Bastille Day Statistics and Facts (2023)

Bastille Day is a French national holiday celebrated on July 14 each year, marking the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison in Paris during the French Revolution in 1789. The day is also known as “La Fête Nationale” or “Le Quatorze Juillet” (the 14th of July).

The Bastille was a symbol of royal tyranny and oppression, and the storming of the fortress by a mob of Parisians on July 14, 1789, marked a turning point in the French Revolution. The fall of the Bastille was a key moment in the struggle for liberty, equality, and fraternity in France, and is seen as the birth of the modern French nation.

The storming of the Bastille was followed by a wave of revolutionary fervor, as people across France rose up against the monarchy and aristocracy, leading to the overthrow of the old regime and the establishment of a republic. The French Revolution brought significant changes to French society, including the end of the monarchy, the establishment of democratic government, and the introduction of new ideas of liberty and equality.

Today, Bastille Day is celebrated throughout France and around the world with parades, fireworks, and other festivities. It is a time for the French people to reflect on their history, celebrate their culture, and reaffirm their commitment to the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Bastille Day Facts:

When is Bastille Day?

Every year on July 14th

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Where is Bastille Day celebrated?

France (primary)

Also: Belgium, Canada and Tahiti have large celebrations

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When was Bastille Day first recognized?

The holiday was officially designate by a law passed on July 6, 1880.

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French names for Bastille Day:

Fete nationale, Quatorze julliet, le 14 juillet

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Year of the first Bastille Day military parade:

1880

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Number of prisoners actually freed from the Bastille:

7

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