Which French military corps traditionally marches last in the Bastille Day parade?

The French military corps that traditionally marches last in the Bastille Day parade is the French Foreign Legion.

The Legion’s position is a ceremonial tradition linked to its unusually slow marching pace. Foreign Legion units march at about 88 steps per minute, compared with roughly 116 steps per minute for most other French units. Placing them at the end prevents the slower formation from disrupting the parade’s cadence.

The parade, officially the 14 July military parade, has taken place in Paris since 1880. It normally travels along the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe toward the Place de la Concorde, where France’s president and other dignitaries watch. The Legion’s distinctive white kepis, beards, leather aprons and slow, deliberate stride make its appearance especially recognizable.

A common mix-up is to choose the Republican Guard because it has a prominent ceremonial role in Paris. However, the Republican Guard appears earlier in the procession; the Foreign Legion traditionally closes the infantry march because of its distinctive pace.