La Conciergerie is a majestic monument of Paris, an ancient Royal Palace as well as the city's prison, a building rich in history. It is located in the city center, in the Ile de la Cité. The history of the palace dates back to the Middle Ages: it was chosen by Filippo Il Bello (13th century) as the Royal palace, and remained until the middle of the following century, when Charles V the Wise decided to abandon it following the Grande Jacquerie of 1358 led by Etienne Marcel , during which the bourgeois of Paris invaded the palace. However, the building remained the seat of the Parliament, the Chamber of Accounts and the Chancellery, and a concierge (a caretaker, hence its present name) was appointed. Subsequently, in 1391 La Conciergerie was converted into a prison for common prisoners and political prisoners, subjected to torture, as evidenced by the torture chamber located in the Bonbec tower, part of the building. La Conciergerie was also a prison during the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century, when counter-revolutionaries were held here before being tried by the court and sentenced to the guillotine. Among the most famous prisoners are Queen Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre and Andrea Chénier. Part of the building is currently used as the seat of the Palace of Justice . Furthermore, from the outside of the building it is also possible to see the oldest clock in the city.
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