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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 09 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Anna Brooke

Along with Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie once formed part of a vast Medieval palace, with impressive, vaulted Gothic halls, that included the Sainte-Chapelle. Abandoned as a palace by the French Kings at the end of the 14th century, it took on a more judicial role, and parts were converted to prison cells.

Today, it’s most famously remembered as the ‘antechamber to the guillotine’, where nobles were held prior to execution in the bloodiest days of the French Revolution. Prisoners included the Queen at the time of the French Revolution and the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. She was executed by guillotine in 1793 to the cheers of the populace – one of almost three thousand prisoners, mostly from the upper classes, to be tried and sentenced at the Conciergerie.

Now a historic monument, only a small area of the building is open to the public. A small, commemorative chapel now was erected on the site of Marie Antoinette’s cell.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price from: £10
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The nearest metro station is Cité. Access to the monument is via the Place Louis Lépine (next to the Flower Market). Buy tickets on the website before you go, though you can just turn up.

Visitors are given access to the Salles des Gardes, the vaulted Gothic hall, the Medieval kitchens and the Chapelle des Girondins, Marie Antoinette’s cell. There is a free one-hour augmented reality tour available on (supplied) iPads in multiple languages that reconstructs the history.

When to do it

The Conciergerie is open seven days a week, all year round.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Notre Dame Quartier Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie 2H Private Tour in Paris

Notre Dame Quartier Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie 2H Private Tour in Paris

Paris

In the heart of the Ile de la Cité, this guided tour will let you discover the history of the legendary Notre Dame Cathedral and the interio...

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Private Tour: Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie & Cluny, through the Latin Quarter

Private Tour: Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie & Cluny, through the Latin Quarter

Paris

Discover striking Gothic architecture, mediaeval artifacts and centuries of history on this private morning or afternoon Paris walking tour....

€299 | Rating 4.52 / 5 [46 ratings]

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Paris Medieval Private Tour: Ile de la Cité, Sainte Chapelle & Conciergerie

Paris Medieval Private Tour: Ile de la Cité, Sainte Chapelle & Conciergerie

Paris

Get to the medieval soul of Paris with a private 3-hour walking tour in the historic heart of the city - the Ile de la Cité. Explore the got...

€400 | Rating 4.26 / 5 [19 ratings]

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Hotel d’Aubusson

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

A grand, historic boutique hotel, set in a 17th-century St-Germain townhouse, offers both history and a brilliant, contemporary Left Bank location.

Official star rating:

Hotel Duo Paris

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

A designer boutique bolthole that’s perfectly positioned for the stylish, gay-friendly Marais district and Centre Pompidou.

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Hotel Luxembourg Parc

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

This lovely, classic hotel puts you within walking distance of Paris’ major sights, perfect for first-time visitors.

Official star rating:

Hotel Bachaumont

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

A hip, Haussmann-style hotel is a fab base for anyone looking to mix sightseeing with shopping and nightlife. Uber-central, close to the Louvre, and with a brasserie and bars worth staying in for.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Paris

Ile-de-France, France

Crammed with iconic buildings, world-class art and a culinary scene steeped in history, Paris is one of the world’s great capitals, overflowing with style, romance, and art de vivre. 

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Paris’ best shopping

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Paris has everything from luxury fashion and indie boutiques, to hip department stores, markets and quirky antiques bazaars.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free | Any

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Museum of the Middle Ages

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Paris’ official museum of the Middle Ages, set one of Paris’ oldest and finest medieval buildings. It’s home to the world-famous 15th-century La Dame a la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) tapestry, and Paris’ oldest sculpture (1349 AD).

Best for ages: 13+ | £4

Louvre Museum

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

The world’s most visited museum, a treasure trove of art from around the world. Admire the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and many, many more…

Best for ages: 16+ | £15

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