Standing in the center of Bastille Square, the July Column soars over 50 m, commemorating the Three Glorious Days of July 1830 that toppled Charles X and ushered in the July Monarchy under Louis‑Philippe . Modeled after Trajan’s Column, it was built between 1835 and 1840 by Jean‑Antoine Alavoine and Joseph‑Louis Duc . The bronze shaft rests on a white marble base with brass bas‑reliefs and bears the names of 504 revolution martyrs. Atop stands the gilded Génie de la Liberté, a bronze statue by Auguste Dumont holding a torch and broken chains.
Beneath the column lie two crypts containing the remains of revolution victims from both 1830 (504 interred in 1840) and 1848 (196 bodies). Closed since 1985, it reopened its underground levels in 2018 after a €3 M restoration by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux.

Guided visitors are welcomed in the Hôtel de Sully courtyard, then descend through stained glass and mosaic‑lined peristyles, passing the bronze spiral staircase (upper levels closed), with a dramatic vista over the Saint‑Martin Canal . The ambiance is solemn and reflective, appealing to history enthusiasts, families, architecture students, and heritage lovers, all gathered at this historic Paris junction .

Anecdotes

The foundations partly rest on the Saint‑Martin Canal.

A planned elephant‑shaped fountain by Napoleon was never built .

During the 1848 Revolution, Louis‑Philippe’s throne was burned at the column’s foot.

Practical info
Weekend guided tours at 14 :30 and 16 : 30 only—booking required. Meeting point : 62 rue Saint‑Antoine, 10 min prior . Partially accessible to mobility‑impaired visitors (peristyle); nearby metro and bus ; public toilets on site. Free for under 7 ; reduced rates for youth, jobseekers, etc.