Place de la Bastille, Paris

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, signaled the beginning of the French Revolution. It was a highly symbolic event: the prison only held seven prisoners. Once the building had been demolished, the stones were used to build the Pont de la Concorde (Concorde bridge). The signs of this turbulent part of history are engraved on the square. The paving stones of the Boulevard Henri-IV follow the former walls of the prison, and the July Column in the center commemorates the Parisians killed during the uprisings of 1830 and 1848. Formerly a place of violence and crime, this area is now home to trendy bars and cafes, and a modern opera house. A ball, held on the night before July 14's public holiday, marks the anniversary of the Revolution.