The Bastille is a fortress 1,561ft above sea level at the south end of the Chartreuse mountain range overlooking the city of Grenoble, France. The fortress was not intended for firing on the city but towards the mountains behind and to repel any attacks coming from the Chartreuse.

To complete the defences, a system of linked caverns called Mandrin was excavated in the cliffs in front of the fort to allow passage of troops between these caverns and the drawbridge at the entrance. The cavern batteries were large enough to house a munitions dump, so that troops were able to fire on attacking forces from the rear.

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