July Column

In 1792, there was an initial plan to build a column commemorating the Fall of the Bastille. The foundation stone for this project was laid on 14 July 1792, but the plan didn't progress further. Its base, however, was later used during the Empire to support an elephant fountain, designed by Percier and Fontaine, though the final bronze version was never made due to financial constraints.

The column as we know it was conceived as a Corinthian column and was designed by Jean-Antoine Alavoine. Commissioned by Louis-Philippe, the Place de la Bastille was chosen as its location on 9 March 1831. The first stone was placed on 28 July 1831, marking the anniversary of the revolution that made Louis-Philippe king. To celebrate, a hymn by Victor Hugo, set to music by Ferdinand Hérold, was performed at the Panthéon. The Colonne de Juillet was built by Joseph-Louis Duc, Alavoine's collaborator, and was unveiled on 28 July 1840. For the inauguration, Hector Berlioz composed the Grande symphonie funèbre et triomphale, which he personally conducted in a procession that concluded at the Place de la Bastille. Commemorative medals were issued by Jean-Pierre Montagny for the event.

Within the column's foundation is a columbarium, housing the remains of 615 individuals who died during the July Revolution. Later, 200 more victims from the 1848 Revolution were added. Interestingly, Louis-Philippe's throne was symbolically burned in the square in July 1848.

The Colonne de Juillet stands tall at 47 meters (154 ft), built from twenty-one bronze drums that together weigh over 74 tonnes (163,000 lb). This towering structure houses an internal spiral staircase and sits on a white marble base adorned with bronze bas-reliefs. Notably, the lion by Antoine-Louis Barye stands out among these reliefs, while the roosters at each corner are also Barye's work. Names of those who sacrificed their lives in the July 1830 revolution are inscribed in gold on the column. Atop the column, beyond the Corinthian capital, is a 4.9 meter (16 ft) wide gallery crowned with a gilded globe. This globe supports the magnificent gilded statue, Augustin's "Génie de la Liberté" or the "Spirit of Freedom." The statue, reminiscent of Giambologna's Mercury, stands on one foot, its starry crown shining brightly as it waves the torch of civilization and displays the remnants of shattered chains. Once, this iconic figure was featured on French ten-franc coins. The statue has been likened to a radiant golden star in the east by Gustave Flaubert in his work, Sentimental Education.