Place de la Bastille

The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris located at the meeting point of the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements. The square and its neighbourhood are popularly known as the Bastille. Until the late 18th century, in the place of the square stood the Bastille prison, which, however, was entirely destroyed on 14 July 1789 in the event called the 'Storming of the Bastille', which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

The Place de la Bastille was created in 1803. In its centre, there stood a fountain in the shape of an elephant (mentioned in Victor Hugo's novel "Les Misérables"), which was destroyed in 1847.

At the centre of the square, there is a 52-metre high column called the July Column (Colonne de Juillet), which was built as a memorial to the 504 victims killed in the July Revolution of 1830. At the top of the column there is the statue of the "Spirit of Liberty". Other noteworthy buildings found in the square are the Bastille Opera (where the former Bastille railway station stood until 1984), the subway station, and part of the Canal Saint Martin.

Today, the square is a place where many concerts and other similar cultural events are held throughout the year. In the north-eastern part of the square you can find lots of bars, cafés, and night clubs, making it a very busy place at night.  

Due to its historical significance, the square is often the site of various political demonstrations.