The Conciergerie in Paris

Part of the first palace of the kings of France (They later moved to the Louvre palace), the Conciergerie (right, with Notre-Dame in the background) became the first Paris prison in 1391.

Located on the Cité island, near-by Notre-Dame cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle, it became famous during the 1789 French revolution: in 1793 and 1794, 2780 men and women were sentenced to death and  detained in the Conciergerie until they left for the Concorde square where they were beheaded.

La Conciergerie

Gothic room in La Conciergerie

 Marie-Antoinette, queen of France and sister of the king of Austria, was among them.

The Conciergerie well deserves a visit for its history and impressive Gothic architecture. It includes three superb Gothic halls from the 14th century (left). Its facade on the Seine river (above) is a reminder of Paris during the Middle Ages.

The Conciergerie is located 1, quai de l'horloge 75001 Paris. It is open from 10am to 5pm (6pm from April to September). Its visit  can be combined with the visit of Sainte-Chapelle.
  Cité station on line 4 or Chatelet station on line 1. Telephone 33 (0)1 53 73 78 50.

Other great Paris monuments

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