Conciergerie, Medieval castle in Île de la Cité, France
The Conciergerie is a medieval castle on the Île de la Cité in Paris that now serves as a museum. Four round towers rise along the Seine riverbank, while inside long halls with stone pillars and vaulted ceilings show the Gothic style.
French kings lived in the palace from the 14th century before moving to other residences. During the Revolution the building was turned into a prison where thousands waited for their trial.
The name comes from the royal keeper who lived here during medieval times and managed the building. Visitors can walk through the former cells today and understand how prisoners lived during the Revolution.
The museum sits right next to Sainte-Chapelle, making a joint visit easy to plan. It works best to arrive early in the morning or just before closing when fewer people are around.
The underground passages still hold the medieval kitchen with four large fireplaces where cooks prepared meals for the entire royal household. The thick walls and deep cellars later served as storage for court records from the Revolution.
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