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Key Information

Bastille

Type Fortress and Prison
Built 1370s to 1380s
Demolished 1789 to 1790
Built By Charles V of France

Learning Point

  • The Bastille was a fortress and prison in Paris, France. It was a symbol of royal power and oppression during the Ancien Régime. The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, was a pivotal event in the French Revolution, marking the beginning of the end for the monarchy. The fortress was demolished shortly after the storming, and its site is now a public square.

Project

  • Draw a picture of the Bastille as it looked in the past.
  • Overview
  • Plan
Bastille
By Anonymous – This file comes from Gallica Digital Library and is available under the digital ID btv1b103025059, Public Domain, Link
Plan of the Bastille
By Plan.bastille.Saint.Antoine.Paris.png: Viollet le Ducderivative work: Hchc2009 (talk) – Plan.bastille.Saint.Antoine.Paris.png, Public Domain, Link

A – La Chapelle Tower; B – Trésor Tower; C – Comté Tower; D – Bazinière Tower; E – Bertaudière Tower; F – Liberté Tower; G – Puits Tower; H – Coin Tower; I – Courtyard of the Well; J – Office wing; K – Large Courtyard

Location

Location Paris, France

Fun Facts

  • Though built as a gate and fortress, the Bastille became a famous prison in Paris, France.
  • The Bastille was seen as a symbol of the king’s power and oppression.
  • People stormed the Bastille in 1789 to protest against the king.
  • Today, the site of the Bastille is a public square called Place de la Bastille.

Past Lessons

141 September 19, 2024 (North America)
No Past Lessons

Upcoming Lessons

No Upcoming Lessons