Palais de la Cité

The Palais de la Cité is the medieval royal and administrative complex on the Île de la Cité in central Paris, long the seat of French kings and now the site of major courts and historic monuments. Its core elements date from the Middle Ages, with major additions in the 12th to 14th centuries.

The site developed as the primary royal residence and administrative centre from the early medieval period through the late Middle Ages, expanded by successive Capetian kings. Sainte-Chapelle was commissioned by King Louis IX and completed in the mid 13th century to house Passion relics; the Conciergerie later served as a state prison and was a detention site during the French Revolution.

Sited on the eastern end of the Île de la Cité in central Paris, the complex sits beside the Seine in the 1st arrondissement, within easy walking distance of Notre-Dame, the Conciergerie quay, and the historic centre of Paris.

• Sainte-Chapelle lighting: The upper chapel's stained glass panels are best seen in strong daylight; early morning or late afternoon light gives the most vivid colours.
• Historic clock: The Conciergerie contains the Tour de l'Horloge, whose clock mechanism dates back to the 14th century and is a notable historic feature to look for.

What to See #

• Sainte-Chapelle: A 13th-century royal chapel built to house relics, featuring a two-level interior whose upper chapel contains 15 tall stained-glass windows about 15 metres high that together depict more than 1,100 biblical scenes.
• Conciergerie: A medieval palace wing converted into a prison; it held many inmates during the French Revolution and retains medieval halls and cells visible to the public.
• Palais de Justice: The judicial complex that occupies much of the former palace site and includes the 14th-century clock tower that bears Paris's oldest public clock.