Marie Antoinette's Last Prison: A Guide to the Conciergerie, Paris

Ever wondered what the history is of the Conciergerie that stands boldly on the water's edge of the Seine on Île de la Cité? Was Marie Antoinette actually imprisoned in the Conciergerie? Today the Conciergerie operates as a museum and is listed as a national monument, but it's been used for many different purposes over the centuries. It's a popular visitor attraction in Paris where you can explore the medieval halls of the former royal palace and the prisons used during the French Revolution. And yes, the Conciergerie was Marie Antoinette's last prison before her death.

The Conciergerie can be described as a relic of the Palace of the Cité, the royal residence in the Middle Ages. It has kept its original name as it was the headquarters for the Conciergerie of the Palace, chief of police and justice of Paris. In the XIV century, Charles V left his residence for the Louvre and transformed the Conciergerie into a State prison.