Audio GuidePlace de la Bastille

Place de la Bastille is a historic square in Paris that has transformed from a former fortress and prison into a bustling centre of modern urban life. Once home to the Bastille fortress, a medieval stronghold dismantled during the French Revolution, this site witnessed dramatic events, including the storming of the Bastille and public executions by guillotine. After the revolution, the square became the setting for a public dance among its ruins in seventeen ninety, paving the way for the national celebration on the fourteenth of July.

Bertrand Pierre

Towering above the square, the July Column was constructed by Louis-Philippe to commemorate the revolution of eighteen thirty. The square also features remnants of older structures, like the base of a fountain once intended to support a majestic bronze elephant. Today, Place de la Bastille is a pedestrian-friendly area where the lively street scene merges with history. It is a vibrant venue for fairs, concerts, roller-skating gatherings, and one of the largest annual Pride parades in Paris.

anca Chio