storming bastille
Marie Antoinette

The storming of the Bastille

On 14 July 1789, revolutionaries stormed and managed to seize control of the Bastille, a fortress and political prison. The city of Paris had already been in turmoil for several days. The Bastille was nearly empty and housed just seven prisoners at this time, but as a symbol of tyranny, the fortress still stood strong. [read more]