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Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the Fête Nationale (The National Day of France), which is celebrated on 14 July each year. If you want to sound truly French, then call it La Fête Nationale, La Fête Nationale Française or simply Le Quatorze Juillet (14th July), as they rarely refer to it as Bastille Day themselves.
The day itself celebrates the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, which marked the start of the French Revolution. It represented a call for liberty, equality, and a more democratic form of government, and was effectively the beginning of the end for the monarchy.
The military parade held on 14 July on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic is reportedly the oldest and largest military parade in Europe, with 30 helicopters, 50 planes, 200 military vehicles, and 3,500 soldiers taking part.
Today, huge celebrations and fireworks displays occur right across the county. There is music, dancing and laughter and the event is a real celebration of liberty, unity, and everything French.
We’ve had a little dig around on some of the Tourism websites and have pulled together a list of events across the region. Please do double check the details locally before attending.
Le Bugue (Dordogne 24)
Tuesday 12 to Sunday 17 July: Funfair in Place Léopold SALME
Wednesday 13 July: The traditional Firemen’s Ball will take place in front of the town hall (the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville) from 9pm. Meal – Refreshments – Raffle, and Musical entertainment by DJ JB (Organised by Le Bugue Fire Brigade Association). After the Ball, go onto the bridge or stay at the town hall square to see the fireworks on the banks of the Vézère from 10.30pm.
Thursday 14 July: 12noon: Official Ceremony of 14 July, at the War Memorial – Place Léopold SALME
Les Eyzies – 14 July (Dordogne 24)
10:00am: Chasse (hunt) festival organised by the Sté de Chasse des Eyzies.
8:00pm: Meal. Refreshments, bar and Ball
11:00pm: Fireworks on the banks of the Vézère
Montignac-Lascaux – 14 July (Dordogne 24)
10:30am: gathering in front of the town hall
10:50am: parade to the war memorial
11am: ceremony at the war memorial
11pm: fireworks on the banks of the Vézère
Eymet (Dordogne 24)
Fishing contest in the morning followed by a meal
At 11 pm, fireworks and dancing! Bretou 24500, Eymet
Bergerac (Dordogne 24)
Come and celebrate the National Day at Quai Salvette, 24100, Bergerac
11am: Ceremony at Place Gambetta / Resistance
2pm: Sport Nautique Bergerac (Rowing Club) Regatta at the Port.
7pm: Sport Nautique Bergerac meal
7pm: Entertainment in the Madeleine district
7pm: Firemen’s Ball, Place du Foirail
9pm: Duck race by the Rotary club
10:30pm: Fireworks: (20 minutes) Port / Quai Salvette
7pm: Entertainment in the Madeleine district
7pm: Firemen’s Ball, Place du Foirail
Perigueux (Dordogne 24)
Festivities on the quays.
10:15am: Parade on the boulevard
7pm: Inauguration of “A summer on the quays”
8pm: Concert on the quays with “Boitaclous”, rock, ska, flamenco dance compositions and playful waltzes
11pm: Fireworks and open air ball on the quays
Agen
Wednesday 13 July 2022 from 7pm
7 pm: Parade of military forces
7:30pm: Agen Village concert + Republican aperitif + Local Producers Market
11pm: Fireworks
11:15pm: Ball by the Métropole orchestra
Bordeaux
Wednesday July 13
From 8.30pm to early morning: Music and dancing at Ornano and Benauge barracks.
Thursday July 14
6:30pm to 9pm: Air, foot and motorised military parade on the Quai des Chartrons
9.30pm: Bordeaux Town Hall Ball, Munich Square with the ‘Danse avec nous’ association.
10:45pm: Fireworks show launched from the Garonne, between the stone bridge and the Place de la Bourse.
Toulouse
8:30pm: Free Concert by the ‘NRJ Music Tour’ in the hollow of the Prairie des Filtres
10:30pm Fireworks on the Garonne. You can view the fireworks from the Pont-Neuf, the Saint-Michel bridge, the Prairie des Filtres as well as from the Quai de Tounis and from the Quai de la Daurade. This great light and sound show mixes original soundtracks from science fiction series and films with communication excerpts from space missions, from Apollo to Space X, from Doctor Who to Interstellar.
The following websites also provide a good source of information for July 14 events across the region:
https://www.vallee-dordogne.com/agenda/grands-evenements/14-juillet (in french)
To search other events and activities across the region visit www.TheLocalBuzzMag.com/Whats-On
