The Solo Scale:

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If you’re on a cruise in the Seine, you’ll notice the building with the rounded turrets quite easily that’s located on the Île de la Cité. Your guide will quickly share that this is the Conciergerie, a World Heritage UNESCO sight. If you want to visit, you can pair this with a trip to see Notre Dame or Sainte-Chapelle, given their proximity.

What’s the Conciergerie famous for?

Arguably, its claim to fame is that it was the prison for Marie Antoinette prior to her beheading. There’s even a recreation of her prison cell. Before that, its history goes back to the Middle Ages as a residence for the Kings of France. Then it was transformed into a prison in the 1400’s, and becoming the Revolution’s prison. During the tour, you get to see the chapel that was erected on the site of her cell.

Going to visit is likely a must-do if you’re interested in architecture or history. There isn’t too much in the way of interactive experiences. You’ll be able to see inside Marie Antoinette’s cell, but unless they’ve massively changed it, it’s a recreation with a dummy in place. Otherwise, it’s a mostly empty space that allows you to explore and simply imagine what it might have been like.

Your visit might only take a few hours. It might be a good option to connect with other things you might be doing on the Île de la Cité. There are many options, like Notre Dame — including the crypt and the towers, Sainte-Chapelle, and more! It’s an affordable visit, and you can buy tickets here directly. Or you could consider the Paris Museum Pass, which includes the Conciergerie as an option.

You can check out my comparison pricing post to see how much value you could get out of a pass).

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