6 Must-See French Revolution Sites in Paris

Kick off your revolutionary tour of Paris with a visit to the Bastille and the Bastille Monument. The Storming of the Bastille took place on July 14, 1789, when the now-gone medieval Bastille fortress was attacked by an angry mob. This surprise jump-started the revolution. Although the building itself no longer stands, its location is marked by Place de la Bastille, a square that straddles the 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements. Don't miss the "Génie de la Liberté" (Spirit of Freedom), the gold sculpture added to the top of la Colonne de Juillet (July Column), conceived to commemorate the revolution.

How to visit the Bastille: Discover what is now the Bastille neighborhood on a food and market walking tour, or opt for an off-the-beaten-path bike tour that also stops at less-visited sights.

Once a palace during the Middle Ages, the Conciergerie was used as a prison during the French Revolution, is one of the key Reign of Terror locations in the city, along with Marie Antoinette’s last residence. Hundreds of prisoners were kept here, including Marie Antoinette, before being taken to the guillotine.

How to visit the Conciergerie: Set on Île de la Cité, the same island on the Seine where Notre-Dame Cathedral sits, the Conciergerie is easy to visit with a Paris attraction pass. For a more dedicated experience, opt for skip-the-line Congiergerie tickets or a combo tour that includes a Seine River cruise and a visit to the former palace.

One of the largest squares in the city, and one of the most important sites of the French Revolution, Place de la Concorde sits between Paris’ main shopping street, the Avenue des Champs-Elysées , and Tuileries Garden. During the Revolution, King Louis XVI, his wife Marie Antoinette, and other members of the French aristocracy were executed here by guillotine.

How to visit the Place de la Concorde: Most of the top city tours in Paris pass by Place de la Concorde, whose main feature is an Egyptian obelisk. The best way to see the square, however, is on foot during a walk along the Right Bank of the Seine. Consider a private walking tour of Paris’ hidden gems) for a fully customizable experience.

A collection of museums about the French Revolution and France's military history, Les Invalides is best known for housing the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. The gold Dôme des Invalides is a recognizable part of the Paris skyline.

How to visit Les Invalides: Les Invalides is set near the Eiffel Tower, so a luminous evening combo tour or a half-day Segway tour can be great ways to check out both sites. To explore the compound and see Napoleon’s tomb, book skip-the-line tickets or a tour to the onsite Army Museum (Musee de l'Armee).

The Arc de Triomphe, built between 1806 and 1836 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is a monumental tribute to French military prowess and dedicated to those who died for France during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Its history is intertwined with the broader historical context of revolutionary and Napoleonic France and would not exist if Napoleon hadn’t risen to power and ended the French Revolution in 1799.

The monument's architecture features intricate, high-relief sculptures that depict scenes of victorious French soldiers in battle. The names of notable generals and the battles they fought in are inscribed on the monument's inner and outer surfaces. The arch's colossal size and intricate details are well worth the time to explore this sympbol of France.

Add to the fact that the Arc de Triomphe offers one of the best views of Paris, reached by climbing 284 steps, and is also a perfect spot to take in the beauty of the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, and other iconic Parisian landmarks.

How to visit the Arc de Triomphe: Tours with rooftop access and skip-the-line tours are available as well as combo tickets that combine tours of the Arc de Triomphe with other must-see sites in Paris like the Eifel Tower or a Seine River cruise.

As mentioned above, the Palace of Versailles played a significant role during the French Revolution. It symbolized the way French aristocrats lived in excess while many of their citizens starved. Although located just outside Paris, Versailles is a worthy visit, as the French Revolution started, in part, because of the lavish lifestyle on full display here, where the king and queen lived.

How to visit the Palace of Versailles: Half-day and full-day Versailles trips are available from Paris, with transportation and entrance fees included for your convenience. Add-on options include tours of nearby Giverny. Time your visit just right and enjoy the garden and fountain shows of Versailles.

• What was the French Revolution? The French Revolution was a period of social, political, and cultural upheaval in the late 18th century. It is widely seen as one of the most violent and globally significant revolutions in history.

• Why did the French Revolution happen? As royalty and the nobility lived a life of lavish excess (for royal history buffs, this is where Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, played a significant and controversial role in the French Revolution due to her actions and image of excess and extravagance). Add to that, resentment for restrictions imposed on the working class by the ruling class, a growing economic crises—driven by involvement in the American Revolution—deepened in France, fueling the resentment and discontent of the bourgeoisie and peasant classes. Finally, a crop failure in 1788 sent living standards in France, then Europe’s most populous country, tumbling. As many citizens faced famine and poverty, restlessness with, and distaste for, the establishment grew. Many protests and uprisings preceded the noted start of the French Revolution.

• How did the revolution start? On July 14th, 1789, a mob of Parisians stormed the prison at Bastille. Tired of the King imprisoning any political adversary, and hungry from a lack of food due to poor harvests, the mob released the prisoners and started the French Revolution. Most historical records and scholars date the French Revolution as starting in 1789, when King Louis XVI and the French monarchy were overthrown. While this is when most of the key events of the era started, the beginnings of the revolution can be traced back to 1787 with the aristocratic revolt—a period when the French nobility sought to curtail the monarchy’s absolute power.

• How did the revolution end? On November 9th, 1799, the revolution finally came to an end when Napoleon was declared the “first consul” of the Republic of France. While many of the bloodiest days of the revolution were over by then, this declaration brought 12 years of revolution to a close.

• What did the revolution change? The French Revolution saw the end of the ancien régime (old regime) in France, turning the country from one ruled by a monarch to a republic. However, this change was challenged twice more during the 19th century, with mini revolutions happening in France in 1830 and 1848.