Bastiglia

The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played a significant role in the internal conflicts of France and, for a time, served as a state prison. Constructed in the late 14th century to defend the city gates of Paris, it eventually evolved into a symbol of royal authority, particularly under the Bourbon monarchy. The prison housed a variety of inmates, including political prisoners, those held at the king's command (lettres de cachet), and common criminals.

The Bastille is most famously associated with the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a pivotal event in the French Revolution. This attack by revolutionaries seeking arms and gunpowder, and the liberation of the handful of prisoners held there, represented a direct challenge to royal authority and is widely considered the beginning of the French Revolution.

Following its capture, the Bastille was demolished. The Place de la Bastille now stands on the site, commemorating the event and the values of liberty and freedom. The event is commemorated annually in France as Bastille Day, a national holiday. Fragments of the Bastille are scattered throughout France and the world as historical artifacts.