The Conciergerie, or The Lodge, is a historic courthouse and prison on the City Island in Paris, originally part of the royal City Palace, which also includes the Holy Chapel and Paris's first public clock, installed around 1370. Once a royal residence and judicial hub, this part of the City Palace became known as the Conciergerie after the “concierge” who was appointed by the king to uphold order.

By 1391, the Conciergerie was designated as a jail for both common criminals and political prisoners, in which living conditions reflected the prisoners' wealth and social status. Affluent inmates could secure private cells with basic comforts, while the poorest were confined to dark, cramped dungeons. Executions were routine, with many prisoners sentenced by the Revolutionary Tribunal and taken to the nearby guillotine at Concorde Square.

The Conciergerie gained notoriety during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, when it held over 2,700 prisoners, including prominent figures like Marie Antoinette, the last queen consort of France, and Georges Danton, a leading figure in the French Revolution. Both of them were tried and executed by guillotine. The prison’s influence continued beyond the Revolution, with various regimes utilizing its facilities, including the trial of Napoleon III.

The Conciergerie’s architectural significance lies in its four medieval towers, such as the Clock Tower, home to the first public clock in Paris, and the grand Hall of the Men-at-Arms.

Today, the Conciergerie is a national monument and museum, offering visitors an immersive look at its turbulent history. Marie Antoinette’s cell has been transformed into a Memorial Chapel, and the Women’s courtyard offers a glimpse into the site’s somber past. For a more detailed experience, visitors can use the "Histopad" gadget, combining audio and visual elements, to learn more about life inside the prison during its most infamous periods.

Tip:
Visiting the Conciergerie is possible on a combined ticket granting access to the neighboring Holy Chapel as well.

The Cluny Museum, also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages, is a sanctuary of medieval art in the French capital. Nestled within the historical layers of the city, it occupies the Hôtel de Cluny, initially the 15th-century abode of the affluent abbot of Cluny Abbey, established over the remnants of Roman baths. This site also hosted illustrious figures like Mary Tudor, an English princess who was briefly Queen of France as the third wife of King Louis XII. The building used to serve various functions, including an observatory, a printing press, and a dissection room during revolutionary upheavals.

The architecture of the museum uniquely melds the ancient Roman thermae, evident in the well-preserved frigidarium (the cold room, one of the three main chambers of a Roman bath), with the medieval building, showcasing a blend of Gothic and early Renaissance elements. In 1832, Alexandre du Sommerard, an archeologist and art enthusiast deeply fascinated by medieval and Renaissance artifacts, purchased the property and later bequeathed his substantial collection to the French people. A year before his death in 1842, the Cluny was inaugurated as a museum.

Reopened in 2022 after extensive renovations, the museum houses 23,000 medieval artifacts, with about 2,300 currently on display across its 11,500 square feet exhibition space. The collection spans from the Gallo-Roman era to the 16th century, including significant contributions from the Byzantine Empire and the medieval Islamic world. Notable among these is the "Lady and the Unicorn" tapestry series, woven in Flanders around 1485-1500, depicting the senses of sight, touch, taste, smell, sound, and a mysterious sixth sense represented by the motto "To my only desire." These tapestries dramatically capture the romantic chivalry of the era, enriched with vibrant woodland imagery.

The museum's Roman relics trace back to the 1st-century Boatman Pillar, dedicated to Emperor Tiberius, and the frigidarium proudly exhibits Roman and Byzantine treasures, such as two 4th-century rock crystal lion heads. The museum also highlights Romanesque art, including the Majestic Christ capital, and showcases the secular demand for Gothic art evident in artifacts like the limestone statue of Adam.

For enthusiasts of medieval European art, the Cluny Museum offers a profound journey through the artistic and historical epochs that shaped medieval Europe. With comprehensive English descriptions and an optional audio guide, this museum is a captivating destination for both the art connoisseur and the casual visitor, promising an enriching exploration of history and artistic legacy.

The Panthéon of Paris, originally conceived as a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, has evolved significantly since its inception. Constructed between 1758 and 1790, it was intended by King Louis XV to house the relics of Paris's patron saint. The structure stands on a historically rich site, previously home to Roman monuments, and underwent numerous transformations, most notably during the French Revolution when it was repurposed as a secular mausoleum.

The Panthéon was designed to combine the lightness of Gothic cathedrals with the classical grandeur admired in Italian architecture. The architecture of the Panthéon is a striking example of early Neoclassicism, dominated by a triple dome, each layer serving both aesthetic and structural purposes. The middle dome features a painted ceiling, while the outer stone-built dome, completed in 1790, was designed to rival the domes of major basilicas in Rome and London. Initially topped with a cross, the dome has seen various symbols over the years, reflective of France's turbulent history.

Inside, the Panthéon hosts the Apotheosis of Saint Genevieve, surrounded by important figures from French royal history and Christianity. Its peristyle and façade mimic a Greek temple, adorned with Corinthian columns and a pediment that celebrates national gratitude towards illustrious figures, reinstated post-Revolution to honor France's great men and women.

The Panthéon also served as the site for Léon Foucault's famous demonstration of the Earth's rotation in 1851, using a pendulum suspended from the central dome-a copy of which remains on display today.

Throughout its history, the Panthéon's role has shifted between religious and national significance. During its time as the revolutionary "Temple of the Nation", it housed the remains of prominent French figures such as Voltaire and Rousseau. Declared a mausoleum for "National Heroes" in the 19th century, other notables like Victor Hugo and Marie Curie found their final resting place here. More recent additions included French resistance heroes, recognizing their roles in World War II.

Today, the Panthéon is a monument to France's past but also a symbol of its enduring values, reflecting the nation's historical journey and its commitment to honoring those who have shaped its cultural and political landscape.