Today in Paris, certainly not find a single tourist who could safely pass the majestic building of the Conciergerie, the history of which has more than one hundred years. Located near the Notre Dame Cathedral, on the western tip of the island of Cité, it has always attracted the attention of both residents and visitors of the city.

This medieval castle, now a museum and part of the Palace of Justice, has an eventful past. Over the centuries, he managed to visit both the royal residence and the dungeon. Buying tours to France from Moscow and being in Paris, it is worth to visit the Conciergerie and get acquainted with its sights.

The first stone of the future castle was laid on the island of Sete in about 508 in the reign of King Clovis, who chose Paris as his official residence. True, from the building erected in the VI century, to date, almost nothing remains, as it had to either constantly rebuild at the request of the monarchs, or restore after repeated fires.

During the period of the Karoling dynasty in power, the palace was abandoned, and only in the tenth century it became again the center of state life. It is from this time that the area of ​​the castle significantly expands, building up new annexes. In the reign of King Philip II Augustus, who added new towers to the structure, the walls of the building are strengthened and become defensive. Monarchs, who came to replace him, are engaged in a greater improvement of their residence, trying to emphasize its greatness and luxury.

But already from the middle of XIV century the palace ceases to be the house of kings, opening the dark page of its history. The concierge is obliged to manage it, to whom various privileges and great power are granted. From here, by the way, there is also the name of the castle itself - Conciergerie.

Since 1793 the palace is rapidly gaining in France the reputation of the most severe prison. It was liquidated only at the beginning of the First World War, but its inmates were visited by such famous personalities as Maria Antoinette, Maximilian Robespierre, Emil Zola, Mata Hari and many others.

Spending your vacation in France and looking at the Conciergerie, you can see its famous towers: Bonbek, Caesar and Serebryany, and visit the gallery of prisoners, where the cameras of that era were reliably recreated. Here you can see exhibits related to the history of the French Revolution, and on the Watchtower - the first hours set in Paris around 1350. Unfortunately, they did not survive in their original form, since in 1585 they were altered and supplemented with sculptures by Germain Pylon, depicting Law and Justice.