eA royal medieval palace turned into a prison during the French Revolution: discover the history of the Conciergerie during your visit!
Conciergerie Ticket
"Excuse me, sir, I did not mean to do it". Legend has it that those were Marie Antoinette's last words before being executed one cold morning in October 1793. The famous last queen of France ended her days in the cells of the Conciergerie, which had been transformed from a medieval palace to a prison in the turbulent years of the French Revolution.
With your skip-the-line ticket to the Conciergerie, you'll be able to explore the incredible rooms in this gothic palace located on the Île de la Cité, in the heart of Paris. One of the stand-out features is the clock tower, which is where the first public clock in Paris was installed.
Underneath the palace, you can delve into the prison cells, where you can see the harsh conditions that prisoners were subjected to during the French Revolution. One of these cells is more famous than the others, as it was where prisoner number 280, Marie Antoinette, spent her final days. Here you can see personal items that belonged to the monarch and learn more about her fall from royalty. Do you think it's true that upon learning that the French peasants didn't have bread to feed themselves, she replied by saying, "let them eat cake"?
The Conciergerie is currently home to the French Palace of Justice, and some of its rooms and facilities can also be visited with this skip-the-line ticket.
Language
With this ticket, you'll be given a free informational leaflet in English and other languages. Guided tours are also available free of charge, but only in French. The tours last about an hour, and the timetable varies depending on the day. If you're interested in taking a guided tour in French, check with the staff at the Conciergerie.
HistoPad
When you enter the monument, you'll be given a HistoPad, a tablet that allows you to learn about the history of this place through a variety of infographics. The HistoPad is only available until 4:30 pm.
Conciergerie Opening Hours
When making your reservation, you must choose during which of the following time slots you wish to visit the monument:
- 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
- 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
- 3:30 pm to 5 pm
After making your reservation, we'll get in touch with you no later than 72 hours to let you know the specific time assigned for your visit. The specific time will always fall within your chosen time slot. However, these times are flexible and may be subject to change on these and other special dates.
Access to the monument is organized in 30-minute slots. For example, if your time is 10 am, you can enter at that time or 10:30 am at the latest.
Please note: the last admission is 30 minutes before it closes. These schedules, however, are subject to change.
Please also note that on December 24th and 31st, the monument closes at 2:30 pm.
Free admission
Admission to the Sainte-Chapelle is free for the following individuals:
- Young people from the European Union between 18 and 25 years old.
- Children under 18 years old, regardless of their nationality.
In order to acquire the free admission mentioned above, you'll have to go to the site’s ticket office and present a valid ID demonstrating your eligibility for a free ticket.
Admission is also free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month between January 1 and March 31, between November 1 and December 31, and the third weekend of September.
Combined Visit with the Saint-Chapelle
Standing next to the Conciergerie is the Sainte-Chapelle, a beautiful gothic chapel declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it makes sense to visit them both simultaneously. You can purchase a combined ticket, or you could get the ticket to the Sainte-Chapelle directly as well.
Access Points
The Ile de la Cité is currently accessible from two different points in Paris. You can go to either of these two entrances:
- From the right bank of the River Seine (metro stop Châtelet): the entrance to the island is via the Pont au Change. You'll need to show your booking voucher at the Tour de l'Horloge checkpoint.
- From the left bank of the River Seine (metro stop Saint-Michel Notre-Dame): the entrance to the island is via the Pont Saint Michel. You must show your booking voucher at the checkpoint at the intersection of Quai des Orfèvres and Boulevard du Palais.
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