Bastille Fortress Is Stormed By Angry Parisians

July 14, 1789

On July 14, 1789, a huge crowd of Parisians captured the Bastille fortress, forcing King Louis XVI’s troops to withdraw. Bastille Day is a French national holiday (akin to our 4th of July) celebrating the birth of the French Republic and the end of royal rule. July is also the month of France’s largest sporting event: le Tour de France, a 2000-mile cross-country bicycle race.

Official Site of the Eiffel Tower
The most well-known monument in all of Europe is Paris’ Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition in celebration of the French Revolution, it features 1665 steps and has hosted 200 million visitors. Visit its official Web site for Facts & Figures and The Tower at Leisure, which includes: several 360 degree panoramic tours, a video gallery, postcards to send, three fun Flash games and a quiz sweepstakes with the opportunity to win two Eiffel Tower entrance tickets. Nice, but what about the airfare?

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