The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stormed by a crowd on 14 July 1789, in the French Revolution, becoming an important symbol for the French Republican movement, and was later demolished and replaced by the Place de la Bastille.

Bastille is a French term that refers to the military fortress and prison, which was built in Paris during the 14th century. It is also known as the Bastille Saint-Antoine, as it was located in the east of Paris, near the Saint-Antoine gate.

History
The Bastille was constructed in 1370 to defend Paris against the English during the Hundred Years War. It was initially used as a fortress and a royal armory before being converted into a state prison in the 17th century. During the reign of Louis XVI, the Bastille was used to detain political prisoners who opposed the monarchy.

The Fall of the Bastille
On July 14, 1789, a group of Parisian revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, seeking to obtain weapons and free the political prisoners. The siege lasted for several hours, and the revolutionaries were eventually able to breach the walls of the Bastille. The governor of the prison, Bernard-René de Launay, was captured and executed, and the revolutionaries freed the seven prisoners who were being held at the Bastille. The fall of the Bastille marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

Legacy
The Bastille has become a symbol of the struggle for democracy and human rights. In France, July 14 is celebrated as Bastille Day, a national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille and the beginning of the French Revolution. Today, the site of the Bastille is marked by a monument known as the Colonne de Juillet, which was erected in memory of the victims of the July Revolution of 1830.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Bastille was a military fortress and prison that played a significant role in French history. Its fall marked the beginning of the French Revolution, and it has become a symbol of the fight for democracy and human rights. Today, the site of the Bastille is a monument to the struggle for freedom and justice.