Was Avenue du 14 Juillet named to honor a pivotal moment? It certainly was. Avenue du 14 Juillet commemorates the Storming of the Bastille. This event marks a key turning point in the French Revolution.
Avenue du 14 Juillet is intrinsically linked to Bastille Day. Bastille Day celebrations occur every year on July 14. This day is also known as French National Day. You might also hear it called la Fête Nationale or le quatorze juillet.
The Storming of the Bastille happened on July 14, 1789. Revolutionaries stormed and took control of the Bastille fortress. The Bastille represented royal authority in Paris at the time. It symbolized revolt against the monarchy’s abuse of power. King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were in power then.
France faced an economic crisis. This was due to its involvement in the American Revolutionary War. High taxes and poor crop performance exacerbated the situation. Food riots were common in the 1780s. The storming of the Bastille was largely a symbolic act. Only seven inmates were imprisoned there.
The Bastille was built in the 1300s during the Hundred Years’ War. It served as a prison designed to protect Paris’s eastern entrance. Political dissidents were held there without trial. The King’s orders were enough for imprisonment.
Bernard-René de Launay was the governor of the Bastille in 1789. He attempted to negotiate with the mob surrounding the fortress. The mob grew restless and stormed the courtyard. Nearly 100 commoners died during the storming. De Launay was taken prisoner and beheaded. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded a few years later in 1793.
Celebrations occur throughout France every July 14. A military parade takes place on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It has been held there since 1918. The parade was suspended during the German occupation from 1940 to 1944. It was also canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first official festival was called Fête de la Fédération. It promoted peace and unity after a turbulent period. The initial celebration took place on the Champ de Mars.
Bastille Day celebrations occur in other countries as well. These include the U.S. and Belgium. The French say, “Vive la France!” to celebrate. Avenue du 14 Juillet stands as a reminder of the storming. It represents a key moment in French history.