The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
On Sunday, July 14, French people will celebrate Bastille Day – a hugely significant date in the nation’s history.
Also called la Fête nationale (meaning ‘The National Celebration’), Bastille Day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille and is an important hallmark of the French Revolution.
For French people, it’s a celebration of unification and they mark the event by large communal feasts, musical performances, dancing and fireworks.
What is the history of Bastille Day?
Bastille was the name of a political prison where political dissidents were kept during the French Revolution.
At the time, French people were deeply unhappy with the harsh rule of the Bourbon monarchy, with the reign of King Louis XVI bringing about food shortages and tax hikes for thousands of citizens.
Must visit destinations in France
1/15 1. CORSICA
Technically part of France since 1768, this mountainous Mediterranean island still carries a distinctly Italian flavour. Known as the ‘Isle of Beauty’, Corsica is only 180km long and 80km wide, but it boasts everything from craggy hilltop villages and dense forests for hiking to sandy Caribbean-style beaches and stylish towns with Michelin restaurants. Stay in the stunning Casa Del Mar near Porto Vecchio for design-conscious five star treatment. Prepare to be blown away by the beauty of the light here – Henri Matisse declared his passion for colour was ignited here.
Alamy
2/15 2. MARSEILLES
The capital of Provence, louche Marseilles sits on the opposite side of the Riviera to Nice. Greek traders founded this Mediterranean port 2,600 years ago so you can expect a lot of history – Persians, Romans, Russians, Vietnamese and North Africans have all left their mark on this melting pot city. Gone are the days when Marseilles was synonymous with football and crime, now it’s cultural destination with brilliant restaurants, cool and affordable design hotels like Mama Shelter – and a new direct Eurostar service since 2015. Watch the sailing boats go by from the Old Port and make sure you visit the trendy Panier district.
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Bouillabaisse, a fish stew that originated in Marseilles
Alamy
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A stylish bedroom at the affordable Mama Shelter hotel in Marseille
Mama Shelter
5/15 3. CAP FERRET
Make a pit stop in Bordeaux, where the airport is, for wine tasting and a visit to the world’s first wine theme park.
Alamy
6/15
Cap Ferret
Alamy
7/15 4. LYON
There’s a new direct Eurostar to Lyon, so there’s never been a better time to make a weekend trip to France’s gastronomic capital. With more then 4,000 restaurants, Lyon has more restaurants per capita than the whole of France, including 15 Michelin-starred ones. Make a trip to a local Bouchon, family-owned bistros serving rich, homemade dishes unique to the city. There are also forward-thinking museums such as Musee de Confluences, electro music festivals like Nuits Sonares and romantic hotels which take you back to Renaissance times. Visit in December also for La Fete de Lumiere.
8/15
A typical bouchon in Lyon
9/15 5. NICE
After playing host to EURO 2016 football tournaments, Nice is enjoying a moment in the spotlight. It’s a proper city that’s buzzing all year round, not just during summer like its glitzier Cote d’Azure neighhours St Tropez and Monaco. Fronted by the glamorously named Bay of Angels, Nice can credit its timeless allure to a stunning beachfront promenade (Promenade des Anglais), Belle Epoque architecture and a stylish selection of hotels – we recommend the pink and white Negresco on the seafront. It also has some of France’s finest restaurants, including the unique La Petite Maison in the Old Town.
Alamy
10/15 6. CARCASSONNE
Found in southern France’s Languedoc region, Carcassonne is most famous for being a medieval hilltop citadel of fairytale standards – so much so that it’s said to have been the inspiration for the palace in Sleeping Beauty. Cobbled streets, a cartoon museum, Romanesque-Gothic churches and a castle – floodlit at night – make it well worth the visit, but don’t neglect the new town, which has its own charms. There’s plenty in the surrounding area to explore including plentiful vineyards, canals and the pretty villages in the rugged Corbieres region to the south.
Alamy
11/15 7. BIARRITZ
Napoleon put this west coast town on the map in the mid-19th century, transforming it into a playground for the rich and famous – Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Ernest Hemingway all passed through. After World War II the glamour faded and the bright young things have since been swapped for laid-back surfer types, drawn to the powerful six foot Atlantic breakers on this stretch of Basque Coast made famous by film maker Peter Viertel in 1957. For a taste of its gliterrati past, stay in the Hotel du Palais, following in the footsteps of Coco Chanel. Head to Le Grande Plage for the waves – it suits all standard. It’s oyster country too – enjoy platters at La Cabane a Huitres.
