Interesting facts about the Bastille Is a great opportunity to learn more about ancient buildings. You can often hear about it on TV, in colloquial speech, as well as in literature or the Internet. However, not everyone understands what this building was.
So, here are the most interesting facts about the Bastille.
- Bastille - originally a fortress in Paris, built in the period 1370-1381, and a place of imprisonment of state criminals.
- After the completion of construction, the Bastille was a fortified castle, where royal persons took refuge during the popular unrest.
- The Bastille was located on the territory of a rich monastery. The chroniclers of that time called it "the pious Saint Anthony, the royal castle", referring to the fortress as one of the best buildings in Paris (see interesting facts about Paris).
- At the beginning of the 18th century, about 1000 carpenters worked here. And also worked faience and tapestry workshops.
- The capture of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 is considered the official beginning of the Great French Revolution. A couple of years later, it was completely destroyed, and in its place a sign was installed with the inscription "They dance here and everything will be fine."
- Did you know that the first prisoner of the Bastille was its architect Hugo Aubriot? The man was accused of having a relationship with a Jewess and desecrating religious shrines. After 4 years of imprisonment in the fortress, Hugo was freed during a popular revolt in 1381.
- The most famous prisoner of the Bastille is the still unknown owner of the "Iron Mask". He was under arrest for about 5 years.
- In the 18th century, the building became a prison for many noble people. An interesting fact is that the French thinker and educator Voltaire served his term here twice.
- By the time the revolution began, the people imprisoned in the Bastille were perceived by the common people as national heroes. At the same time, the fortress itself was considered a symbol of the oppression of the monarchy.
- It is curious that not only people, but also some disgraced books, including the French Encyclopedia, served their time in the Bastille.
- Few people know the fact that on the day of the taking of the Bastille there were only 7 prisoners in it: 4 counterfeiters, 2 mentally unstable people and 1 murderer.
- Currently, on the site of the destroyed citadel, there is Place de la Bastille - the intersection of many streets and boulevards.
