Place de la Bastille is a famous square in Paris in the historical center of the city, one of the cultural centers and symbols of the French capital. The name "Bastille" comes from the French word "bastide" and means fortress. It was on this site that the famous fortress-prison stood, destroyed during the French Revolution of 1789. By the way, the French celebrate the anniversary of the capture of the Bastille with great pomp. Tourists like to visit Paris on July 14, because on this day the city is unusually beautiful.
The modern square connects more than ten streets of Paris. Here you can visit markets, relax in cafes and restaurants, see famous sights.
The fortress was built in the 14th century. It was where those responsible for state and religious crimes were imprisoned - mainly writers and poets who preached freedom of speech: Voltaire, Labommel, Marmontel, Marquis de Sade and others. It was a large building with 8 towers. The fortress was surrounded by a moat. It could be crossed by a drawbridge, after which there was another wall. It is hard to imagine that such a building stood on the site where the modern Bastille Square is now located.
During the Great French Revolution, the city's population occupied the fortress. All prisoners (there were seven of them) were released. The demolition of the building took a long time. Most of the stones were used to build the Pont de la Concorde, which connects the Tuileries Quay with the Place de la Concorde.
The Place de la Bastille appeared on the site of the destroyed fortress, and where the prison had been, there was a memorial plaque with the symbolic inscription "Here they dance."
Initially, they planned to install a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte on the vacated space, then a huge fountain in the shape of an elephant, and after the Second French Revolution of 1830, it was decided to erect the July Column.
There are three important landmarks on the Place de la Bastille: the July Column, the Bastille Opera, and the Arsenal port.
The July Column was erected on the square by order of Emperor Louis-Philippe I. It is cast from steel and bronze. Its height is 52 meters, weight is 170 tons. The opening took place in 1840. The column became a symbol of the July Revolution: then Charles X was overthrown and Louis-Philippe I became the head of the country.
At the bottom of the column there is a memorial plaque with the names of Parisians who died during the revolution. Their remains rest under the pedestal.
At the top of the column is a figure of the Genius of Liberty: in one hand he holds a broken chain, in the other - a torch, on his forehead - a star:
From 1859 to 1969, on the site of the modern opera house, between the streets of Sheraton and Lyon, there was the Bastille station. Later, the station was closed and exhibitions began to be held there. In the 1980s, President Mitterrand gave permission for the construction of the Opera Bastille on the site of the station.
The opera opened in 1989, on the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. The Great Hall seats 2,703 people, the amphitheater - 450 people. Today it is one of the most popular places in Paris.
The Bastille area is home to the 544-meter-long and 70-meter-wide Canal Saint-Martin and the Arsenal port. Tourists and locals can enjoy the beautiful view, stroll along the embankment, relax in a cafe or take a boat ride.
To get to the Place de la Bastille, use:
- metro: 1, 5, 8 lines - station Bastille.
- bus №20, 29, 65, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91 - stop Bastille.
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