Colonne Juillet - Bastille (Paris)
 

Evidently, you could once climb the monument for a view over Paris.... since I didn't realize this until I saw the Willy Ronis photo, I presume it is no longer possible to do..?

well, I don't think so as it's not listed in any listing of things to do (ie, Pariscope) and there are not lines of people around there waiting to go up, which you know there would be.

You can go up in the tower of the clock at Gare de Lyon, I found out. Also, you used to be able to go up the tower in the Place des Vosges, but that's closed now.

Considering that you'd have to take your life into your hands to get to it...

I've never seen any sign that it might be open, and it's so slender I can't imagine there's an interior staircase - unless it's for one person at a time.

I stand corrected:

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles03/paris15.shtml

oh, I knew you could go up there, I've seen that photo, also -- you could in 1957 when it was taken. I am sure you can now with special permission or for special reasons, just not the public.