The busy round about that is Place de la Bastille borders on the 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements of Paris. It has, as its center, a 52 metre (171 feet) bronze column called Colonne du Juillet. The column is topped by a gilded genie, Liberty, who holds a broken chain in her left hand and a torch in her right. The monument commemorates the revolution in which King Charles X was replaced by King Louis-Philippe.
Bastille can be reached by lines 1, 5, and 8 on the Paris Metro, and is served on a number of bus routes, including 67, 69, and 76. It is an easy fifteen minute walk from Notre Dame on Blvd. Henri IV.
History of Place de la Bastille
The original building here was a Medieval fortress. It later became a hated prison, that held those who the royalty felt were disloyal. On July 14, 1789 the French Revolution began as the prison, which at the time held only 7 prisoners, was stormed by a mob. That day is a public holiday in France, formally called Fête de la Fédération, but better known, in English, as Bastille Day.
Things to Do in the Bastille Area Today
Today this area is buzzing with activity.
The Opera Bastille, opened in 1989, and with five moveable stages, an amazing glass ceiling, and white marble facade, it is quite different than the older Opera Garnier. The venue seats 3400 in its audience. It's worth checking at the ticket office for bargain-priced seats.
The Musée Carnavalet is within easy walking distance of the Place de la Bastille at 23 rue de Sevigne. This is the museum of the history of Paris, starting at its Gallo-Roman period and moving onward. The museum is housed in two private mansions from the 16th and 17th centuries. It includes a piece of the Bastille prison. Open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday, the permanent exhibitions are free, while there is a fee for the temporary exhibitions.
Don't miss Place des Vosges, just a five minute walk from Place de la Bastille and one of the most lovely squares in Paris. Thirty-six houses, built of red birck with blue slate roofs, sit over arcades surrounding this truly symmetrical square of 140 by 140 meters. Building of the square began in 1605 by Henri IV and its inaugeration in 1612 included a grand carrousel. Today you can visit the home of Victor Hugo at #6 Place des Vosges between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. This museum includes drawings, portraits, and furniture that give a glimpse into Hugo's life as he wrote Les Miserables.
Include a visit to the Place de la Bastille on your next trip to Paris!
Laura Marie Moore - Laura Moore lives on an island in Puget Sound, in the state of Washington. She has a BA in anthropology from the University of Washington ...
Join the Conversation