The Conciergerie is the oldest Royal Palace in Paris, it is located, located west on the Île de la Cité, near the famous Cathedral of Notre-Dame. The Île de la Cité was occupied by the Romans during the ancient times; the island was later the site of the palaces built by Merovingian kings. During the 10th to 14th centuries it became the seat of power fro medieval French kings. Under the reign of Saint Louis and Phillip the Fair, the Merovingian castle was extended and re-fortified.
Saint Louis added the remarkable Sainte Chapell and the allied galleries while the tower façade on the river side and the large hall was added by Phillip the Fair. Both of these constructions are classic examples of secular French religious architecture during the period. The intention behind the construction of the Sainte Chappel was to house the sacred Crown of Thorns that would be brought back from the Crusades. The Conciergerie was abandoned by the French monarchy in the year 1358 and they chose to move the Royal Palace to the Louvre instead.
The Conciergerie was subsequently converted in to a prison and housed many political prisoners as well as common criminals. During the French Revolution the Conciergerie earned a particularly bloody reputation as the antechamber to the Guillotine. The revolutionary tribunal was housed hear and held anywhere up to 1,200 male and female prisoners at a time. The palace continues to be used as a prison up to the 19th century with its most high profile inmate being Napoleon III.
Much of the building is still used as part of the Parisian law courts, but certain portions of the palace are open to the public. Designated as national historic monument this great attraction is located close many a
hotel in Paris, due its central location.
