Place de la Bastille, Public square at intersection of 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements, Paris, France.
Place de la Bastille is a large public square in eastern Paris where the 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements meet. A tall column with a golden figure stands at the center, surrounded by wide streets that branch in all directions and a modern opera building on the north side.
A royal fortress and prison was built here in the 14th century and destroyed by revolutionaries between July 1789 and July 1790. The column at the center was erected later to honor those who died during the July Revolution of 1830.
The name recalls the fortress that stood here until 1790, whose storming marked the start of the French Revolution. Today the square serves as a busy meeting point where people gather before concerts at the opera house or settle into cafés along the boulevard edges.
The metro station beneath the square connects five lines and provides access to many parts of the city. Visiting during the day or early evening works best if you want to explore the area at a relaxed pace.
Markers in the pavement show the exact position of the old prison walls, letting you trace the footprint of the former fortress. During the destruction in 1789, stones from the Bastille were sold as souvenirs or built into other buildings around the city.
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