When it comes to the capital of France, its main symbols come to mind - the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral and, of course, the Louvre. Once a majestic royal palace, and now the most famous museum made up a single architectural ensemble with a building built during the reign of Catherine de Medici and, unfortunately, did not survive to this day.
We are talking about the Tuileries Palace, which became the possession of the French monarchs. Now at this place is a beautiful garden of the same name.
The history of the construction of the palace
The Tuileries Palace began to be erected in 1559 by order of the widow of Henry II, who was very worried about the death of her husband. To distract from sad thoughts, she moved to a former castle-fortress, which gradually turned into the residence of kings.
She wanted to live in her own palace, so Catherine de Medici ordered the famous architect Delorme, who embodied all the whims of the monarchs, to build a new building near the place where the Louvre is located, in which she would rule on behalf of her sick son.
The complex of three pavilions
The Chateau Tuileries, decorated in the Renaissance style, evoked pleasant memories of the Queen of her native Italy. The beautiful palace consisted of the central pavilion “Clock”, burned down during the revolution, and two neighboring buildings, which were practically not damaged.
In 1564, the palace ensemble includes a picturesque park with magnificent fountains, spacious terraces and green alleys, which later became part of the Champs Elysees.
Junction
At the initiative of the ruler, large-scale work began on the construction of a large gallery along the banks of the Seine, which was supposed to connect the Louvre and the Tuileries Palace. However, the construction was suspended for forty years after the Queen's prediction of troubles associated with the Church of Saint-Germain, whose arrival included the main residence of the royal families.
When the construction of Versailles began, the work was completed, and a connecting passage appeared, expanding the palace.
The Mystical Legend of the Bloody Queen and Warlock
In a bright building that closed the courtyard of the Louvre, terrible things were going on. The bloodthirsty lover of revenge was fond of black magic, allowing her to kill her opponents. The cruel ruler took on the service of a powerful magician, who recognized all the secrets of his queen and became a real threat to her. Fearing treason, Catherine de Medici ordered the executioner to crack down on the objectionable warlock.
Legend has it that the sorcerer, bleeding, disappeared without a trace from the underground catacombs, where mystical rituals were held. However, he soon returned as a frightening ghost who did not give a quiet life to his killer and queen. And after he began to appear to all the inhabitants of the palace.
Skin changes
After the death of the ruler, the palace of the French kings underwent a change. The area of the residence was constantly increasing, and the building was rebuilt over two centuries.
A residence occupied by revolutionaries
During the French Revolution, the rebellious population of France overthrows the monarchy, and Louis XVI leaves Versailles and moves to the Tuileries Palace, from the spacious windows of which a magnificent view of the green Tuileries Gardens opens .
When the rebels wanting revenge break into the residence, the king secretly flees. However, this did not save Louis XVI , and he was executed six months later.
Later, the French Convention, which declared the country a republic, holds meetings in the former royal residence. The northern part of the palace was redone, and the heating room turned into a hall where important decisions were made.
The residence of Napoleon Bonaparte
After Napoleon comes to power, he makes the Tuileries Palace - the "sanctuary of the monarchy" - his residence, which flourishes literally before our eyes. In front of the main entrance, the Arc de Triomphe was installed , and all interiors were redesigned in a very fashionable Greek style.
The death of the palace
In 1871, after the proclamation of the Paris Commune, the palace was burned, and there was no question of restoration, because the public believed that the symbol of the monarchy should not exist.
12 years later, on the site of the ruins near the place where the Louvre (museum) is now, the declining garden of the same name was revived. Open to all comers, the resting place of Parisians and tourists is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Talk about recovery
After the restoration, the two surviving pavilions that were part of the museum complex are home to the art galleries of the Louvre, and since 2003, there has been talk of restoring the main pavilion “Clock”.
However, scientists give their arguments, saying that the building up of a historical place has long been established, and even with a complete reconstruction, the residence will never be the same.
Paris Attractions
The numerous palaces of Paris, which have become cultural treasures of the country, provide a unique opportunity to touch history and travel back to the era of palace intrigue.
The French monarchs, as their power was strengthened, erected majestic royal residences. Some of them reached the contemporaries in excellent condition, but few remained of many. Chateau Tuileries was a lost building, which was not preserved for posterity, but the memory of him will always live.