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Place de la Bastille
place de la BastilleAbout
The storming of the Bastille on July 14th 1789, signalled the beginning of the French Revolution. It was a highly symbolic event: the prison only held seven prisoners. Once the building had been demolished, the stones were used to build the Pont de la Concorde (Concorde bridge). The signs of this turbulent part of history are engraved on the square. The paving stones of the Boulevard Henri-IV follow the former walls of the prison, and the July Column in the centre commemorates the Parisians killed during the uprisings of 1830 and 1848. This former harbourer of violence and crime is now home to trendy bars and cafes, and a modern opera house. A ball, held on the night before July 14th's public holiday, marks the anniversary of the Revolution.
