Bastille Day in Dordogne
 

We will be in the Dordogne, Sarlat area on Bastille Day. Will the outdoor markets (Domme, Monpazier, etc) be open? Are the shops open? Supermarkets? Are the tourist sites
( castles, caves, etc) open?
Are there any village/town festivities that a tourist could take part in? How do you find out about these?

IME, most things are open as usual in the morning, with some closing down in the afternoon. Some towns (like Le Bugue) often have activities starting around noon like traditional dancing in the marketplace and musicians. There will be at least one designated town that will have a big celebration with tables set up for dining and food and music and dancing and, late at night, fireworks. The location changes every year, so just ask at a tourist office or look for posters. Other towns will have their own celebrations. The best one, IMO, is if it's held in Les-Eyzies, because there are canoe flotillas that come down the river in the dark with torches, and fireworks that go off above them on both sides of the river. There will be plenty of posters up all over the place to alert you to what's going on where. Of course tourists can take part - anyone can.

Please don't call it Bastille Day, at least in France.. It's the Fête Nationale.

Thanks
Who knew? Where I am from:
http://www.bastilledaylosangeles.com/home.shtml

Yes, well, it's NOT Bastille day in France. In Sarlat there are fireworks at 11 pm on the 14 juillet. Dance in the main square during the evening.

In my village we celebrate the night before for some reason, with dance, barbecue, and fireworks at midnight over the ruins of our château. Villages all over the country will celebrate either the night before or on the 14h, so you shouldn't have difficulty finding somewhere interesting. The Sarlat tourist office, or the smaller village ones should have information.

Normally tourist sites and restaurants are open - it's after all the beginning of the real tourist season here, when many French people take their holiday. Markets should also be open for the same reason. (In fact people who run restaurants and hotels in July and August hardly get any sleep, as they go virtually non-stop for 4-6 weeks)

I forgot to include this link from Sarlat tourist office
http://www.sarlat-tourisme.com/fr/fm...AAQU024FS00523

Thanks. Great info from 2 of the most respected experts.