Bastille Day

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You probably know that 14 July is Bastille Day, but do you know what it’s called in French? (Hint: it’s not "jour de Bastille.") Do you know the history behind Bastille Day, or how this national holiday is observed in France? This page has links to everything you could possibly want to know about the celebration of Bastille Day.

Bastille Day

Brief introduction to Bastille Day and the French Revolution (reading comprehension)

Bastille Day Quiz

Think you know what France’s national holidays is all about? Let’s find out!

La prise de la Bastille  part 1 | part 2

Sound file with transcript and translation about the storming of the Bastille (listening/reading comprehension)

Le Quatorze Juillet

If you think Les Misérables is about Bastille Day or the French Revolution, think again (listening/reading comprehension)

Attentat du Quatorze Juillet

Video about the 2016 Bastille Day attack in Nice (listening/reading comprehension)

La Bastille de Grenoble

No relation to the Parisian prison (reading comprehension)

Bastille: the holiday, the prison, the word

7 things you might not know about Bastille

Bastille Day lesson plans

• La prise de la Bastille (worksheet, 10th – 12th grade)
• French Revolution (interactive quiz, 8th to 12th grade)
• Independence days around the world (article, 7th – 9th grade)
   

Notes, Further Reading, and Resources

There is no French equivalent to "Happy Bastille Day" – all you can say is, generically, Bonne fête ! And of course, there’s also Vive la France ! (but try not to overuse it).

Bastille Day is one of the symbols of France (others are Marianne, the flag, the Marseillaise …)

The Open University offers a free online course about le Quatorze Juillet for intermediate French learners.

Here’s what l’Élysée has to say: La fête nationale du 14 juillet

And the Office du Tourisme de Paris: Bastille Day in Paris

Bastille Day is one of 11 official French holidays, known as jours fériés.

Celebrate with a bleu-blanc-rouge fruit salad or some French recipes like crêpes and chocolate mousse.

Did you know that there are 7 names for France?

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