* The Place de la Bastille is built on the site of the infamous Paris fortress of the same name, stormed by a mob on July 14, 1789, as part of the French Revolution. This date is celebrated annually in France. The Colonne de Juillet—the July Column—is its centerpiece, commemorating Bastille Day. The column stands 154 feet high. Atop the monument is Le Génie de la Liberté, a winged figure representing the spirit of freedom.