40 photos
On July 14, 1789, the people of France stormed the Bastille violently adding momentum to the French Revolution. The medieval fortress and prison had become a symbol of the King's authority, who stood by and watched as the French economy plummeted and taxes soared.
The annual Bastille Day celebration honors this victory with one of Europe's largest military parades along the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This year's parade strove to be a grand event for French President Francois Hollande's first year in office.
- France's President Francois Hollande (L) shakes hands with a French soldier during a reception to honour the French troops at the Hotel de Brienne Defence Ministry in Paris July 13, 2012 on the eve of the traditional Bastille Day military parade. (Pierre Verdy/Pool/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Benoit Tessier/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Benoit Tessier/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- A formation of military helicopters fly over the Arc de Triomphe during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mal Langsdon/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- France's President Francois Hollande (centre, L) stands at attention in the command car as he reviews the troops while descending the Champs Elysees in Paris at the start of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mal Langsdon/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- The French Republican Guard ride down the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Soldiers parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French navy servicemen take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Members of the French National gendarmerie officers school take part in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- French firefighters take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Members of the France's Republican Guard descend the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mal Langsdon/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Military band of French Alpine Chasseurs march on the Champs Elysees avenue during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- French military aircraft fly over Paris during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Guillaume Baptiste/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- High ranking officers of the French army salute during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Students of the special military school of Saint-Cyr take part in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The French mounted Republican Guard take part in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Alphajet planes from the Patrouille de France (France's Patrol) fly over the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- French navy servicemen take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Picture taken from a Boeing C135, refueling tanker, shows of two French Rafale (C) fighters and two Mirage fighters, as they fly over Paris during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. is seen in the background. (Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Nine alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France release trails of blue, white and red smoke, colors of French national flag, as they fly over Louvre museum and the Louvre Pyramid during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French Infantry fighting vehicles (VBCI) from the 92nd Infantry Regiment parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Soldiers from French Foreign Legion take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Langlois/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Motorcyclist squadron of French National gendarmerie take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Alphajet planes from the Patrouille de France (France's Patrol) fly over the Champs Elysees as part of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Jacques Brinon/Pool/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Students of the special military school of Saint-Cyr take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French firefighters take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Soldiers from French Foreign Legion take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Musicians of the Bagad of Lann-Bihoue, a French Navy Pipe Band, take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Langlois/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French soldiers from the 1st Spahis Regiment take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Students of the military school EMIA (In French : Ecole Militaire Interarmes) take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (In French : FINUL) take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- A parachutist lands in front of the reviewing stand on the Place de la Concorde during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Benoit Tessier/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- An injured parachutist is assisted by medical staff in front of the reviewing stand at the Place de la Concorde during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- People look at nine alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France releasing trails of red, white and blue smoke, colors of French national flag, as they attend the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Visitors walk in the gardens of the Elysee Palace in Paris July 14, 2012. The Elysee Palace gardens are open to the public for the Bastille Day celebrations. (Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- France's President Francois Hollande walks past a French national flag as he leaves the Place de la Concorde after the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
