It is fascinating how the Place de la Bastille is today a beacon of modernity, filled with trendy bars and cafes, museums and opera houses. It is built on the site of the most infamous prison ever to have existed in France, a dark and dank place of suffering. The storming of the Bastille on the 14th July 1789 marked the beginning of the uprising that would start the French Revolution, and finally end monarchical rule in the country. Many monuments litter the area, paying tribute to those who suffered in the great prison.
