Palais de la Cité

The Palais de la Cité is an important old building in the middle of Paris, France, sitting on the Seine River near the Île de la Cité. For many years, it was a home for the Kings of France and later became the main place for the country's justice system, often called the Palais de Justice.

During a big change in France called the French Revolution, the building was used as both a court and a prison. Famous people were held there. Today, it still holds important courts, even though one moved to a different part of Paris in 2018.

Over many years, the palace has been changed and rebuilt, especially after big fires. Two special parts that are still there are the Sainte-Chapelle, known for its beautiful Gothic architecture, and the Conciergerie, which was used as a prison for many years. Both of these areas can be visited, but they have their own separate entrances.

History

Roman Empire and Early Middle Ages

People lived on the Île de la Cité as far back as 5000 BC. When the Romans took control, they built a large temple and homes there.

Drawing of the Palace as it looked following the construction of Sainte-Chapelle (consecrated in 1248), by Viollet-le-Duc

From the 6th century, French kings used the palace as a home when they visited Paris. Later kings made it their main home until the 14th century.

High Middle Ages

Kings like Robert the Pious and Louis VI added new rooms and towers to the palace. Philip II Augustus made it the center of government. Louis IX built Sainte-Chapelle to hold important religious items.

Floor plan of the palace as it looked following the construction of Sainte-Chapelle, by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. A is the Sainte-Chapelle; B is the towers of Tour d'Argent and Tour de Cesar; C is the Tour de l'Horloge; D the royal kitchens, added after Louis IX's reign; E shows the outer walls with the gates as F; G is the Montgomery Tower; H is the Galerie Merciére; I the great hall; K the porticos around the Conciergerie; L the Palais de St Louis, which served as royal apartment; M is the chamber of accounts; N the postern tower; O shows the walls built in the 14th century; P is the chapel of St Michel; R the Pont aux Changeurs; S the Pont aux Meuniers, known as the Grand Pont; T is the royal gardens; V is the sacristy and treasury of charters, attached to Sainte-Chapelle; and X is the Cour du Mai.

Late Middle Ages

During the Hundred Years' War, the palace became a prison. Important people were held there before trials. It also served as a court and government building.

Early Modern Era

A banquet in 1358 hosted by Charles V of France in the Grand'Salle for his uncle Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor by Jean Fouquet

Kings continued to change the palace over the years. Fires caused damage, and new buildings were added. The palace became surrounded by other buildings.

Revolution and Terror

During the French Revolution, the palace was used by a special court. Many people were tried during this time. The palace also served as a prison.

19th, 20th and 21st centuries

After the Revolution, the palace became the main court building in France. It was restored and repaired over the years, especially after a fire. Today, parts of the palace are open to visitors, and it still serves as an important court building.

Description

The Cour du Mai is the main open space of the palace. It was once reached through a fortified gate and now borders the Boulevard du Palais. The current look of the Cour du Mai comes from designs made after a big fire in 1776. The western front has a grand staircase leading to a building with a square dome. This building has four special columns with statues on top, showing ideas like Justice and Strength. Above these statues is an old royal symbol.

The Tour de l'Horloge, or Clock Tower, stands tall at the northeast corner. Built around 1353, it once held a bell that rang for important events. Today, it shows a large public clock made in 1370. This clock has been fixed many times over the years.

The palace’s northern side has a mix of old medieval towers and newer 19th-century buildings. These include the Tour de l'Horloge, neo-Gothic wings, and towers known as Tour de César and Tour d'Argent. There is also the Tour Bonbec, which was once used for holding prisoners, and parts of the Cour de Cassation, a important court building.

The western side of the palace was designed in a grand style inspired by ancient Egyptian buildings. It has statues representing ideas like Truth and Justice, and lions that stand for strength and protection.

The southern side has two wings. The western wing was built between 1875 and 1880, replacing an older building. The eastern wing, built between 1907 and 1914, includes a sundial and statues showing ideas like Law and Justice.

The Sainte Chapelle was built between 1241 and 1248 by King Louis IX to hold special religious items. Its beautiful stained glass windows are famous examples of medieval art. After the Revolution, it was used for storing papers but was restored in the 1800s.

The Salle des Gardes and Salle des Gens d'armes are two big halls from the old palace. They show fine medieval design and were once used for important meetings and banquets. Over time, they have been changed and restored many times.

The prison part of the palace, called the Conciergerie, was used during the French Revolution. Some parts of it have been kept and can be visited today, like the Chapel of the Girondins and the Cour des Femmes, where prisoners could walk and wash.