The Palais de la Cité, often known as the "Palace of the City," was the first royal residence constructed in France in the sixth century by Clovis. It is situated in the center of old Paris on Île de la Cité, which is one of the two little islands in the middle of the Seine River. You can explore the exhibitions in the beautiful medieval hall and learn more about historical significance during your visit to this place.
Originally built as a magnificent royal palace, Conciergerie dates back to the fourteenth century. Considered among the most impressive structures of the Middle Ages, the building has served a number of purposes over time, starting from being used as a parliament to being a museum. Enhance your adventurous exploration of Conciergerie with our Europe trip packages, ensuring an wonderful and memorable journey through this historic landmark.
Constructed on the Isla de la Cite, the Conciergerie was formerly called Palais de la Cite. The building got its new name when the French King Charles V planned to shift his dwelling place to Louvre. The Conciergerie then started being used as the kingdom’s new parliament.
In spite of its preserved medieval appearance, the building of Conciergerie experienced some major renovation in the nineteenth century. The structure has also received a number of additional constructions in the course of various kings. The patchwork clearly shows the architectural marvels and intricate design works of the times gone by.
In 1914, Conciergerie was decommissioned and was open to the public as a national historical monument. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions featuring a wide range of artefacts of the times gone by. Only a small section of the total building is used as the museum and the rest are still in use as Paris Law Courts.
You would come across four massive minarets that cast amazing views to allure your senses, some parts of the royal treasure, marvellous
public clock, gothic vaulted interiors, and many relics of the past.
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Highlights
• Explore the Hall of Soldiers, Guard Room, Marie Antoinette's Cell, Poor Prisoner's Cell, and more
• Conciergerie served as a royal palace during its heyday in the 14th century.
• The opulent jail known as Conciergerie, located to the west of Île de la Cité, is considered to be one of the city's best structures.
• During the most turbulent period of French history, the French Revolution, Conciergerie served as a jail and was where captives were kept before being sent to be executed.
• Get to witness what started off as a royal castle and eventually evolved into the House of Justice before becoming a jail in Paris.
• The atmosphere of the jail is enough to make you feel eerie, melancholy, and nostalgic—all at the same time—and it surely rates as an unmissable experience when visiting Paris.Enjoy Your Time At Montparnasse Tower ParisAlso checkout : Best Museums in Paris
How To Reach
By Metro: The travellers planning to visit Sainte Chapelle can take metro line 4 to the cite stop and then walk down Rue de Lutexe to the Palais de Justice. You will find the entrance of the Sainte Chapelle to the left of the Palais.
By Bus: You can take the famous Batobus to reach the Sainte Chapelle. The Batobus stops on the left bank across Notre Dame.
By Car/Bike: Sainte Chapelle is located at a distance of 3 km from the city centre of Paris. You can cover the distance in your personal bike or car. If at all you don’t have your own means of transport, you can surely book your rental rides available all through the city.
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Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Conciergerie in Paris would be from the month of April to the month of June and again from the month of October to early November. The climatic conditions at these phases of the year remain favourable for tourism and sightseeing.
You would find the temperature ranges moderate and very fewer rainfall days as well. If you wish to save some bucks on your travel expenses, then you can also choose to come to Paris in the months of December, January and February.
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Other Essential Information
Location: Conciergerie is located in the Ile de la Cite, at a very proximate distance to Sainte Chapelle. Address - 2 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, France
Timings: Conciergerie is open for visitors from 9.30 AM to 6 PM, on all days of the week
Price: The entry fee for Conciergerie is 9 euros for adults. There is no entry fee for visitors under the age of 18 years and for EU citizens aged between 18 to 25 years. The entry is also free for visitors having the Paris Museum Pass and the Paris Pass.
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Why visit Conciergerie
If you are still not sure why you should take a tour of the famous Conciergerie, then here are some of the reasons that you need to know why the tour can be significant:
- It happens to be one of the testaments for the old gothic architectural marvels that are standing tall for more than 1400 years.
- It has been a witness to most of the history of Paris. Conciergerie stands at the same place where the Romans erected their very first fortress in the city of Paris after they successfully conquered the city.
- It is built upon the remnants of the old fort and was used as the royal residence of the Kings of France for more than 1300 years.
- It has been the epicentre to various French Kings and political projects.
- At the present times, this building is a patchwork of a wide range of architectural styles that have been added to the main construction in the course of various reigns. It is a delightful instance to sight such a perfect blend of intricate works.
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Traveller's tips before visiting Conciergerie
- Check out some of the important traveller' tips that you should keep in mind while visiting Conciergerie:
- Since the visitors will have to undergo a security check at the building's entrance point, they need to prepare their bags accordingly for convenience.
- You should carry all the necessary travel documents with you and do not forget to get your travel insured.
- Make sure you check out the video as well as the signs written inside the back room of the building. These elements can offer you a better sneak peek into the history and significance of the place.
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Hall of Soldiers (Salle des Gens d'Armes)
The Hall of the Soldiers was constructed in the fourteenth century by King Philip to host opulent events. Look at the wall and you will see the remains of a massive black marble table
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Guard Room (Salle des Gardes)
In the past, Parliament was housed in the Guardroom. Previously, the king would be able to call parliament here. Currently, there are notice boards outlining the Conciergerie's development. It's a terrific place for visitors to relax and take a seat in this space
Marie Antoinette's Cell
The church was used as a jail cell during the revolution. Marie-76 Antoinette spent the majority of her time here while she was incarcerated. She was also moved around among other cells as a result of a failed effort to escape
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Poor Prisoner's Cell
You'll see the depressing communal cells where the poorest inmates used to congregate and sleep on straw-covered floors. There was obviously no indoor plumbing or bathrooms
The Girodin’s Chapel
Although it was converted to jail cells during the Reign of Terror, this chapel was built in its place after a fire in 1776 destroyed the palace's medieval oratory on this site. It was named after the Girodins, a group of Revolutionaries who were given a sort of "final supper" here before being put to death the next day
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The Women's Courtyard
Female inmates frequented the Women's Courtyard for quick daylight strolls. You will get a chance to witness the same place where Marie-Antoinette spent much of her time very next to the chapel.
Tourism Board Alliances
Conciergerie FAQs
Why is the Conciergerie important?
Is Conciergerie worth visiting?
Despite its dark background, the Conciergerie is one of Paris' best specimens of Gothic architecture. This is a great place for both history buffs and casual tourists. The seemingly vacant walls are actually filled to the brim with information. It's also a great opportunity to see the Sainte-Chapell.
What was the Conciergerie used for?
The Conciergerie continued to be where the Parisian Parliament was located. A part of the building was also made into a prison in 1391, housing both common criminals and political inmates, including Ravaillac, the assassin of King Henry IV.
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Who created the Conciergerie?
Philippe IV built the two towers at the start of the 14th century. The lower levels of the towers were joined to the Conciergerie jail later in the 14th century and served as dungeons up until the French Revolution.
Why is Conciergerie famous?
The Revolutionary Tribunal's proceedings took place at the Conciergerie during the French Revolution, where approximately 3,000 persons received death sentences. Queen Marie-Antoinette, one of the most well-known inmates, spent her final hours in one of these cells before being executed. Formerly a prison but now primarily used for courts, La Conciergerie is a historical structure in Paris, France, that is situated on the western side of the Île de la Cité.
How long do you need at the Conciergerie in Paris?
You would need about 1 - 2 hours to explore the Conciergerie in Paris covering all the important landmarks and features. You will get to witness the age old relics and get to know more about the bygone times from the knowledgeable guides.
Conciergerie Reviews
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