Conciergerie, Paris – A Fortress in the Heart of Paris (and a prison too!)
The Conciergerie is one of the less famous buildings of Paris.
Even locals don’t really know about this place.
Let’s visit together and see why you should visit!
Even though the Conciergerie is little-known, it is absolutely amazing, from both the outside and the inside. To help you make up your mind about whether you should visit the Conciergerie, and to help you plan your visit to Paris, you’ll find in this guide:
- Conciergerie location
- Interesting facts
- The visit & what to expect
- Entrance fee
- Opening hours
- Tips for your visit
- What to visit next?
You can click on any of the part above to go straight to it!
Let’s get started with the first item on the list: Conciergerie location
Conciergerie Location
The Conciergerie is located on the Île de la Cité, a big island in the middle of Paris on which Notre-Dame de Paris is also built.
The Conciergerie exact address: 2 boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, France
Built on the Ile de la Cîté, the Conciergerie was forming the royal palace back in the days, together with the Sainte-Chapelle. Both buildings are connected, through the Palais de Justice.
Conciergerie Facts
Are you fond of facts? I know I am! I love learning more about a place and its history with some quick & interesting facts, so I’ve gathered a few about the Conciergerie for you:
- the original fortifications were built around 310 ad
- the palace that you can see today was built in the 13th century
- the palace was the home of many kings, such as Dagobert, Hugues Capet and Philippe Auguste
Par Matthäus Merian — Detail from File:Plan de Mérian.jpg, Domaine public
- during the French revolution, the Conciergerie was transformed into a prison
- more than 2.700 prisoners stayed in the palace during 2 years, before being executed
- among the prisoners, the most famous ones were Marie-Antoinette and chemist Lavoisier
The Visit & What To Expect
Before actually entering the Conciergerie, you’ll first be impressed by how beautiful the building is from the outside. A true medieval castle, in the heart of Paris, on the banks of the Seine river.
The Clock Tower – Tour de l’Horloge
While you’re outside, enjoying the view of the Palais de la Cîté, you might notice that one of the tower is slightly different than the others. This tower, the furthest to the back in the picture above, is called “Tour de l’Horloge”, which translates to Clock Tower.
What is so particular about it? On the face of the tower you’ll find the oldest public clock of Paris, built in 1371 by Henri de Vic.
The clock is a pure work of art, and I’m amazed every time I pass by it. You don’t necessarily notice it when you’re walking nearby; it’s always funny to see people unexpectedly looking up, setting their gaze on the clock, and be shocked by what they just found!
Inside the Conciergerie
Once you’ve enjoyed the palace from the outside, it’s time to step inside and discover more! As soon as you step in, and go down the few stairs of the main entrance, you are immediately facing this impressive view:
The main hall is a marvel of architecture, with all the arches, and so imposing. When you step in, you feel transported in a different time.
When you wander around the different rooms, it’s crazy to think about everything that happened there: from one of the best places in Paris, hosting kings, to a darker period where prisoners were held by hundreds between the walls.
Apart from the main hall, the room you’re in right after the entrance, you can go to the back rooms, and even to the kitchens. To get to the kitchen, you go up a beautiful staircase (pictured above), to reach the kitchen that were located away from the main building, to prevent fires.
When you’re inside the palace, take the time to look at all the wonderful details carved in the columns and the walls. There are plenty, and you don’t notice them at first glance.
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Conciergerie Entrance Fee
A ticket for the Conciergerie is 9€.
You can buy a special ticket that will also give you access to the Sainte-Chapelle for 15€
You can visit the Conciergerie for free if you are:
- under 18 years old
- from the UE and under 26 years old
- a primary/secondary school teacher
- disabled or with a disabled person
- a job seeker
You can buy your Conciergerie tickets online by clicking here: Conciergerie tickets
Conciergerie Opening Hours
Before going to visit the Palais de la Cité, make sure it’s open when you want to visit. You can find below the opening hours for the Conciergerie:
Open every day from 9:30am to 6pm
The Conciergerie is closed on:
- January 1st
- May 1st
- December 25th
It’s open all other days of the year.
Tips for your visit
I usually list a few tips to help you make the most out of your visit to a place. For the Conciergerie, there isn’t any particular tips, the visit is pretty straightforward.
- as this place is pretty underrated, there usually isn’t any queue. Feel free to visit when you please.
- make sure to visit the kitchens, that you can access by climbing the staircase on your right side when you enter the main hall
- don’t forget to check out the Clock Tower before or after entering!
- you’ll go through security at the entrance, so prepare your bags for convenience
- make sure to check the written signs inside, as well as the video in the back room, that give you even more info about the place
What To Visit Next?
After visiting the Conciergerie, there are several other places you could check out.
The 3 that I recommend are:
These 3 locations are the perfect follow-up to your Conciergerie visit, because they are also located on the Île de la Cité. A 5mn walk is all it will take to reach them.
If you want other ideas of places to visit in the same area, you could also check out these:
I hope you enjoyed this Conciergerie travel guide! Did this make you add it to your list of things to see in Paris? Or did you already visit this beautiful place? Either way, let me know in the comments below!
If you plan to visit the Conciergerie, make sure to tag your Instagram photos with #kevmrctravel so that we can all see them!
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