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Bercy
A little further east is the Palais Omnisports, sports stadium
and concert venue, and Bercy, Cour St. Emilion, a new complex with
shops, bars and restaurants built on the site of warehouses where
the wine shipped up the Seine by barge was stored. There is also
a great new 18 cinema complex, many showing films in V.O. (Version
Original). All showings before 12:00 AM only 4.90 Euros. Fast access
to the center of Paris on the new Madeleine-Bibliotheque Francois
Mitterrand metro Line #14.
The Bastille
Built around 1370, was once part of the defenses of Paris. Louis
XIV had the wall demolished but left the Bastille, which later became
a luxury prison for aristocratic and notable people who could have
goods and services sent in. The Marquis de Sade was a prisoner here
as were Mirabeau and Voltaire. It was stormed on 14 July 1789, but
at that time there were only seven prisoners. It was later razed
and replaced in 1831 by the column, called the July Column, now
standing surmounted by the "Spirit of Liberty". In Place
Henri Galli can be found a commemorative pile of stones from the
original Bastille.
Place de Bastille
The Place de Bastille was where the Bastille stood, a prison
whose name has reverberated around the world as a symbol of democracy,
and has always been a rallying point for political protestors.
The area around the Bastille, especially rue de Lappe, rue du Faubourg
Saint-Antoine and part of rue de Charonne has become a rather
hip neighborhood.
Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Gardens), which also encompasses
the Museum
of Natural History and a Zoo.
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