Manifistation against the new retirement law going through the Place de la Bastille. September, 2010.

Paris goes on strike! - Paris visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Paris goes on strike!' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Paris.

The Place de la Bastille is one of the more famous squares in Paris. It is dominated by the July Column, shown in the panorama, built to celebrate the destruction of the hated Bastille prison which used to stand on the site until it was stormed and destroyed between July 14, 1789 and July 14, 1790 in the French Revolution. On the southeast corner is the Opera Bastille.

As a result of this history, the Bastille is often used for political protest and demonstrations. At other times the square is used for public events and concerts. When not closed to traffic, this is a very busy road junction linking the the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements (districts) of Paris.

The canal from the Port de Plaisance de Paris Arsenal continues under the Place de la Bastille and emerges to the north as the Canal Saint Marin. The Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise takes tourists along the canal. There are special offers for these with the Paris Pass.

Metro: Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8).