Bastille Day: How to Set a French Table and Host a French Party

The fourteenth of July is France's national holiday – le quatorze juillet, or Bastille Day, as it is known in English. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris at the start of the French Revolution. In France the day begins with a military parade on the Champs-Élysées and ends with fireworks over the Eiffel Tower; in between, there are picnics, village dances and long lunches with friends.

Whether you have French roots or simply love French food, it is the perfect excuse to set a French table and host a French dinner party. Here is how we'd do it, with pieces from the great French houses – and a few Eiffel Towers and roosters for fun. Everything is gathered in our French Table collection; to learn more about the houses themselves, read our guide to French tableware brands.

Limoges Porcelain for the Plates

Limoges, in central France, is the home of French porcelain – read more in our guide to Limoges porcelain.

Bernardaud Marie-Antoinette Dinner Plate 10.5"

Limoges porcelain decorated and finished in Limoges by Bernardaud, sold individually. See the Marie-Antoinette collection.

Bernardaud Marie-Antoinette Round Tart Platter 13"

For pies sweet or savory, crêpes and cheese – a tarte aux fruits or a cheese course after dinner.

Bernardaud Marie-Antoinette Tea Cup and Saucer

A cup with thin edges that bring out the taste and aroma of tea while keeping it hot.

Haviland Marthe – Ritz Paris Dinner Plate

Limoges porcelain from Haviland, sold individually; 10.2 in across.

Paris on the Table: Gien

Gien's themed plates are the house's long-running storytelling series – sets of assorted scenes, each plate different from the next. See how they're made in how Gien faience is made.

Gien Set of 6 Assorted Dessert Plates – Monuments de Paris

Six faience dessert plates, 7 13/16 in across, each with a different Paris monument – a conversation at every place.

Gien Set of 4 Assorted Dessert Plates – Marie-Antoinette

Four assorted scenes from Gien's Marie-Antoinette series, 8 11/16 in across.

Gien Acrylic Serving Tray, Large – Paris Giverny

Fabrice Moireau's watercolors follow the parks of Paris to Claude Monet's garden at Giverny. An 18¼ x 14 5/16 in acrylic tray for carrying the apéritif outside. Also in Ça c'est Paris!.

Gien Eiffel Tower Mug – L'Archipel Sentimental

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's pattern for Gien, drawn in a single timeless blue. He describes each guest as one island of a "sentimental archipelago" that only exists when people gather around the table.

The Eiffel Tower

Herend Eiffel Tower Figurine

A 5 in hand-painted porcelain Eiffel Tower with 24k gold accents, in a range of fishnet colors – a centerpiece for a Paris-themed table.

Bernardaud Eiffel Tower Votivelight

Bisque Limoges porcelain with the Eiffel Tower engraved into it, glowing when the candle is lit. See also the Paris Monuments Votivelight.

Le Coq: The French Rooster

The Gallic rooster, le coq gaulois, has long been an emblem of France.

Herend Proud Rooster Figurine

A 4¾ in hand-painted porcelain rooster, in sapphire or rust, with 24k gold accents.

Gien Dessert Plate Strutting Rooster – Grands Oiseaux

The birds of Grands Oiseaux come from Félix Bracquemond, the painter-engraver who introduced Japanese-print style to French decorative arts. Sold individually.

Herend Beret Bunny Figurine

A little hand-painted bunny in a beret, 2½ in tall – the most French bunny we know.

Crystal and Silver for the Toast

Lalique 100 POINTS Champagne Glass

Hand-finished crystal from Lalique, made in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace – for the toast at the end of the meal. Read more in our Lalique crystal guide.

Christofle Vertigo Silver-Plated Ice Bucket

A silver-plated ice bucket with two side handles from the Paris silversmith, designed by Andrée Putman – look for Vertigo's playfully askew ring.

Daum Roses Small Bowl

Crystal pâte de verre, kiln-cast and finished by hand by Daum, so color and shading vary slightly from piece to piece – a small jewel for the center of the table.

How to Host a French Dinner Party

• Begin with an apéritif. A glass of champagne or rosé with olives, radishes and butter, and a few slices of saucisson.
• Serve in courses. A starter, a main dish, then – the French way – a cheese course before dessert.
• Bring out a baguette. Bread goes directly on the tablecloth beside each plate in France, not on a bread plate.
• End with a tart. A fruit tart on a tart platter is the classic finish.
• Dress the table in blue, white and red. The colors of the French flag – le drapeau tricolore – work with white porcelain and blue faience.

For a full guide to the French houses, see French tableware brands and our Bernardaud dinnerware guide.

Save your favorites: open any piece and tap the ♡ to add it to your Wishlist, then share it with your guests before the party.