Sénat, Government palace in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, France
The Senate in Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a neoclassical building with grand courtyards, multiple wings, and ornate decoration from different periods. Inside are meeting halls, libraries, exhibition spaces, and rooms filled with furnishings and artworks spanning several centuries.
Queen Marie de Medici had the building constructed in the early 1600s initially as her personal palace. It was later transformed and has served as the Senate seat since the French Revolution.
The Senate embodies France's political tradition through rooms where major decisions have been made for generations. Visitors sense the importance of this institution in French democracy when walking through its corridors and chambers.
Visitors can explore the building through guided tours on designated days with knowledgeable guides leading through different areas. It helps to check in advance whether tours are available and which parts of the building are accessible.
The building houses a specialized library with well over 400,000 books on French law, politics, and parliamentary history. This major collection is an important resource for researchers and reveals the intellectual depth of French government institutions.
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