“For the French, the storming of the Bastille is a very significant event – actually, one of the most important ones in the country’s history,” Thomas Buffin told RT. “Bastille Day became a national holiday in 1880, after France became a republic – the authorities needed a holiday to unite the nation and to revive the spirit of conciliation.”

The storming of the Bastille was a perfect match. Since then, on July 14, France marks one of the biggest holidays of the year. Festivities go on all day long and many cities around the country set off beautiful fireworks.

This year, however, the celebrations have been hit with criticism – human rights activists have claimed that African leaders invited to take part in the festivities should be facing trial for war crimes instead. They also accused President Nicolas Sarkozy, who attempted to intervene for his guests, of “colonial nostalgia.”