| | | | | place of horror and oppression, a symbol of autocratic |
| The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris, France, | | | | cruelty according to popular literary accounts. |
| where the Bastille prison stood until the “Storming of | | | | The atrocities piled up leading to a confrontation |
| the Bastille” occurred. Subsequent to its destruction | | | | between the commoners and the ancient regime |
| between July 14, 1789 and July 14, 1790 during the | | | | which led to the storming of the Bastille on July 14, |
| French Revolution, no vestige of it remains. The | | | | 1789. A crowd of thousand people gathered outside in |
| Square and its surroundings are normally known as the | | | | the mid morning, calling for the surrender of the prison, |
| Bastille. The July Column at the center commemorates | | | | the removal of guns and the release of arms and |
| the events of the July Revolution. The Bastille Opera, | | | | gunpowder. Two people were chosen to represent |
| the Bastille subway station and a section of Canal | | | | the people gathered and invited for negotiations inside |
| Saint Martin also can be seen here. Before 1884, the | | | | the fortress. The restless crowd broke into the |
| Bastille railway station existed here, which has been | | | | undefended outer courtyard by mid afternoon and the |
| replaced by the Opera house. | | | | chains on the drawbridge were cut. Exchange of |
| Many concerts take place here and it is a busy area. | | | | gunfire took place. The victors swept inside the |
| There are cafes, bars and night clubs here, which | | | | fortress to liberate the prisoners around 5.30 pm. Now, |
| make it a delightful tourist destination. The square is | | | | the original outline of the fort is clearly marked on the |
| used for political demonstrations and the massive | | | | pavement of the streets and sidewalks with special |
| anti-CPE demonstration of March 28, 2006 took place | | | | paving stones. |
| here at the Bastille. In June 1792, this area became a | | | | Today, the place which is a square is home to Opera |
| square for celebrating liberty. A column and a fountain | | | | Bastille. The large ditch behind the fort is now a marina |
| were erected here as memorials. | | | | for pleasure boats. On weekdays, there is a large |
| The Bastille was originally built between 1370 and 1383 | | | | open air market here. Fish, fruit, meat, cheese and |
| as part of the defenses of Paris. It was made into a | | | | bread are sold at the market. Clothing and flea market |
| prison in the 17th century by Charles VI. Originally it | | | | items are also to be seen here. On weekends artists |
| housed political prisoners, but later religious prisoners, | | | | and craftsmen come here for their business. |
| seditious writers, and young rakes were also | | | | France is a great place to enjoy art, food, romance |
| incarcerated here. | | | | and shopping, so tourists are encouraged to stay at a |
| The building was made up of eight closely packed | | | | Paris hotel when exploring the city. By staying at a |
| towers by the late 18th century. The prisoners had | | | | luxury hotel in Paris , tourists have the opportunity to |
| rooms of about fifteen feet each. The Bastille was a | | | | indulge in the best in Parisian luxury. |