Bastille

Bastille is where French history and Parisian nightlife collide on the same square. The fortress prison stormed on 14 July 1789 - the event that became the symbol of the French Revolution - stood exactly where Place de la Bastille now spreads. Nothing remains of the prison itself, which was demolished stone by stone immediately after the storming. In its place stands the Colonne de Juillet, a bronze column crowned with the Spirit of Liberty, and the Opéra Bastille - a modern opera house opened in 1989 on the bicentennial of the Revolution.

Three Métro lines converge here, and the surrounding streets pull in three distinct directions: north into the Marais, east along Faubourg Saint-Antoine (historic furniture craft street), and south into the bars and music venues of rue de Lappe and rue de la Roquette. The Port de l'Arsenal marina, where pleasure boats moor along the canal connecting the Seine to the Canal Saint-Martin, sits directly alongside the square.

Station Overview

Zone 1. Lines 1, 5 and 8 serve Bastille. Step-free access is available. One of eastern Paris's most important interchanges.

Lines and Connectivity

Line 1 runs west toward Châtelet, Concorde and Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. Line 5 connects north to République, Gare du Nord and beyond. Line 8 runs west to Opéra and Madeleine, and east toward Créteil.

Travel Tips

• Opéra Bastille sells unsold tickets at the box office from 30 minutes before a performance - excellent value for last-minute visits
• The Promenade Plantée (the world's first elevated park, inspiration for New York's High Line) starts a 5-minute walk east - free and beautiful
• Rue de Lappe and the side streets are Paris's nightlife heartland - bars open late, especially Thursday to Saturday
• The Column commemorates the July Revolution of 1830, not 1789 - a common misunderstanding

Nearby Attractions

Opéra Bastille - Directly on the square. Modern opera house with excellent productions. Last-minute tickets available at the box office before performances.

Promenade Plantée - 5 minutes walk east. A 4.5km elevated garden built on a disused railway viaduct. Free, always open, one of Paris's best-kept secrets.

Le Marais - 10 minutes walk north. Historic medieval quarter with Place des Vosges, the Jewish quarter on Rue des Rosiers and excellent independent restaurants.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Standard Métro hours. The square is lively throughout the day and the surrounding bars are open until 02:00 or later. 14 July (Bastille Day) sees celebrations and fireworks around the square and across Paris.