Palais de Justice de Paris

On the Île de la Cité, this vast complex of courts occupies the site of the medieval royal palace of the kings of France, from which they governed before moving to the Louvre. It incorporates the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie within its precinct and presents grand 19th-century facades along the quays. For centuries the seat of French justice, its ornate galleries, the great Salle des Pas Perdus and gilded courtrooms have hosted historic trials. The gilded gates and monumental staircase testify to the solemn authority of the law.