Bastille Paris
The Bastille was the dreaded fortress stormed by the residents of Paris in July of 1789, an act which began the French Revolution. After the initial assault, the building was razed, leaving nothing in its place but a large city square. Paving stones mark the location of the building and a 50-meter column has been erected in memory of those who died in subsequent revolutions. In 1989 the new Paris Opera House opened in the area, bringing new vitality - and business - back to the square.

Today the site of the Bastille unquestionably belongs to the common Parisian, as affirmed by the many cafes, bistros and movie houses that now make the Bastille a major center of Paris nightlife. Just south of the opera house, an old railway viaduct has been converted into a series of workshops and showrooms illustrating a number of traditional crafts known as the Viaduc des Arts. A small museum has also been opened in the complex.