pavot

I just realized we'll be in the Dordogne on Bastille Day, which falls on a Thursday. Is this a plus or a minus?

My family will be staying near St Cyprien. Are there particular villages to seek out for their celebrations -- or ones to avoid?

Will most tourist sights be closed for the day?

StCirq

Many things will be open in the morning. Many villages will have a small celebration with a communal meal, dancing, and fireworks at or around midnight.One village will be chosen to host the main celebration, and there will be posters all over the place advertising that. Sometimes it's spectacular - such as when it's Les Eyzies and they have the fireworks emanating from flotillas of canoes floating down the Vézère. Sometimes it's pretty ordinary.

Be careful of young people with fireworks, especially when it gets late and people have had lots to drink. Every year there are burns and worse. But all in all it's a fun-filled evening no matter where you celebrate it.

pavot

Thanks for that, StCirq. When there are communal meals, may anyone attend, or are these just for the locals?

(Hope you're mending, by the way.)

PalenQ

IME Bastille Day in France is much like a Sunday - things will be open in small towns until noon or 1pn - bakeries, supermarkets, etc.

any festivities I've seen certainly welcome visitors - I conducted group tours thru France for many years and always on such events tourists were really welcomed. I am sure that would be the case for any event publicized with posters, etc. And these IME can really be fun fun events.. where wine flows and a joie de vivre takes hold.

StCirq

Hi, pavot.

Anyone is welcome to attend any communal event. Some of our most cherished moments have come from these festivities - sitting at long communal tables and conversing with locals and tourists of various nationalities passing through. There's a nice mingling of all the generations and often some great glimpses into some long-held local traditions. I'm sure it will be a memorable occasion for you.

StuDudley

>>like a Sunday - things will be open in small towns until noon or 1pn - bakeries, supermarkets, etc.<<

We must travel in different areas in France. About 80% of the supermarkets we've seen are closed all day on Sunday. We stay in Gites, and they rent from Sat to Sat - so arrival day on Sat is a big scramble to stock up on supplies. More are open now, however, than 15 years ago.

Stu Dudley

pavot

Thanks, all. When I realized we'd be there for Bastille Day, I felt a sort of dread at first. I'm beginning to think this could be really wonderful.

(Although the celebrations do put me in mind of "Mangez Merveillac," one of the episodes from Dawn French's TV show "Murder Most Horrid." It's on YouTube, in 3 parts.)

Carlux

In the Dordogne the Fete Nationale, which is what the French call the 14 July (when they arent calling it le quatorze juillet)may be a very quiet affair. In our village we have celbrations and fireworks the night before. In Sarlat the fireworks are usually the night of the 14th. If there is a communal mean/celebration everyone is welcome. This is a tourist area, after all,and they are happy to welcome tourists.

Our big village fete is in August, and we count on visitors to participate and contribute to the running of the village. Those 12th century chateaux don't keep standing on their own.