France cautiously celebrates Bastille Day clouded by Covid-19

Jets of the Patrouille de France fly over the Champs-Elysees avenue during the Bastille Day parade (Michel Euler/AP)

France has celebrated its national holiday with thousands of troops marching in a Paris parade, warplanes roaring overhead and traditional parties around the country, after last year’s events were scaled back because of virus fears.

This year those fears are still lurking, but the government decided to go ahead with the parade on the Champs-Elysees as part of a broader effort to return to pre-pandemic activity.