With one of the biggest dates in French culture just around the corner, here’s a guide to the biggest and best Bastille Day celebrations on the Riviera.
Antibes will be getting the party started early with a pyro-melodic show off the coast between the Siesta nightclub and the Fort Carré from 10pm on 13th July.
Saint Paul de Vence will also be celebrating a day early. The hilltop village will host its National Day Ball in the Place de la Courtine from 8.30pm until 1am, with live music from DJ Alex and singer Sandra.
Monaco’s neighbouring commune of Roquebrune Cap Martin will be holding its Promenade en Fête soirée from 9pm on the seaside promenade on 13th July. The event is free and will include a fireworks display.
Plage de la Petite Afrique in Beaulieu sur Mer will be hosting similar celebrations on the same day from 10pm, while Villefranche sur Mer is set to hold a grand ball and al fresco BBQ in the Jardins de la Citadelle. The event will start at 8pm.
Just to the north of Monaco, Beausoleil’s celebrations on 13th July will be kicking off a little earlier, at 5pm, with a party featuring games, vintage vehicles and a parade. Later on, a cabaret show and ball will fill the Place de la Liberation from 8pm, with the event set to conclude with a pyro-melodic show at 10.30pm.
Meanwhile, La Turbie will be honouring local traditions on 13th July, namely its famous soupe au pistou. The public is welcome to join the celebrations from 7.30pm. The ball will start at 8pm and a torchlight procession will travel through the town from 9.30pm.
National Day celebrations on 14th July
Back in Beaulieu sur Mer, the Bal Musette is set to begin at 8pm in Place Maroni on 14th July.
Saint Jean Cap Ferrat will host a DJ-led ball from 9pm on Place Clemenceau, followed by a fireworks display that will start at 10.30pm.
More events are scheduled in Roquebrune Cap Martin, with games and activities for children lined up for the afternoon and a torchlit procession and ball in the Place de la République scheduled for the evening.
Inland in Mougins, the Place des Patriotes will host a popular ball and fireworks show from 8pm. The event will include performances by Jeffrey Mpondo and DJ Jo D-tracks. Free shuttles will be available between 7pm and 1am.
Down in Cannes, the city’s annual fireworks festival will host the ‘Love’s Symphony: A Fireworks Extravaganza’ display by HC Pyrotechnics, a group from Belgium, from 10pm. Various balls and traditional events will be held across the city, including in the Allées de la Liberté, Place de l’Étang and Place du Marché de La Bocca.
Nice will not be holding a fireworks show on 14th July, a decision taken to honour the victims of the 2016 Bastille Day terror attack on the Promenade des Anglais, which left 86 dead and more than 400 injured.
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Photo source: Ville de Cannes, Facebook