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Origin and history

Place de la Bastille is a historic place, located in Paris. It derives its name from the former fortress of the Bastille, built from 1370 under Charles V to protect the city. Transformed into a state prison under Richelieu, it became a symbol of royal arbitrariness before being stormed on 14 July 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. The fortress was demolished between 1789 and 1790, and its materials were partly reused to build the Louis XVI Bridge.

After the Revolution, the square became a space of commemoration and gathering. In 1792 it was decided to erect a column there, but the project did not come into being immediately. In 1808, Napoleon planned to build a monumental bronze elephant, inspired by Russian cannons, but only a plaster model was made before being destroyed in 1846. This ephemeral monument is mentioned in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, where Gavroche finds refuge.

The July column, inaugurated in 1840 under Louis-Philippe, commemorates the victims of the Three Glories (1830). It replaces previous projects and becomes a symbol of Republican struggles. The square was also the scene of tragic events, as the installation of guillotine in 1794, where 75 people were executed. During the Commune of 1871, the insurgents tried unsuccessfully to destroy the column.

In the 19th century, the square hosted ephemeral places such as the National Arenas (1851-1854) and the Bastille station (1859-1969), replaced today by the Bastille opera. The recent redevelopment (2019-2021) has expanded pedestrian and cycling spaces, reinforcing its role as an urban and symbolic hub. Remnants of the fortress, such as visible foundations on the subway, and commemorative plaques recall its past.

Place de la Bastille remains a high place for political, social and cultural events. It has been the starting point of Gay Pride since the 1980s and regularly hosts concerts, markets and gatherings. Its history, from the royal prison to the contemporary public space, makes it a lasting symbol of the struggle for freedom and of French revolutionary memory.

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