Place de la Bastille marks the location of the Bastille Fortress which was constructed by prévôt Hugues Aubriot between 1370 and 1382. It was built to protect the residence of Charles V and defend the capital from invasion from the east. Twenty-four meters high, the structure included eight towers and a moat which was 24 meters deep. During the Richelieu era, it became a state prison and a symbol of the people’s contempt for the monarchy. Its destruction in 1878 marks the beginning of the French Revolution.
Symbolic of protest, Place de la Bastille is now the departure or arrival point for any march or demonstration in the capital. A column in the center of the place marks the exact position of the former fortress. It commemorates the revolutionary days of July 1830 which brought King Louis Phillipe to the throne. At the top of the column is a winged genie symbolising liberty. Just on the outside of the circle is the Opéra Bastille designed by Carlos Ott and inaugurated in 1989 for the bicentennial of the French Revolution. Leading off to the east are Rue Faubourg Saint Antoine, with its numerous bars and restaurants, and the Viaduct des Arts, a former rail line which has been transformed into an urban promenade/bike trail extending beyond the city limits.
Bofinger, for its Golden Age décor and traditional brassiere menu, Ave Maria for its vibrantly mixed atmosphere and cuisine, Barrio Latino for its musical ambiance and successful restaurant/bar/club concept.
