Latest news with #FlameCommittee
LeMonde
14-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Bastille Day military parade showcases 'credibility' of French army
French President Emmanuel Macron marched down the Champs-Elysées on Monday, July 14, before the start of the traditional Bastille Day parade. At the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, the head of state had previously presented the president of the Flame Committee, on the occasion of its centenary, with a sword used to rekindle the flame every evening. Cornflowers were then laid on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, representing French soldiers who fell in battle. Organized as a "real military operation," according to the military governor of Paris, General Loïc Mizon, this year's parade reflected the seriousness of the threats to the continent's security. Following Macron's announcement on Sunday, in his speech to the armed forces, of a further increase in the defense budget to meet the threats of a "more brutal world," the Bastille Day parade showcased French servicemen and women "ready to go" on operations. The French army intended to highlight its "operational credibility" and "strategic solidarity" with its partners. In 2024, due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the parade was moved to Avenue Hoche. Now back on the Champs-Elysées, this year's parade featured units from the 7 th Armored Brigade. According to Mizon, "the goal [was] to show a combat force that is almost ready to depart, just as it is presented to our fellow citizens on the Champs-Elysées." Paris aims to have the ability to deploy, if necessary, a "war-ready" brigade – over 7,000 personnel with full munitions and logistics – within 10 days. By 2027, the goal is to be able to do the same with a division (over 20,000 personnel) within 30 days. More than 450 Indonesian soldiers To represent France's partnerships, the parade included a joint Belgian-Luxembourg company, the Franco-Finnish binational force that forms the rapid reaction unit of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (FINUL), and the crew of the frigate Auvergne, which has carried out several deployments in the Baltic and Arctic Seas in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations. This year, the parade put Indonesia in the spotlight, as France has concluded a strategic partnership with the country to strengthen its role in the Indo-Pacific. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto – who hosted Macron in Jakarta at the end of May – attended the festivities alongside his French counterpart. Subianto has announced his intention to acquire more Rafale fighter jets, Scorpène submarines, Caesar artillery systems and light frigates. Preceded by the Patrouille de France air show, more than 450 Indonesian service members, including musicians from a drum band, wearing pilot helmets, lion heads or shark heads depending on their corps, opened the parade on foot. In total, 7,000 men and women took part in the parade, including 5,600 on foot, 65 aircraft (five of which were foreign), 34 helicopters, 247 vehicles and 200 horses from the Garde Républicaine.
Local France
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Local France
July 14th: What's happening during France's Fête nationale this year
July 14th is the Fête nationale in France, sometimes known as Bastille Day in the anglophone world. It marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789 – the event that symbolises the beginning of the French revolution. There are many ways to celebrate, including fireworks displays, traditional parades and the highly popular bals de pompiers , where French firefighters host parties in their station houses. The day is a public holiday and this year falls on a Monday, giving a nice three-day weekend to workers. Parades Towns and cities across France hold events on July 14th. In Paris, the President attends the country's largest military parade, which will be televised. This year, it returns to its usual route along the Champs-Élysées, after moving in 2024 because of preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris. Advertisement The 2025 event will mark two centenaries – that of the Comité de la Flamme, which has been responsible for ensuring the daily rekindling of the Flame of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe since 1925, as well as that of the symbol of national solidarity the Bleuet de France, which was first introduced that same year. READ ALSO : French word of the Day: Bleuet✎ To open the ceremony, the President will present a new sword to the Flame Committee during an unprecedented ceremony at Place Charles-de-Gaulle, before a moment of reflection at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At the end of the ceremony, young people from military training camps, cadets, civic service volunteers and the SNU will form a human Bleuet in front of the presidential stand to the strains of an original piece of music called Le Souffle du Bleuet . The event will take place in the morning of Monday, July 14th, from 9.55am, and will run around 12 noon. Some 7,000 people will take part, along with 200 horses and 102 aircraft, according to official figures. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is this year's guest of honour at the event, which also marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Franco-Indonesian diplomatic relations. Concert A free concert on the Champ de Mars, featuring the Orchestre National de France, the Maîtrise, and the Chœur de Radio France will kick off the evening's celebrations in the capital. This concert will be broadcast live on France 2 and France Inter, and simultaneously by the EBU-Eurovision in more than 20 countries, making it one of the largest classical music events in the world, with several million viewers. Fireworks It's traditional for towns and cities across France to put on fireworks displays on the night itself, or on July 13th. These happen even in quite small towns so check your local mairie's website or Facebook page for details. It's also worth checking if the event will go ahead if your area is under alert for wildfires. Advertisement As well as the fireworks, a display involving 1,000 drones will light up the night sky above Paris, following the success of last year's Olympic Games-related show. The display will start around 11pm, from the Bassins du Trocadéro as usual but also, and for the most part, from the Eiffel Tower itself. Bals de pompiers French firefighters traditionally open up their stations to visitors around the date of the Fête Nationale, and host the famous bals des pompiers (firemen's balls). Check your local press for details. Many of these events are family-friendly and laid back, but others may get a little more raunchy later on as les pompiers show off their famously well-honed physiques to an appreciative audience. READ ALSO : French firefighters: Why are they so smoking hot?✎ Closures and operating hours July 14th is a public holiday in France and, as it falls on a Monday this year, that means a long weekend is in store for many workers. Advertisement Larger chains such as supermarkets, especially in the cities, may be open for part of the day, but may have different or limited opening hours. Bars, cafés, restaurants and tourist attractions should be open as normal. Banks and government offices, however, will be closed, as will many independent shops plus sites such as leisure centres. Trains and buses run as normal while city public transport will still run but may have slightly altered opening hours. If you're in Paris note that some Metro stations will be closed along the route of the parade and the concert. Emergency services operate as normal, most doctors or dentists will close their offices but pharmacies have a rota system called the pharmacie de garde , meaning that at least one is open in each area. Tour de France Organisers of the iconic cycle race have slightly altered the schedule of rest days this year so that Monday will see racing. On July 14th the cyclists will be tackling the mountainous Puy-de-Dôme area, setting off from Ennezat and finishing at Le Mont Dore. READ ALSO : 7 reasons to watch the Tour de France (even if you have no interest in cycling)✎
