Paris - Place de la Bastille

Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with over 2 million inhabitants and more than 13 million in the greater metropolitan area.

The Bastille was built here 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. At that time, it primarily housed political prisoners, but also religious prisoners, "seditious" writers.

The French Revolution started here with the storming of the Bastille and its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 No vestige of the prison remains.

Seen in the backdrop is the Opéra Bastille. This site was previously occupied by the Gare de la Bastille railway station, which opened in 1859 and closed in 1969. The opera, designed by architect Carlos Ott, was inaugurated on the evening of July 13, 1989, as the opening event of the celebrations marking the bicentenary of the storming of the Bastille and the beginning of the French Revolution