The event in France that marked the start of the French Revolution is often considered to be the Storming of the Bastille, which occurred on July 14, 1789. The Bastille, a fortress and prison in Paris, was seen as a symbol of royal tyranny and oppression. The storming represented the uprising of the Third Estate against the monarchy and was fueled by widespread discontent over economic hardships and inequality. The event galvanized revolutionary sentiment across France and is now celebrated annually as Bastille Day, symbolizing the fight for liberty and the ideals of the revolution.