The 6 best Bastille Day celebrations around the world
The anniversary of the storming of the Bastille isn’t just celebrating an important moment in French history, it’s about embodying the ideals of the revolution: liberté, égalité, fraternité! But what are the best destinations around the world to get in the spirit?
Bastille Day commemorates what is often cited as the start of the French Revolution. On July 14, 1789, Parisian revolutionaries stormed the fortress, which was a symbol of Louis XVI’s grip on the country. While the fortress only held seven prisoners at the time of their liberation, the successful takeover was a massive spiritual victory for the people of France, and French people across the globe. Without further ado, here are the top fêtes around that globe.
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Paris, France
Of course, the first destination on a list like this has to be the actual city of the Bastille. Parisians go all-out for July 14. Catch the military parade down the Champs Elysées in the morning, have some amazing French food for lunch, and then go to the Louvre, because most of Paris’ museums are free to visit for Bastille Day. The cherry on top of your day will be the stunning fireworks that are set off from the Eiffel Tower itself. There are many different spots around the city that offer great views, including from a cruise down the Seine, so be sure to ask your Parisian chauffeur for their recommendation.
New York City, USA
New York is the United States’ biggest melting pot, so it makes sense that it would have the best Bastille Day celebrations in the country (though New Orleans comes in a close second, see below). The fête in the Big Apple doesn’t only take place on Bastille Day, they extend the revelry to a whole week full of French food, music, and performances. Head to 60th Street and you will find all of the above, and more. Just be sure to book a Blacklane chauffeur service in New York, because there’ll be hordes of other revelers looking for taxis.
London, UK
Not to be outdone, London plays host to numerous Bastille Day events all over the city. A lot of the events in London are centered around French food (as they should be). Brasserie Zedel, for example, offers free three-course meals to dinner guests who show up in the iconic (if stereotypical) blue-and-white striped Breton and a beret. If you’d like something more hands-on there are also plenty of places to learn how to cook classic French dishes yourself. Whether you’re at Bankside, Battersea Park, or Canary Wharf, you’ll find places to celebrate with some macarons and accordion music all along the Thames.
New Orleans, USA
New York’s celebrations might offer more variety and more events simply because it’s, well, New York, but New Orleans is where you will find a passion you won’t see anywhere else. This is in no small part due to New Orleans’ large population of French and Spanish Creole peoples. The mix of cultures has resulted in one that’s unique to the city. The best place in town to take part is, naturally, the French Quarter. Just make sure you don’t eat too many beignets in a sitting, because you’ll want to be able to dance.
Auckland, New Zealand
On the other side of the map we have Auckland, which also became home to a lot of French settlers in colonial times. If you can stand to wait until the 15th to celebrate, you can attend the city’s street festival with musicians, mimes, cancan dancers, language lessons, and even opera singers. Auckland’s Bastille Day festivities are also great for families, with lots of activities to keep both the kids and the adults entertained. And unlike the other cities on this list, you can enjoy it all within a stone’s throw of the open ocean.
Budapest, Hungary
The Pearl of the Danube celebrates with two days of open markets and French wine. While the city’s Moulin Rouge nightclub, a faithful tribute to the original in Paris, has since closed, you can still get your fix of dancing with free lessons sponsored by Budapest’s French Institute. As with most of these cities, all the activity follows the water, on the west bank of the Danube, and there are lots of activities. For the sports-lovers, they even have courts where you can even try out decathlon sports supervised by some of Hungary’s professional athletes. The street festival here truly goes beyond just celebrating French culture, and it’s all capped off by a classic fireworks show.