Place de la Bastille in Paris: a 52-meter column instead of a fortress

The fortress has long been gone. What remains is a square, a column with a golden winged genius, and one of the busiest markets in Paris.

Place de la Bastille stands where a fortress and prison once towered until 1789. Neither its walls nor its towers have survived. All that remains is the memory, stones in the foundations of neighboring buildings, and the name itself. Today it is a crossroads of three arrondissements, a metro hub, and a place where Parisians come to shop for food twice a week.

Below: the column, Opéra Bastille, Port de l'Arsenal, the market, opening hours, and the route from the metro. As of 09/2026, verified on the monument's official website and on the City of Paris page.

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History of the Bastille: fortress, prison, square

💡 In short:

• Entry to the square is free and open around the clock: you only pay at the market, at the Opera, and on tours.
• The column interior is accessible only on a scheduled tour, there is no self-guided climb.
• Marché Bastille operates on Thursdays and Sundays, from morning until mid-day.
• Hours and prices: 09/2026, verified on the monument's official website.

In the 1370s, Paris needed protection from the English, and Charles V ordered a powerful fortress built at the city's eastern wall. Its first name, Chastel Saint-Antoine, never caught on: Parisians called it la Bastille, meaning "the fortress." At first it housed the royal treasury, but under Louis XIII, Cardinal Richelieu changed its purpose, and the fortress became a prison. The line of the old moats survives in the city to this day: it was later used to dig the Arsenal basin (as of 09/2026, city data on the fortress moats).

The list of prisoners was odd for a prison: Voltaire, the Marquis de Sade, Count Cagliostro, and the mysterious man in the iron mask. Conditions depended on status. Nobles were allowed to bring furniture, books, clothing, food, and even servants. The poor were packed in tight quarters, and infections spread through overcrowded cells. You would be hard pressed to find another prison in Europe with such a guest list.

On July 14, 1789, the fortress was stormed to free the prisoners and seize the gunpowder. That same year, it began to be dismantled: stones were bought as souvenirs, and large blocks went into the construction of Parisian buildings. A few years later, a spacious square appeared where the walls and moat had stood. The first stone of the future column was laid by the demolition contractor Pierre-François Palloy, but the construction was never finished, and in 1793 a fountain was placed in the center (as of 09/2026, history of the monument).

In 1808, Napoleon envisioned a fountain in the shape of an elephant on the square. The bronze figure, twenty-four meters tall, was to be cast from Spanish cannons, but there was only enough money for a full-size plaster model. The stone base of the fountain came in handy: in the 1830s, Louis-Philippe ordered the July Column to be erected on it. It was inaugurated in 1840, and the plaster elephant model was demolished only in 1846 (as of 09/2026, official monument website).

The square today

Today, Place de la Bastille is a busy intersection with heavy traffic, cafes along the perimeter, shops, and access to the riverbank. On Thursdays and Sundays, the Marché Bastille sets up along boulevard Richard-Lenoir, one of the largest markets in the city. Vendors sell fruit, meat, cheese, and bread, while nearby stalls offer clothing, kitchenware, and souvenirs (as of 09/2026, market page on the city hall website).

© Guillaume Flament · CC BY-SAPhoto: Guillaume Flament, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

When the metro tunnel was being dug, construction workers came across the remains of one of the fortress towers. The stones were moved to the nearby Henri-Galli garden and laid out in the open air. You can see them for free, and cafes and offices now stand right next to the garden.

The square is used throughout the day. In the evening, people come here for the Opéra Bastille; during the day, they stroll along the water; and on Thursdays and Sundays, the market operates near the square. The Canal Saint-Martin embankment also starts here: come for a quiet walk after the noisy intersection.

What to see

Dozens of streets converge on the square, and almost every building remembers its own history. After the fortress was demolished, a plaque was put up in its place reading "Here we dance." Below are the main sights you will see on the square, with prices, hours, and distances.

July column (Colonne de Juillet)

In the center of the square stands the July column (Colonne de Juillet). The winged "Spirit of Freedom" (Génie de la Liberté) rises 52 meters above the ground, and the bronze part of the column weighs about 180 tons (as of 09/2026, monument official website). A narrow spiral staircase of 200 steps is hidden inside. It is closed for free public access.

© patrick janicek · CC BYPhoto: patrick janicek, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The statue by Auguste Dumont holds a torch and a broken chain of shackles, and a star shines on its forehead. The bronze shaft is engraved with the names of 504 people who died during the July Revolution of 1830, known as the "Three Glorious Days." The base of the column is older than the column itself: it was originally built for a Napoleonic fountain with an elephant.

• Cost: the square is free, entry inside the column is only with a guided tour and a ticket (as of 09/2026, monument tickets).
• Getting there: Bastille metro station, less than a two-minute walk from there (according to the map).
• The catch: you cannot go up on your own, the internal staircase is open only for guided tours.

Opéra Bastille

Opéra Bastille opened on July 13, 1989, on the eve of the bicentennial of the revolution, under President François Mitterrand. The project was selected through an international competition, and the architect was Carlos Ott. The main hall seats about 2,700 spectators, and beneath it there is an amphitheater and a chamber hall (as of 09/2026, Opéra official website).

