Conciergerie
The Conciergerie remained the seat of the Kings of France from Hugh Capet to the 14th century. After that it continued to be used as the seat of the Parliament of Paris (the highest judicial court in the kingdom) and part of the building was converted as a prison in 1391.
The building includes four towers which originally had their feet in the River Seine when the banks had not yet been built. The two "twin" towers with conical roofs, probably higher now than during the reign of Charles V, are the Tower of Caesar (Tour de César) and the Tower of Silver (Tour d'Argent).
The third tower with crenelated battlements is the Bonbec tower. Heavily restored and raised by one storey in the 19C, it now has little in common with the 13C original.
The tallest tower, the Tour de l'Horloge, was constructed by Jean le Bon in 1353, and modified several times over the centuries. The first public clock in Paris, made by Henri d'Vic, was added by Charles V in 1370. The sculptural decoration around the clock, featuring allegorical figures of The Law and Justice, was added in 1585 century by Henry III. They were smashed during the Revolution but later restored.
The clock tower (Tour de l'Horloge) and other towers were integrated with a Neo-Gothic wall built in the north of the complex in the 19C.
Paris, 2016
Conciergerie
The Conciergerie remained the seat of the Kings of France from Hugh Capet to the 14th century. After that it continued to be used as the seat of the Parliament of Paris (the highest judicial court in the kingdom) and part of the building was converted as a prison in 1391.
The building includes four towers which originally had their feet in the River Seine when the banks had not yet been built. The two "twin" towers with conical roofs, probably higher now than during the reign of Charles V, are the Tower of Caesar (Tour de César) and the Tower of Silver (Tour d'Argent).
The third tower with crenelated battlements is the Bonbec tower. Heavily restored and raised by one storey in the 19C, it now has little in common with the 13C original.
The tallest tower, the Tour de l'Horloge, was constructed by Jean le Bon in 1353, and modified several times over the centuries. The first public clock in Paris, made by Henri d'Vic, was added by Charles V in 1370. The sculptural decoration around the clock, featuring allegorical figures of The Law and Justice, was added in 1585 century by Henry III. They were smashed during the Revolution but later restored.
The clock tower (Tour de l'Horloge) and other towers were integrated with a Neo-Gothic wall built in the north of the complex in the 19C.
Paris, 2016