Bastille Day on the French Riviera
July 13, 2015
July 14th marks the anniversary of the taking of the "Bastille" prison in Paris by hungry & disillusioned parisians in 1789. They stormed the Bastille and set in motion the wheels of the French Revolution that brought down the monarchy.
Each year "Le Quatorze Juillet" or Bastille Day in English is celebrated as the country's most important national day. In Paris, the celebration center around military displays of tanks, planes, troops marching down the Champs Elysees.
How is Le Quatorze Juillet celebrated on the French Riviera?
Fireworks. Lots of fireworks or "Feux d'Artifice". Fireworks with the entire population poured onto the streets, the piers, the beachside promenade to watch.
Every single town will have its fireworks tomorrow.
Where there's the sea, they usually take place over the bay. On the French Riviera, this is the case in Nice, in Cannes, in Saint-Raphael, in Sainte-Maxime, in Saint-Tropez.
Watch out for the time.
You might expect the fireworks at midnight, but they're usually around 10PM or 10:30PM.
Before then, you might be treated to some festive music along the promenades such as in Nice.
Nice's Prom Party begins at 9:30PM on July 14th this year around the Palais de la Méditérannée. Valbonne with also host music at the Place des Arcades at 9PM. In Saint-Tropez, you will be able to dance at the local bal starting around 10:30PM while the fireworks will start at 10:45PM.
Enjoy!