Conciergerie
The Conciergerie (French: La Conciergerie) is a former royal palace and later converted to a large prison. The Conciergerie is located on on the Cite Island, near the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. It is part of the larger complex known as the Palais de Justice, which is still in use for judicial purposes. The history of the Conciergerie as a place of imprisonment, torture, and death is significant. The Conciergerie gained a ominous reputation during the 1790s, when Marie Antoinette, queen of France, and the infamous revolutionary Robespierre were imprisoned here. Hundreds of other prisoners during the French Revolution were imprisoned here as well, and executed on the guillotines. Marie Antoinette's cell is now a chapel to her memory, and includes her crucifix, and two portraits of her from life. However, the enormous structure does have impressive Gothic architecture, beautiful features and elegant rooms. The architecture is a reminder of Paris during the Middle Ages. The building’s huge vaulted hall is the highlight, along with reconstructed prison cells. There are three superb Gothic halls preserved from the 14th century. Nearby is the soaring Ste.-Chapelle Chapel, first commissioned by Louis IX in 1245 to house the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the True Cross. It is worth a visit to both the Conciergerie and the Ste.-Chapelle. For more sightseeing attractions and other information about Paris, please visit our Paris Tourism website. Also for the convenience of your Paris travel, TravelKing provides you a selection of nearby Paris hotels. You can reserve desired accommodations through TravelKing online hotel reservation.
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