Bastille Day

French do not wear any special clothes on Bastille, just normal relaxed summer clothes suitable to the weather on that particular day.

During special events such as the military parade or the Tour de France cycling race, they might sport small national flags or tricolor rosettes also in the blue, white, red colors of the national flag.
blue, white, and red

There is no special dish or drink for Bastille Day.

Some rural villages organize communal meals in the "salle des fêtes" (celebration room), usually followed by the "bal des pompiers" (firemen's ball) and the traditional fireworks.

Sometimes desserts are made in the colors of the French flag, blue, white, and red.

The French enjoy 11 national jours feriés (holidays) annually. The civic calendar was first instituted in 1582; Bastille Day was incorporated in 1789, Armistice Day in 1918, Labor Day in 1935, and Victory Day in 1945. During the month of May, there is a holiday nearly every week, so be prepared for stores, banks and museums to shut their doors for days at a time. It is a good idea to call museums, restaurants and hotels in advance to make sure they will be open.

Trains and roads near major cities tend to get busy around the national holidays. Not coincidentally, this also happens to be the time when service unions (such as transporters, railroad workers, etc.) like to go on strike - something of a tradition, in fact. Travelers would do well to check ahead, particularly when planning a trip for the last week of June or first week of July!

There are also many regional festivals throughout France which are not included in our calendar. ViaFrance hosts an excellent site which lists fairs and festivals, traditional ceremonies, as well as sporting events, concerts, and trade shows for all regions throughout France. Use the interactive search form below to choose a region and range of dates for a listing of special events, to help plan your itinerary.

Under the law, every French citizen is entitled to 5 weeks of vacation. Most of the natives take their summer vacations in July or August, and many major businesses are then closed. All of France takes to the roads, railroads, boats, and airways. Consequently, traveling in France during August is generally not recommended for foreigners.