Alamy
12/15 8. PROVENCE
You can’t have a French bucket list that doesn’t include Provence. With its romantic rolling fields of lavender, honey stone buildings and daily markets, it’s the heaven on earth that captivated Cezanne. For a chic retreat stay in the Crillon-le-Brave where you can while away your days drinking matchless local rose and taking in the spectacular panoramic views. Cheese lovers should stop off at the miraculous shop La Fromagerie du Comtat. Visit L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for antiques and Aix-en-Provence for linen markets.
13/15 9. PORQUEROLLES
The beaches of Ile de Porquerolles are some of France’s best kept secrets. Just over four miles long and two miles wide, it’s part of a cluster of three islands off the French Riviera between Marseille and Cannes. Building on the island is all but forbidden and there are no cars, so you can expect a serene sanctuary that resembles a time gone by, with mainly French families quietly enjoying a paddle and a swim on its beautiful beaches. Stay in the wonderfully secluded Le Mas du Langoustier hotel.
14/15 10. VERSAILLES
So you’ve been to Paris, but have you ever made it out to Versailles? Don’t let the swarms of tourists put you off, Louis XVI’s Chateaux and its architecture, interior design and landscaping is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Don’t miss the legendary Hall of Mirrors and its three square miles of garden. Order your ticket in advance and go early – and take a picnic.
15/15 11. SETE
If you continue down the Canal du Midi from Carcassonne towards Montpellier you’ll eventually reach Sète. It lies on a headland between the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang du Thai, a lagoon which twists around the town giving it the impression of a laid-back Venice and is famous for its oyster beds.
Come in July for DJ Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival or in August for the Saint Louis Day jousting tournament – quite the spectacle.
1/15 1. CORSICA
Technically part of France since 1768, this mountainous Mediterranean island still carries a distinctly Italian flavour. Known as the ‘Isle of Beauty’, Corsica is only 180km long and 80km wide, but it boasts everything from craggy hilltop villages and dense forests for hiking to sandy Caribbean-style beaches and stylish towns with Michelin restaurants. Stay in the stunning Casa Del Mar near Porto Vecchio for design-conscious five star treatment. Prepare to be blown away by the beauty of the light here – Henri Matisse declared his passion for colour was ignited here.
Alamy
2/15 2. MARSEILLES
The capital of Provence, louche Marseilles sits on the opposite side of the Riviera to Nice. Greek traders founded this Mediterranean port 2,600 years ago so you can expect a lot of history – Persians, Romans, Russians, Vietnamese and North Africans have all left their mark on this melting pot city. Gone are the days when Marseilles was synonymous with football and crime, now it’s cultural destination with brilliant restaurants, cool and affordable design hotels like Mama Shelter – and a new direct Eurostar service since 2015. Watch the sailing boats go by from the Old Port and make sure you visit the trendy Panier district.
3/15
Bouillabaisse, a fish stew that originated in Marseilles
Alamy
4/15
A stylish bedroom at the affordable Mama Shelter hotel in Marseille
Mama Shelter
5/15 3. CAP FERRET
Make a pit stop in Bordeaux, where the airport is, for wine tasting and a visit to the world’s first wine theme park.
Alamy
6/15
Cap Ferret
Alamy
7/15 4. LYON
There’s a new direct Eurostar to Lyon, so there’s never been a better time to make a weekend trip to France’s gastronomic capital. With more then 4,000 restaurants, Lyon has more restaurants per capita than the whole of France, including 15 Michelin-starred ones. Make a trip to a local Bouchon, family-owned bistros serving rich, homemade dishes unique to the city. There are also forward-thinking museums such as Musee de Confluences, electro music festivals like Nuits Sonares and romantic hotels which take you back to Renaissance times. Visit in December also for La Fete de Lumiere.
