Bastille Day or La Fête Nationale 2025 in Paris

The commemoration of July 14, marking a pivotal moment in the success of the French Revolution, is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in Paris. The spectacular Bastille Day fireworks, parade, and military flyover, along with free concerts around the city, make this event truly unforgettable.

Cultural Events & Activities

Champ de Mars is the site of free open-air concerts throughout the early evening hours. At 9:10 pm, a special concert of classical music and opera featuring internationally acclaimed artists, the French National Orchestra, the Radio France Choir, and special lighting effects takes place at the base of the Eiffel Tower. This concert is also broadcast live on France Inter and France 2 TV. Additionally, the Firemen's Balls occur on July 13 and 14, starting at 9 pm and lasting until 4 am. These festivities welcome everyone and offer visitors a fantastic chance to immerse themselves in the authentic Parisian atmosphere.

Military Parade

Indeed, Paris hosts the largest military parade in Europe: the pride of France marches along the capital's main street, whereas war planes cross the air above, leaving blue, white, and red streams behind to imitate the French national flag colors. At around 10:30. Usually, the magnificent Avenue des Champs-Elysees on July 14th is transformed into the most pompous military podium ever. However, this year, the traditional procession will take place on nearby Avenue Foch and feature the Olympic Flame, starting at 11 am and lasting about an hour. This year, the theme of the Fête Nationale parade is "Strategic Solidarity with Allies."

Bastille Day Fireworks

Fireworks start at 11 pm, once the sky is finally almost dark. They are usually launched from the Trocadéro’s ponds, providing an impressive pyrotechnic show lasting about 35 minutes. Spectators can watch from various locations, including the Champ de Mars, a Bastille Day dinner cruise on the Seine, the river banks and bridges, nearby parks and public spaces with views of the Eiffel Tower, and the top of Montmartre Hill.

History of Bastille Day Celebrations

Bastille Day celebrates the overthrow of a repressive monarchy, the end of feudalism, and the rise of democracy during the French Revolution of 1789. On July 14, 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress, freeing its prisoners and seizing gunpowder. This event symbolized the waning power of King Louis XVI. The revolution led to the French Assembly's adoption of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen" on August 4, 1789, abolishing feudalism and establishing a system based on equal opportunity and representative government. The first Bastille Day parade took place in 1790, and the tradition continues today, except during the Nazi occupation and the 2020 pandemic.