This theater differs from the old Palais Garnier in its programming. There, opera and ballet are often performed in the same evening, while at Opéra Bastille the genres are separated: opera productions, ballet, and symphony concerts are staged independently. The building was constructed as part of the presidential "Grands Travaux" program. Part of the facade was deliberately hidden behind older buildings so the theater would not clash with the square's appearance. You can enter the foyer directly from the square.

• Cost: tickets are sold on the official website, the price depends on the production (as of 09/2026, Opéra schedule and tickets).

Bastille Fortress

Nothing remains of the fortress itself: it was dismantled at the end of the 18th century. Only archival documents, engravings, and old photographs recall it.

The fortress was not always a prison. At first it defended the city, then it served as a treasury, and only later became a place of confinement. Bastille Day was not declared a national holiday immediately, but only a hundred years after the storming. For Parisians it is an official day off, which you will experience if you come to Paris in mid-July.

Port de l'Arsenal

Behind the square begins the Arsenal basin, the last stretch of the Canal Saint-Martin before it flows into the Seine. Water was let in here in 1805, along the line of the old fortress moats, but the work dragged on and was completed only twenty years later (as of 09/2026, city hall data on the Arsenal basin).

© Myrabella · CC BY-SAPhoto: Myrabella, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

At first the port served the city: wheat, timber, and wine were brought here. In 1983 cargo operations were moved, and the basin became a mooring for pleasure boats and yachts (as of 09/2026, history of the Arsenal basin). A pedestrian walkway spans the water. It is a convenient spot for looking at the boats in the marina, and photos come out without tourists in the frame.

On the west side there is the Jardin de l'Arsenal: lawns, a playground, and a small cafe with a terrace. In summer it is noticeably quieter here than on the square: the water and trees muffle the noise of the boulevard. After the market, a walk along the waterfront takes about twenty minutes.

Bastille metro station

Bastille station is an attraction in its own right. The platforms of line 1 run above ground and pass directly over the Arsenal basin. The walls are decorated with murals depicting scenes from the storming of the fortress. This makes the station stand out clearly against the gray halls of the Paris metro.

© Nina Belyavskaya · CC BY-SAPhoto: Nina Belyavskaya, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The station opened together with the first metro line in 1900 and remains one of the hubs of eastern Paris to this day. Exits lead to different sides of the square, so check the signs and avoid making an unnecessary loop. You will come out either by the Opera or by the column.

Where it is and how to get there

Address: Place de la Bastille, 75011 Paris. The easiest way to get there is by metro: Bastille station, lines 1, 5, and 8 (as of 09/2026, information about the square). From the column to the Arsenal basin is about two hundred meters, and to the Seine embankment about three hundred (according to the map).

Bus routes 20, 65, 69, 76, 86, and 91 go to the square (as of 09/2026, Paris city hall). The exits from the underground passage are scattered around the perimeter, so choose the one closest to the side you need. If you are traveling with a suitcase, head for the exit by the Opera: the sidewalk there is even and there are fewer steps.

Plan your visit for the morning. The market opens early, by midday the square gets noisy, and a line forms at the cafe. Two hours is plenty for the column, the outside of the opera house, and a walk along the water.

Place de la Bastille on the map

The column stands in the center of the square, the Opera Bastille occupies the southeast side, the Arsenal basin begins to the south of the square, and the Canal Saint-Martin runs north. Mark the point on the map and build your own route: the square is large, and the metro exits are spread across different corners.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter Place de la Bastille?

The square itself is free and open around the clock. You only pay for a tour inside the column, for tickets to the Opera, and for purchases at the market. Check prices and tour schedules on the official monument website: they change by season.

What remains of the Bastille fortress?

Almost nothing. The fortress was dismantled at the end of the 18th century, and the square was laid out in its place. Fragments of one tower survive in the Henri-Galli garden, along with stones in the foundations of neighboring buildings and archival documents. You can see the stone blocks for free, two blocks from the square.

How do I get to Place de la Bastille by metro?

You need Bastille station, served by lines 1, 5, and 8 (as of 09/2026, city hall data on Bastille station). Exits lead to different sides of the square: to the Opera, to the column, and to the boulevard. From the metro to the column is less than two minutes on foot (according to the map). For you this is the fastest option.

When is the Marché Bastille market open?

The market operates on Thursdays and Sundays, from morning until mid-afternoon, and occupies part of boulevard Richard-Lenoir (as of 09/2026, market schedule). Come at opening time: by midday a line forms at popular stalls, and some goods sell out.

Is the Opera Bastille worth visiting, and how do you buy tickets?

It is worth it if you are into music. The programs here are split: opera, ballet, and symphony concerts take place on separate evenings, and the main hall seats about 2,700 people. Tickets are sold on the official Opera website, and popular productions sell out in advance.

In short: what is worth booking

If you only have two hours: walk around the square, see the column, and go down to the Arsenal garden. If you have a whole evening: check the schedule at the Opéra Bastille and get tickets in advance on the official website. If you are traveling with children: start at the market and finish at the playground by the water.

You do not need to book the square itself, it is free and always open. The opera and the column tour are paid. To get to know the city, it is convenient to look at Paris tours and cruises on GetYourGuide. Check hours and prices before your trip: they change.