Conciergerie Paris

Conciergerie tickets get you access to the Salle des Gardes, which was once the quarters of soldiers who guarded the king in the mediaeval era. Constructed around the same time as the Salle des Gens d’Armes, the small rib-vaulted hall had three massive pillars and arched windows. After the Royal Guard, the hall was used as an antechamber of the Parliament and later was turned into a prison. During the Reign of Terror, hundreds of prisoners were tried for their crimes and sentenced to death in this small hall.

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Conciergerie Paris serves a grim remembrance of France’s most infamous queen, Marie Antoinette, at Marie Antoinette’s cell. The queen’s original cell and an adjacent infirmary were transformed into a commemorative Expiatory Chapel in the nineteenth century. The present-day Marie Antoinette’s Cell is a recreation of the cell where she spent her final ten weeks before she was beheaded by the guillotine. The original cell has been replicated with all the fine details, and a mannequin shrouded in black sits in the centre in memory of the room’s original inhabitant.

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Conciergerie tickets promise a walk down France’s dark historical times, including an insight into the lives of the kingdom’s poor commoners. The Poor Prisoners’ Cell was where the not-so-rich inhabitants of the eighteenth century were imprisoned. The bare communal space had no facilities for its inhabitants, who had to sleep on straw-covered floors and were fed with only bread and water. The prisoners had to sometimes sleep in shifts due to overcrowding. The cell also lacked indoor plumbing and even bathrooms, worsening the state in which the destitute people lived here.

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The original oratory of the Conciergerie Paris was from the mediaeval period, which got destroyed in a fire. The Girondins’ Chapel, constructed in 1776 at the location where the old oratory stood, has remained unchanged throughout the centuries. The space was named after the Girondins, a political faction from the French Revolution who were provided with a ‘last supper’ at the chapel before their execution. The altar, confessional, and the large crucifix are from the eighteenth century, and the chapel was transformed into a prison during the Reign of Terror.

Conciergerie tickets take you to the Women’s Courtyard in La Conciergerie, which has remained mostly unchanged from the times of the French Revolution. The courtyard was a space where women prisoners, including Marie Antoinette, were allowed to exercise, walk around, eat food, and wash their garments. The little courtyard has arcades, a fountain, a stone table and a garden where flowers are grown now. In the northeast corner of the courtyard is a separated tiny triangular area, which had once been a part of the men’s prison.

Add to your Conciergerie Paris experience by exploring the beauty of Place Dauphine, one of the most gorgeous squares of Paris. The square, which is actually shaped like a triangle, is lined with classic Parisian buildings, small cobblestone streets, and art galleries and cafes. The charming ambience of the historic square, along with the thick walls of surrounding buildings that provide sound protection, make Place Dauphine the perfect spot to take a break from your tour. Indulge in gourmet coffees, fine wines, and classic Parisian delicacies as you soak in the quaint charm of the square.