In Paris, fans of offbeat spots, of Bastille ruins, and little historical gems should head to square Henri-Galli in the 4th arrondissement, along boulevard Henri-IV. There, in this quiet garden by the Seine, lies a tangible piece of the famous prison-fortress: the foundations of the Tour de la Liberté, one of the eight towers of the Bastille. These remnants were unearthed in 1899 during the construction of the first metro line on Rue Saint-Antoine, before being moved to the square.
Today passers-by can stroll past, unaware that here lies a piece of the Revolution, a chunk of fortress, a fragment of a Paris disparu that has simply been moved a few hundred metres to become a hidden curiosity of Paris.
The Bastille, the former fortress on the eastern edge of Paris, stood at the Porte Saint-Antoine within Charles V’s enclosure before becoming a state prison. It was stormed on the July 14, 1789, and subsequently dismantled. It remains one of the defining moments of the Revolution: the Bastille came to symbolize arbitrariness, since people could be detained without trial on a simple royal letter of marque. Its demolition, begun on July 17, 1789, was therefore highly symbolic.
Without the construction of Metro Line 1, this relic might have remained buried beneath Paris. In 1899, while work was underway near Rue Saint-Antoine, workers uncovered the foundations of the tower. The stones were dismantled, transported, and then reassembled in Henri-Galli Square, created in 1925.
The Bastille itself is no longer a feature of the Parisian landscape. Its location is now signposted differently, notably around Place de la Bastille, but its physical remains have become scarce. The Square Henri-Galli thus preserves a rare relic, tucked away in its verdant setting.
July 14: Where can you see the remains of the Bastille prison in Paris?
In Paris, the Place de la Bastille is a reminder of a pivotal moment in the country's history. In the past, a great fortress, the Bastille prison, stood here. Destroyed during the French Revolution of 1789, the remains are now rare. Here's where you can see what's left of it in Paris today. [Read more]
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
Dates and Opening Time
From April 28, 2026 to December 28, 2027
Location
Square Henri-Galli
9 Boulevard Henri IV
75004 Paris 4
July 14: Where can you see the remains of the Bastille prison in Paris?
