Palais des Gouverneurs, Former palace and barracks in Bastia, France
The Palais des Gouverneurs sits at the highest point of Bastia's citadel and features hanging gardens with views across the old port. The building and its rooms reflect the layout of a medieval fortress adapted over time for different uses.
The palace was built in 1380 as a coastal fortress by Genoese rulers and served as the main seat of power for the region. It changed hands when France took control of Corsica in 1768.
The building houses the Museum of Bastia, presenting collections that show how people lived and how the city was governed in past centuries. The exhibits focus on maritime connections and local administration that shaped the region.
The palace is located on Place du Donjon in Bastia's pedestrian zone and is open daily except Mondays. Guided tours in several languages help visitors understand the rooms and displays throughout the building.
Below the building lie fourteen historical prison cells and water cisterns that once supplied drinking water during medieval sieges. These underground spaces reveal how challenging it was to maintain a fortress in a coastal position.
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