Palais de Justice in Central Paris

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Palais de Justice in Île de la Cité

 

The Palais de Justice can be found in the Île de la Cité, which is in Central Paris. The Île de la Cité is

one of the two natural islands on the Seine River. The other is the Île Saint-Louis. The Palais de Justice stands on the original site of Saint Louis’ royal palace. The palace’s Sainte Chapelle still remains.

The gendarmes are responsible for providing security in the Palais de Justice.

Since the medieval period, the Palais de Justice has been the place where justice was dispensed.

It served as the seat of the Parlement de Paris since the 16th century. It is home to several courts including the Paris Court of Large Claims, or the Tribunal de Grande Instance, the Paris Court of

Appeal, the Paris Correctional Court, and the French Cour de cassation, which is at the top of the French judicial order.

The Palais de Justice also has, within its walls, the ancient Conciergerie. The Conciergerie used to be a royal palace and prison. As with hundreds of prisoners during the French Revolution, it was where Marie Antoinette was held before her execution on the guillotine. The Conciergerie is now a museum whose exterior features the work of sculptor Jean-Marie Bonnassieux.