A roaring fireplace, a warm bed, some wine and little pastries welcomed people to La Bastille. This was no charming inn, but the notorious French prison, stormed by an angry Parisian mob on July 14, 1789, in an outburst that helped set off the French Revolution.
For the first time, an exhibit in Paris has pulled together archives on the prison to offer a glimpse into the hidden world of the Bastille. It shows the inmates' relative comfort - and why it became such a target of revolutionary ire.
"I maintain it was a 5-star prison," said historian and Bastille expert Claude Quetel. He said the prison's privileged position came from being directly under the king's eye, both geographically and because it was where monarch after monarch sent his personal enemies.
Dedicated to the women who have graced the pages of history, from ancient to modern times.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
The Bastille - 5-Star Prison
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In 1789, the Bastille, a prison in Paris, was stormed by a mob of angry Parisians. Following the July 14th Storming of the Bastille, the original purpose of the Bastille as a royal prison was no longer needed and the building became a military fortress.
After the Storming of the Bastille, the Marquis de Lafayette and the National Guard, who were holding the Bastille, were joined by the mob and they took the Bastille, killing the last three defenders. The Bastille was a symbol of the oppressive monarchy and it was the first step taken towards equality and freedom in France.
In 1789, the Bastille, a prison in Paris, was stormed by a mob of angry Parisians. Following the July 14th Storming of the Bastille, the original purpose of the Bastille as a royal prison was no longer needed and the building became a military fortress.
After the Storming of the Bastille, the Marquis de Lafayette and the National Guard, who were holding the Bastille, were joined by the mob and they took the Bastille, killing the last three defenders. The Bastille was a symbol of the oppressive monarchy and it was the first step taken towards equality and freedom in France.
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