Nice has first fireworks show since 2016 terror attack

France to create new Space army command

France celebrates July 14 with Paris military display

14 reasons why life in France is fabulous for July 14

July 14’s military parade: out of date or respectful?

Fireworks return to Nice promenade after 2016 terror

Paris lock down for Bastille Day and World Cup final

Trump visit and Jupiter returns to human life

A sombre Bastille Day in Nice with Macron

Bastille Day parade celebrates France-US links

Grandeur and remembrance for 14 juillet

The Guillotine... quicker than lethal injection

Pretenders to the French royal throne

Bringing the French Revolution back to life

Trump in France for Bastille Day

Hop! pilots confirm strikes over long July 14 weekend

No July 14 fireworks in honour of Nice attack victims