Palace of Tau

The Palace of Tau is a royal residence standing beside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims, displaying Gothic and Baroque architectural features. Inside you will find coronation robes, royal tapestries, chalices, and ceremonial objects that date across several centuries.

This building grew from the ruins of a Roman villa and became a royal residence during the Carolingian period. Its name comes from the T-shaped layout of the structure, first recorded in written documents during the 11th century.

This palace was where French kings prepared themselves for coronation ceremonies held in the adjacent cathedral. The rooms and objects here show how important these rituals were to royal life and the kingdom's identity.

The palace sits right next to the cathedral and is easy to walk to from the city center. The rooms are clearly marked, allowing you to follow a path through the story of French royal coronations at your own pace.

King Francis I. decided in 1528 to rebuild this palace as the official preparation space for future coronations. This decision turned it into the essential location for these ceremonies throughout the following centuries.

Location: Reims

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Operator: Centre des monuments nationaux

Part of: Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims

Address: 2 Pl. du Cardinal Luçon, 51100 Reims, France

Opening Hours: May 06-September 08: 09:30-18:30; September 09-May 05: 09:30-12:30,14:00-17:30

Website: http://palais-tau.monuments-nationaux.fr

GPS coordinates: 49.25306,4.03444

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02