Place de la Bastille

The Place de la Bastille is one of the most historically charged squares in Paris, the site where the Bastille fortress-prison once stood, until it was stormed by a revolutionary crowd on 14 July 1789, the spark that ignited the French Revolution (still celebrated as France's national day, Bastille Day). The prison itself was demolished, and today a large traffic circle marks the spot, dominated by the soaring July Column (Colonne de Juillet) at its centre, a bronze column topped by the gilded 'Spirit of Freedom,' actually commemorating a later revolution, that of 1830. The modern Opéra Bastille opera house stands on one side.

Though the prison is long gone (its former outline is marked in the paving), the square remains a potent symbol of liberty and a frequent gathering point for demonstrations and celebrations. It's a lively area bordering the trendy Marais and the bars of the Bastille and Oberkampf districts. Pause to appreciate the history, then explore the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Don't miss

• The site of the Bastille's storming in 1789
• The soaring July Column with the Spirit of Freedom
• A potent symbol of liberty and Bastille Day
• The modern Opéra Bastille
• Proximity to the Marais and lively nightlife districts

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Place de la Bastille

Cheapest way inParis City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based)5★ · 1,737 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Most bookedVersailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris4.4★ · 4,149 travelers3–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$75 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleParis City Center with Notre Dame interior Exclusive Walking Tour4.9★ · 219 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$60 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• The prison is long gone, its outline is marked in the paving.
• The July Column commemorates the 1830 revolution, not 1789.
• It borders the trendy Marais and lively Bastille nightlife.
• It remains a gathering point for celebrations and demonstrations.

A bit of history

The Bastille was a medieval fortress that became a state prison, a symbol of royal tyranny. Its storming on 14 July 1789 launched the French Revolution. The fortress was demolished; the July Column at the centre was raised later to commemorate the Revolution of 1830.