The Bastille fortress appeared on the right bank of the Isere River in Grenoble in the mid-19th century. Three centuries earlier, there was a fortress, which served as a defense against invaders, right in the same place. The ancient Romans started its construction.

The initiator of the building of a new fortification was Francois de Bonne, Duke of Lesdiguieres, who conquered the city with an army of the Huguenots and became its ruler. He also gave name to the fortress, the Bastille. After a while, the fortress was complemented with the surrounding buildings and even the hill on which it stood.

Francois de Bonne decided that the walls of the initial fortress were not sound enough and ordered to replace them with stronger fortifications. The new walls were more formidable and massive. They significantly increased the area of ​​the Bastille. Unfortunately, only some fragments of this fortification have survived to this day.

In the 17th century, it was planned to re-strengthened the fortress. Moreover, this work was going to be managed by the famous architect Sebastien de Vauban, who built several fortifications in France. Although the architect developed the reconstruction project, it was never implemented: only the gunpowder store and earth mounds were built.

In the following years, the fortress was badly damaged by floods. However, as no one was going to restore the building, the fortress was in a derelict state.

The country turned to the Bastille only in need. Then, the ruins of the fortress were finally reconstructed, this time by a military engineer.

Until 1940, the Bastille was a military facility. Currently, it is no longer used for its original purpose. The fortress houses a contemporary art center, several restaurants, a military museum, and an observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of the city.