8/15
A typical bouchon in Lyon
9/15 5. NICE
After playing host to EURO 2016 football tournaments, Nice is enjoying a moment in the spotlight. It’s a proper city that’s buzzing all year round, not just during summer like its glitzier Cote d’Azure neighhours St Tropez and Monaco. Fronted by the glamorously named Bay of Angels, Nice can credit its timeless allure to a stunning beachfront promenade (Promenade des Anglais), Belle Epoque architecture and a stylish selection of hotels – we recommend the pink and white Negresco on the seafront. It also has some of France’s finest restaurants, including the unique La Petite Maison in the Old Town.
Alamy
10/15 6. CARCASSONNE
Found in southern France’s Languedoc region, Carcassonne is most famous for being a medieval hilltop citadel of fairytale standards – so much so that it’s said to have been the inspiration for the palace in Sleeping Beauty. Cobbled streets, a cartoon museum, Romanesque-Gothic churches and a castle – floodlit at night – make it well worth the visit, but don’t neglect the new town, which has its own charms. There’s plenty in the surrounding area to explore including plentiful vineyards, canals and the pretty villages in the rugged Corbieres region to the south.
Alamy
11/15 7. BIARRITZ
Napoleon put this west coast town on the map in the mid-19th century, transforming it into a playground for the rich and famous – Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Ernest Hemingway all passed through. After World War II the glamour faded and the bright young things have since been swapped for laid-back surfer types, drawn to the powerful six foot Atlantic breakers on this stretch of Basque Coast made famous by film maker Peter Viertel in 1957. For a taste of its gliterrati past, stay in the Hotel du Palais, following in the footsteps of Coco Chanel. Head to Le Grande Plage for the waves – it suits all standard. It’s oyster country too – enjoy platters at La Cabane a Huitres.
Alamy
12/15 8. PROVENCE
You can’t have a French bucket list that doesn’t include Provence. With its romantic rolling fields of lavender, honey stone buildings and daily markets, it’s the heaven on earth that captivated Cezanne. For a chic retreat stay in the Crillon-le-Brave where you can while away your days drinking matchless local rose and taking in the spectacular panoramic views. Cheese lovers should stop off at the miraculous shop La Fromagerie du Comtat. Visit L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for antiques and Aix-en-Provence for linen markets.
13/15 9. PORQUEROLLES
The beaches of Ile de Porquerolles are some of France’s best kept secrets. Just over four miles long and two miles wide, it’s part of a cluster of three islands off the French Riviera between Marseille and Cannes. Building on the island is all but forbidden and there are no cars, so you can expect a serene sanctuary that resembles a time gone by, with mainly French families quietly enjoying a paddle and a swim on its beautiful beaches. Stay in the wonderfully secluded Le Mas du Langoustier hotel.
14/15 10. VERSAILLES
So you’ve been to Paris, but have you ever made it out to Versailles? Don’t let the swarms of tourists put you off, Louis XVI’s Chateaux and its architecture, interior design and landscaping is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Don’t miss the legendary Hall of Mirrors and its three square miles of garden. Order your ticket in advance and go early – and take a picnic.
15/15 11. SETE
If you continue down the Canal du Midi from Carcassonne towards Montpellier you’ll eventually reach Sète. It lies on a headland between the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang du Thai, a lagoon which twists around the town giving it the impression of a laid-back Venice and is famous for its oyster beds.
Come in July for DJ Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival or in August for the Saint Louis Day jousting tournament – quite the spectacle.
On July 14, 1789, a violent mob stormed the Bastille and released the seven prisoners held there.
After the attack, the French Revolution was born. The monarchy was overthrown and Louis and his wife Marie Antoinette were executed.
Why is Bastille Day important to French people?
A year after the Storming of the Bastille, the French began celebrating the Fête de la Federation.
The day was meant to symbolise peace and brotherhood during the revolution and today, the founding message still remains prominent. It is commonplace for the words “liberty, equality and fraternity” can be heard during the celebrations.
How is Bastille Day celebrated in France?
On Bastille Day, large-scale celebrations happen all over the country, including musical performances, communal meals, dances and spectacular firework displays.
In the morning of Bastille Day, there is a grand military parade where service men and women from various units take part, including cadets from military schools, the French Navy and the French Foreign Legion. The French president opens the parade and reviews the troops and thousands of people line the route.
Where to celebrate Bastille Day in London
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Are there any Bastille Day celebrations in London?
There are a whole host of ways you can celebrate Bastille Day in the capital – check out our handy guide here.
