The Bastille was a prison in Paris, known formally as Bastille Saint-Antoine—Number 232, Rue Saint-Antoine. The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The event was commemorated one year later by the Fête de la Fédération. The French national holiday, celebrated annually on July 14 is officially the Fête Nationale, and officially commemorates the Fête de la Fédération, but it is commonly known in English as Bastille Day. < ...

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Bastille - Early history Bastille - Storming Bastille - Historical assessment Bastille - Famous prisoners Bastille - Demolition Bastille - The area today

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Bastille, Bastille - Early history, Bastille - Storming, Bastille - Historical assessment, Bastille - Famous prisoners, Bastille - Demolition, Bastille - The area today

Read more here: » Bastille: Encyclopedia II - Bastille - Demolition

Built around 1370 as part of the defences of Paris, the structure was converted into a prison in the 15th century by Charles VI. At that time it primarily housed political prisoners, but also religious prisoners, "seditious" writers, and young rakes held at the request of their families. It began to acquire a poor reputation when it became the main prison for those taken under lettres de cachet issued by the Bourbon kings. By the late 18th century, the building was made up of eight close-packed towers, around 24 m (80 feet) hig ...

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Bastille, Bastille - Early history, Bastille - Storming, Bastille - Historical assessment, Bastille - Famous prisoners, Bastille - Demolition, Bastille - The area today

Read more here: » Bastille: Encyclopedia II - Bastille - Early history

The following are a selected list of prisons with well-known historical significance: Alcatraz, San Francisco (historical) Andersonville National Historic Site, Andersonville, Georgia (historical) Angola prison, near New Orleans, Louisiana Attica Correctional Facility, Attica (town), New York, scene of a famous riot The Bastille, Paris, France (historical) In french Château d'If, Marseille (historical) In french Fremantle Prison, Fremantle, Western Australia Hanoi H ...

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Prison, Prison - Characteristics of prisons, Prison - Prisons in the criminal justice system, Prison - Military prisons, Prison - Political prisons, Prison - World prison populations, Prison - Prisons by country, Prison - Prisons in Australia, Prison - Prisons in Japan, Prison - Prisons in the United Kingdom, Prison - Prisons in the United States, Prison - Prisons in history, Prison - Cultural references to prisons and prison life, Prison - Prisoner pen-pal services

Read more here: » Prison: Encyclopedia II - Prison - Prisons in history

The following are a selected list of prisons with well-known historical significance: Alcatraz, San Francisco (historical) Andersonville National Historic Site, Andersonville, Georgia (historical) Angola prison, near New Orleans, Louisiana (since before 1901) Attica Correctional Facility, Attica (town), New York, scene of a famous riot The Bastille, Paris, France (historical) In french Château d'If, Marseille (historical) In french Devil's Island, French Guiana (historical)< ...

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Prison, Prison - Characteristics of prisons, Prison - Prisons in the criminal justice system, Prison - Military prisons, Prison - Political prisons, Prison - Prison population statistics, Prison - Prisons by country, Prison - Prisons in Australia, Prison - Prisons in Japan, Prison - Prisons in the United Kingdom, Prison - Prisons in the United States, Prison - Prisons in history, Prison - Cultural references to prisons and prison life, Prison - Prisoner pen-pal services

Read more here: » Prison: Encyclopedia II - Prison - Prisons in history

Main article: Storming of the Bastille. The confrontation between the commoners and the ancien régime ultimately led to the people of Paris storming the Bastille on July 14, 1789, following several days of disturbances. At this point, the jail was nearly empty, with only seven inmates: four counterfeiters, two madmen, and a young aristocrat who had displeased his father. The regular garrison consisted of about 80 invalides (veteran soldiers no longer capable of service in the field) under Governor Bernard-René d ...

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Bastille, Bastille - Early history, Bastille - Storming, Bastille - Historical assessment, Bastille - Famous prisoners, Bastille - Demolition, Bastille - The area today

Read more here: » Bastille: Encyclopedia II - Bastille - Storming