Square · France · Still standing

Place de la Bastille

The Place de la Bastille is a wide circular square in Paris located on the site of the demolished Bastille fortress. The July Column (Colonne de Juillet) stands at its centre; the square opens onto several radial streets and borders the Canal Saint-Martin and the Bassin de l'Arsenal. It is a frequent site for markets, concerts and public gatherings.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1792

Its prime

1840

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1840

What Place de la Bastille looked like in its prime.

A broad circular paved square dominated by a tall, bronze‑green, fluted Corinthian column rising from a white stone plinth and low circular balustrade, crowned by a gilded winged figure on a golden sphere. The column's green patina contrasts with pale stone pavements and the surrounding rows of low to mid‑rise stone façades with mansard roofs. Tree lines mark the approaches to the north and south; the Canal Saint‑Martin and a narrow basin sit close by.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1840.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Place de la Bastille, the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Approach from Rue Saint-AntoineBase of the July ColumnCapital and Génie de la LibertéFort perimeter markers on pavementCanal Saint-Martin under the roundaboutSouth bank at the Bassin de l'ArsenalMarket on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir

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