Palais-Royal

Paris, France

The Palais Royal was built in 1629 by Cardinal Richelieu, an influential French minister. It became a royal palace after the cardinal bequeathed the building to King Louis XIII. Louis XIV, the Sun King, spent his youth here before moving to the nearby Louvre and later to Versailles.

Between 1871 and 1874, Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, cousin of King Louis XVI expanded the palace by adding arcades and shops. At the time the galerie d'Orléans, the colonnaded space that separates the garden from the cour d'honneur also housed gambling dens, cafes and there were even prostitutes of both sexes.

The Palais Royal was mobbed during the revolution of 1848 and was almost destroyed by fire in 1871. Fortunately the basic structure survived. After its restoration in 1876 the building was handed over to the government. It currently houses the Council of State and other government offices.

The palace is not open to the public, but you can visit the courtyard and the garden. The courtyard, known as Cour d'Honneur, is dominated by a large sculpture by Daniel Buren, installed in 1986. It consists of 280 black and white striped truncated columns. Adjacent to the courtyard is the Galerie d'Orléans, a courtyard flanked by two colonnades. It is home to two modern fountains created by the Belgian sculptor Pol Bury.

The galerie d'Orléans leads to the Jardin du Palais Royal, the palace garden. The garden is formally laid out around a central fountain. It is a quiet refuge in the heart of the city. The current garden is somewhat smaller than originally designed in 1630 for Cardinal Richelieu due to the construction of sixty arcaded buildings on three sides of the park by Louis-Philippe d'Orléans in 1874. The buildings around the garden now house restaurants, deli shops and galleries.

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Address

Rue de Valois 3, Paris, France
See all sites in Paris

Details

Founded: 1629
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in France

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

S Y (3 months ago)
Pretty location for photos and relaxation. Lots of chairs available in the garden and plants are well managed.
Simon Zeev (3 months ago)
What a great place to relax on the middle of a busy Paris. Gardens are stunning and it’s not too busy. Free to enter and just hang out. The fountains are a tribute to Champagne because that’s where it was first made public by the Monk Dom Perignon.
Nirav Parikh (4 months ago)
I visited this place after my completing Louvre visit as it is close to Louvre. Palais Royale is very good for photography. A must visit place for instagramners. The striped columns in different sizes are a unique attraction. The adjacent garden is also very nice with beautiful colourful flowers. This place is completely free and there is no ticket required.
Silvana Avram (7 months ago)
This is one of my favourite spots in Paris, without a doubt. The elegant beauty, history and exquisite refinement of this place always recharges me. I love reading the thoughtful quotes written on the benches and chairs and just spending time in contemplation and gratitude. An oasis of enriching tranquility in the heart of the most beautiful city in the world.
Putri Dumadi (7 months ago)
Strategic and accessible place or parc in heart of Paris city. It’s free to enter and rare, unique and interesting place to visit. Garden family and kids friendly. And nearby or walking distance to/from many historical sites or touristy objects.
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