From the courtyard of the Conciergerie, you will step into the breathtaking Sainte-Chapelle with your private guide, a true gem of Gothic architecture. Built in the 13th century by Saint Louis to house sacred Christian relics, including the Crown of Thorns he acquired in Venice, this chapel elevated the king’s status to the head of Western Christianity.
The upper chapel, with its nearly invisible walls, gives way to 15 towering stained-glass windows that depict intricate biblical scenes. These stunning windows bathe the space in a kaleidoscope of light, creating the illusion of standing inside a colossal, jewel-encrusted reliquary.
On special request in advance (to be checked with a specific quote), continue your journey by walking to the Place de la Concorde, where Queen Marie Antoinette faced her final moments. A few steps away is the serene Square Louis XVI, a quiet retreat in the heart of Paris. Here, you’ll find the Expiatory Chapel, commissioned in 1815 by Louis XVIII on the site of a mass grave from the French Revolution. This neoclassical monument honors Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and other victims of the revolution, serving as a memorial to the French monarchy alongside the Basilique de Saint-Denis.
For an exclusive experience, ask us a quote in advance for a VIP tour of the Conciergerie outside regular opening hours, allowing you to immerse yourself in its rich history without the crowds. Your private guide can escort you from your hotel to the palace by public transport, or you can relax in style with our executive car and chauffeur service.
Before Versailles, before Vincennes and even before the medieval fortress that stood in place of the Cour Carrée of the Palace of the Louvre, there was one royal residence in the very heart of Paris :
The Palais de la Cité, which remarquable remain, the Conciergerie has crossed the centuries. The Conciergerie can be considered as the most ancient trace of kings in Paris, an heritage from Louis IX (Saint Louis) and Philip IV (the Iron King), but it’s also the testimony of the tragic fate of the last queen of France.
This ancient medieval palace building was turned into prison at the end of the XIV century. But it’s during the French Revolution, that this place became the most terrible prison of France. A filthy prison indeed, where thousand of political prisoners were packed, summarily trialed and condemned to death before being transported to the guillotine. It’s no wonder then, why the Conciergerie was known as the antechamber of death.
In this prison, queen Marie Antoinette was thrown and spent the last nine weeks of her life as prisoner 208 of the Revolutionary tribunal.
After 76 days, on October 14th 1793, Marie-Antoinette was put on trial for treason and other charges. The next day she was sentenced to death. On October 16th, she left the Conciergerie to meet her final fate at the place de la Concorde.
Today, in a splendid Gothic palace, the Conciergerie Museum recalls the glory of the greatest kings of the Middle Ages together with this most tragic episode of the end of the french monarchy.
