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Bastille Day Quiz

In France, Bastille Day is celebrated to commemorate a historic event known as
'the storming of the Bastille.'

You can read about it on our Bastille Day page.

1.  In which year did the storming of the Bastille take place?

1789                1889

2.  On which date did the storming of the Bastille take place?

le quatorze juin   (14 June)

 le quatorze juillet   (14 July)

3.    Which famous building was constructed to commemorate the 100th. anniversary of Bastille Day?

l'Arc de Triomphe

 la Tour Eiffel

4.    The storming of the Bastille was the beginning of a historic period in France.  This period is known as -

le mouvement de colère (the fit of anger)

 la Révolution française  (the French Revolution)

5.    Who was the King of France at this time?

Louis XVI

 Henri I

6.    Who was the Queen of France at this time?

Caterina de' Medici

 Marie-Antoinette

7.    Where did the King and Queen of France live at this time?

the Palace of Versailles (le Château de Versailles)

 the Palace of Blois (le Château de Blois)

8.    What kind of building was la Bastille?

a monastery

 a fortress and a prison 

9.    What was the full name of la Bastille?

la Bastille Saint-Antoine

 la Bastille Saint-Denis

10.    Why were the people of Paris so unhappy when they stormed the Bastille?

There was not enough food to eat and the common people were not treated with the same rights as the aristocracy.

 The city was not clean and the people were falling ill.

11.    How many prisoners were found locked in the Bastille when it was stormed?

7  sept             70  soixante-dix

12.    Name the column that stands as a monument to mark where the Bastille used to stand and to commemorate the historic event of 'the storming'.

la Colonne de Louis XVI

la Colonne de Juillet

13.    The French words for 'the king and the queen' are -

le roi et le renne

le roi et la reine

14.    On Bastille Day in Paris, where do the most important parades take place?

l'Avenue des Champs-Élysées

la Place de la Concorde

15.    On Bastille Day, there are celebrations throughout France.  It is a national holiday known as -

les Grandes Vacances

 

la Fête Nationale
 

16.    On Bastille Day, you will often see the flag of France.  The flag is known as -

le chapeau tricolore

 

le drapeau tricolore
 

17.