Housed in a part of the Parisian Law Courts or the Palais de Justice, La Conciergerie is the first prison in Paris, founded in 1391. Although known as a popular monument of France, the history of La Conciergerie is intrinsically associated with the horrors of French Revolution.
La Conciergerie History
The La Conciergerie has a very unpleasant and uncanny history. At the time of the French Revolution, as many as 2,700 people or more including famous personalities like Chenier the poet, Queen Marie Antoinette, Danton and Charlotte Corday were imprisoned here after being ordered death sentence. Today, the cell, which housed Marie
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Antoinette, is transformed into a chapel, displaying two of her portraits and her crucifix. Constructed by Philippe the Fair, the La Conciergerie prison was originally the house of the steward of the French king, from where it derived the name. Among the unique architectural features of the monument, the guard's room or the Salle des Gardes displays elegant beams. Today, concerts are mostly held inside the columned Salle des Gens d'Armes or the arms room.
The La Conciergerie prison, one of the finest instances of Gothic architecture of the Middle Age, has three elegant 14th century halls for public viewing. The prison is ideally located on the bank of River Seine. La Conciergerie, as one of the major attractions of the city, is opened for public viewing from 10 A.M. in the morning till 5 P.M. in the evening.
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