Place de la Bastille

The Bastille was built between 1370 and 1383 during the reign of Charles V as part of the defenses of Paris; the structure was converted into a state prison in the 17th century by Richelieu, Louis XIII's chief minister. At that time, it primarily housed political prisoners, but also religious prisoners, "seditious" writers, and young rakes held at the request of their families. It began to acquire a poor reputation when it became the main prison for those taken under lettres de cachet issued by the King of France. By the late 18th century, the building was made up of eight close-packed towers, around 24 m (80 ft) high, surrounding two courtyards and the armoury. The prisoners were held…

The current Place de la Bastille is located on the former fort's site. In addition to the July Column, it is also home to the Opéra Bastille. The large ditch (fossé) behind the former fort has been transformed into a marina for pleasure boats, the Bassin de l'Arsenal, to the south, which is bordered by the Boulevard de la Bastille. To the north, a covered canal, the Canal Saint-Martin, extends north from the marina beneath the vehicular roundabout that borders the location of the fort, and then continues for about 4.4 kilometers to the Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad. On Thursdays and Sundays, a large, open-air market occupies part of the park to the north of the Place de la Bastille,…