France celebrated its main national holiday - Bastille Day. This year, the holiday is timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I.
Therefore, the solemn procession was attended by representatives of all countries participating in that war. All marched in a military uniform of the 1914 model on the Champs Elysees. The parade was attended by representatives of 76 armies - 3.75 thousand people, 240 horses and 76 dogs. Over the Champs-Elysees, fighter jets flashed the sky in the colors of the French flag. The parade was hosted by the French President.
Many of the battles of the First World War took place on the territory of France. They involved 8.4 million French people, killing 1, 3 million people.
The holiday is celebrated in the country since 1880. It is dedicated to the capture of the fortress-prison of the Bastille during the Great French Revolution. In Bastille put people on the orders of the king without trial and investigation, she was the personification of evil and lawlessness. On the site of the Bastille after its capture and destruction, an area was created.
In the evening, the sky over Paris was painted with a festive firework that lasted 5 minutes. The show was accompanied by the music of Beethoven, Verdi and John Lennon.
Valery Gergiev, artistic director and chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theater conducted the orchestra by the National Orchestra of France. The audience was satisfied, but the press criticized the choice of the organizers.
And not because Gergiev is bad, but because the maestro is "too close to the Kremlin". In his interview to RT TV channel Valery Gergiev said: "I am a guest who was invited. I'm not without an invitation ". At the same time he was glad to become "part of this major national and international event".
A barrel of honey spoiled the fly in the ointment - the holiday ended in unrest: 897 cars were burned, 13 policemen were wounded, 368 violators were detained. However, last year, during the riots, 855 cars were burnt, 577 people were detained.