A politician named Benjamin Raspail proposed that 14 July should become a holiday in France in 1880. Bastille Day was a public holiday for the first time on 14 July 1880.
Nowadays France celebrates with the military parade in Paris and all across the country towns and villages have communal meals, dances and fireworks. Find out more about this day here.
There are plenty of options in and around us, and not just on 14th July, but the 13th and 15th too. You won't have to travel very far to find fireworks this week!
Whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a great time.
Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.frWeek 28 2017
8 July - 14 August : Exhibition celebrating the life of the artist Elie FaureMonday 10 July
Tuesday 11 July
11 July : Tour de France arrives in Bergerac
11 July : Randonee Epicurienne. Go and taste the countryside at Saint Avit de Soulege
11 - 29 July : Les Grandes Crus Musicaux. 11 Classical music concerts at some of the finest chateaux of the region. Featuring world famous musicians playing in some fabulous locations. Find out who, when and where here.
11 July - 5 August : Art exhibition at 44 in Ste Foy la Grande.
Wednesday 12 July
12 July 15h30 : Visit the vineyards of Chateau St Georges whilst the children get to know the donkeys. 3 dates through the summer. Donkey and horse riding by appointment on other days.
12 July : Tour de France starts from Eymet.
12 July ; Night market in Lamonzie St Martin
Thursday 13 July
13 July 16h20 : Viceroy's House (Le Dernier Vice-Roi des Indes) is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.
The final Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, is tasked with overseeing the transition of British India to independence, but meets with conflict as different sides clash in the face of monumental change.Starring Huge Bonneville, Gillian Anderson and Michael Gambon
13 July : Marche Gourmand in Blasimon and fireworks at 23h
13 July : Grande Fete Populaire in Flaujagues followed by a flame lit parade and then fireworks at 23h.
13 July : Fireworks in St Emilion followed by a bal in the Parc Guadet.
13 July : Grande Fete with paella and fireworks in Listrac de Dureze
13 July : Bal des Sapiers Pompiers in Pineuilh - marche gourmand
13 July : Soiree Moules Frites / mussels and chips and musical entertainment in Saint Pey de Castets
13 July : VinZik Festival in Puisseguin - music and wine
13 July : Table Nocturne Dansante in Pessac-sur-Dordogne - fireworks at 23h
13 - 14 July : Velines Village en fete, marche gourmand on Thursday with fireworks at 23h.
13 July : First night of the Battle of Castillon. It's not too late to book your tickets here
Friday 14 July - National Holiday!
14 July : Foire a Tout in Velines
14 July : Brocante Vide Grenier in Montpon Menesterol
14 July ; Danse avec TTGM en train in Guitres. Why not?
14 July : Castillon celebrations include a petanque competition, moules frites and fireworks on the
stone bridge at 23h, followed by a ball.
14 July : Gensac has a Dinner dance in the centre of the village by the clock tower and fireworks and a ball.
14 July : First night market of the summer for Levignac
14 July : Duras celebrations include a flame lit procession and Bandas
14 July : Big Ed and the Red Balls plays live in Montpeyroux at the Restaurant La Guardia
Saturday 15 July
15 July : Postponed from last weekend, Marche nocturne at St Jean de Blaignac, there will be a laser
show and fireworks.
15 July : Marche nocturne in St Meard de Gurcon
15 July 21h : Anthony Sycamore and Saxophonist play at the Gensake in Gensac.
15 July : Battle of Castillon. Book your tickets here
15 - 16 - 17 July Madeleine 2017 at the Camping de Chateau in Duras. Events through out the weekend and fireworks on the Monday night.
Sunday 16 July
16 July 16h20 : Viceroy's House (Le Dernier Vice-Roi des Indes) is showing in VO at the
Grandecran in Libourne.
16 July : Vide Grenier at Des Halles Foyennes in Ste Foy
16 July 17h: Celebration concert by Les Mirabelles in the church at Loubes Bernac
16 July : BBQ and Fund raiser for l'auberge des quatre Pattes animal charity at Le Moulin de Moustelat.
16 July : Lunch time Marche Gourmand in Soumensac
16 - 21 July : A celebration of wooden boats and music. The boats sail up and down the waterways over the week, stopping at La Reole, St Macaire, Cadillac, Bordeaux, Bourg and Lormont finishing with a weekend of events. Something for everyone.
Coming up...
17 July 22h10 : Viceroy's House (Le Dernier Vice-Roi des Indes) is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.
And finally...
Train line closure - I received this request, I had no idea they were thinking of closing the Sarlat to Bordeaux train line! I'm surprised and disappointed, I thought the new high speed train from Bordeaux to Paris was meant to bring people together - but it won't work if we can't connect to it!
I'm asking you if you'd please consider signing an online
petition to try and halt the planned closure of our local railway line.
In my (humble) opinion, the damage the closure will inflict on small
communities along its length will be significant. Not only will
tourism-related enterprises such as ours suffer but, more importantly,
everyone will lose: students commuting to the bigger cities are a good
example of users who will be forced to find other, less environmentally
friendly, forms of transport.
Thank you for taking the time to read, and hopefully sign, the
petition. And please don't hesitate to share it with others.
https://www.change.org/p/etat-sauvons-la-ligne-ferroviaire-sarlat-bergerac-libourne-bordeaux-9b0694f3-c83d-4658-bd32-70f504c15517?recruiter=147465775&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=autopublish
