What’s on in France Summer 2024

There’s loads going on throughout France this summer – not least the Paris Olympic Games taking place in July, August and September. Here’s our pick of some of the best events this season…

Major events France summer 2024

Fête de la Musique: 21 June, France’s national music day features everything from street parties to major concerts – pop to rock, jazz to classical and everything in between.

July 14: A national holiday in France, Quatorze Juillet as the French say, Bastille Day as English speakers call it, commemorates the French Revolution of 1789. Festivities begin the night before with firemen’s balls held in fire stations throughout France and continue into the next day. Pretty much every town and village holds a celebration party. Cities lay on major events including Carcassonne (photo above) and Paris where there are military parades on the Champs Elysées, plus fireworks displays.

Have a listen to our Bastille Day podcast – it’s full of fascinating and fun facts!

Tour de France: This year the 2024 Tour begins in northern Italy, with a 206km ride from Florence to Rimini on June 29th. And, because of the Paris Olympics, the race finishes not in the Champs-Elysees as it usually does, but with an individual time trial from Monaco to Nice on 21 July.

Assumption Day, 15 August – national holiday

Journées Européennes du Patrimoine – 21 and 24 September: European Heritage Days

Across the whole country, hundreds of historical buildings, famous monuments, Government sites and places of interest open to the public.

Major Anniversaries 2024

1124 | 900th anniversary of the birth of Aliénor d’Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine was married in Bordeaux aged 15. Shortly after her 17-year-old husband became King Louis VI of France. The marriage was later annulled, and she married English Plantagenet King Henry II and became Queen of England. They had 8 children including Richard the Lionheart. She died in 1204 and was interred at the Abbey of Fontevraud. Read our article: Follow in the footsteps of the Plantagenets in France

August 1944 the Other D Day 80th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon – Le Var

Launched 70 days after the Normandy landings, Operation Dragoon was a crucial Franco-American military operation that took place on August 15, 1944. The primary landing sites were located in the Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. After these landings, Allied forces advanced up the Rhone Valley, executing a coordinated pincer movement to cut off and engage retreating German troops. This strategic manoeuvre culminated in a historic meeting with D-Day veterans in Dijon on September 12, 1944. Discover the 80^th anniversary events to commemorate Operation Dragoon.

150^th anniversary of Impressionism

Many museums in France will be celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism and the 5^th Normandy Impressionist Festival will run until 22 September. Details: Normandie-impressioniste.fr

What’s on

Bordeaux Wine Festival 17-30 June: A 4-day event celebrates the very best of the local vin, with tastings, tours and vineyard visits against the background of stunning Bordeaux. You can also enjoy live music, admire the tall ships docked on the Garonne and take part in activities.

Antiques Fair, Montreuil-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais 14 July: Every year on 14 July, a grand Antiques Fair takes over the while of the upper town.

Fête du Cognac, Cognac 25-27 July: A major event to celebrate Cognac, Pineau des Charentes, Vins de Pays Charentais, culinary Charentais with street food stalls along the Marina Cognac plus music. lafeteducognac.fr

Olympic Games Summer 2024

The XXXIII Olympiad, Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from 26 July to 11 August. 19 days of competition which will generate billions of television viewers worldwide as 10,500 athletes compete in 329 events. Paris’ iconic landmarks will be transformed into sporting arenas, (some games will take place in other cities in France). This will be followed by the summer Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September in which 4,400 athletes are set to inspire in 549 events.

Soissons Bean Festival, Soissons, 27 September 2024

An hour by train from Paris, the city of Soissons will celebrate the famous white beans cultivated in the region since the 17th century when plague caused people to flee the area but returning months later, the beans grew and staved off famine. Gourmet market, local products, bean pavilion with cooking competition, free shows with demonstrations, fireworks display and parade.

We do our best to make sure the dates are correct but sometimes dates change, please check directly if you’re making a special journey for an event.