What is Bastille Day?
Paris, July 14th, 1789 – The French capital is in turmoil. Political unrest, economic hardship, and years of royal mismanagement under King Louis XVI have led to a growing wave of anger among the people. After 15 years of rule, the king is out of touch and unable to suppress the rising anti-monarchist movement.
What Was the Bastille?
The Bastille was a medieval fortress and prison in Paris, widely seen as a symbol of royal tyranny. For many French citizens, it represented the absolute power of the monarchy and the oppression of the common people.
The Storming of the Bastille
On the morning of July 14th, 1789, tensions in Paris reached a breaking point. Armed revolutionaries surrounded the Bastille. After hours of bloody conflict, they stormed the fortress and took control. This dramatic event signalled the collapse of the monarchy’s control over the capital and marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
The fall of the Bastille showed that King Louis XVI could no longer rely on his military power. It became a powerful symbol of the people’s resistance and inspired further revolutionary action across France. Just a few years later, both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette would be executed.
Why Does France Celebrate Bastille Day?
Today, Bastille Day is not so much about the storming of a prison as it is about the birth of modern France. It honours the core values of the French Republic:
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity (Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité).
Similar to Independence Day in the United States, Bastille Day is a national holiday in France. It’s a time to celebrate French culture, freedom, and unity.
How is Bastille Day Celebrated?
Every 14th of July, France comes alive with parades, fireworks, and public celebrations. The most famous event is the military parade along the Champs-Élysées in Paris – the oldest of its kind in the world.
Across the country, people take part in communal meals, music, dancing, and festivities, proudly displaying the tricolore flag and singing La Marseillaise, both of which originated from the revolution.
Bastille Day at Zédel
As our long-standing guests will no doubt be aware, Bastille Day is an occasion upon which we celebrate with our signature Parisian vigour. This year, we are rolling out our Bastille Day celebrations all weekend long between 12th-14th July. From our French Festival in Crazy Coqs, a special quartet from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and our biggest ballot ever, there’s no shortage of Bastille joie de vivre this year.
And don’t forget to don your Breton shirt and a Beret (moustaches optional, though encouraged!), as there will be extra prizes for the best dressed on offer over the weekend.
