Palate of Luxembourg

History

The palate of Luxembourg owes its name with the hotel built in the middle of the 16th century and which belonged to François of Piney, duke of Luxembourg.

The Regent Marie de Médicis buys the hotel and the field known as " of Luxembourg" in 1612 and orders in 1615 the construction of one palate to the architect Solomon de Brosse. It settles in 1625 there, before the end of work. The right part of the palate was reserved for the queen-mother and that of left to his/her son, the king Louis XIII. A series of fabrics had been ordered from Rubens for each one of these apartments but only thirteen of enter they intended for the housing of Marie de Médicis were realized. It is possible to find them exposed in a room with the Louvre.

In 1631, construction is completed, Marie de Médicis must leave it the same year, exiled on order of his/her son following the " Day of Dupes the ".

With its death in 1642, Marie de Médicis bequeaths the field to his/her preferred child, his second wire Gaston duke of Orleans, brother puîné of the king Louis XIII. It passes by succession to its widow, Marguerite of Lorraine, then with his oldest daughter the duchess of Montpensier which sells it to his/her younger sister, the duchess of Own way (1660). This one makes of it to gift with his/her cousin in 1694.

In 1715, Luxembourg is allocated to the regent Philippe of Orleans, which gives up it with his/her daughters, the duchess of Berry and the queen Douairière of Spain. The latter is let there die in 1742.

By a edict of December 1778, the king Louis XVI grants it the field to his/her brother Louis-Stanislas-Xavier, Count of Provence and future Louis XVIII, as increase in Apanage. It will be driven out by it by the French revolution which declared the palate of Luxembourg " property nationale".

It becomes a prison during the Terreur before being affected, in 1795, with the Directoire. End 1799, the Directoire makes place with the preserving Sénat, assembled created by the Constitution of year VIII.

Thereafter, it will keep its parliamentary vocation except during a few short periods.

The initial hotel, from now on called Small Luxembourg, became since 1825 the official residence of the president of the Senate. The building of right-hand side, also called hotel of the presidency, shelters its office and those of his/her collaborators, its living rooms and its dining room private. The building of left, called living rooms of Boffrand, shelters rooms of restaurant and living rooms for the great receptions organized by the President or the Senate of which the reception of the foreign personalities.

Structure

The palate of Luxembourg holds more second home than urban official palate. Its plan is rather characteristic of the French castles, as that of Verneuil-in-Halatte in which Solomon de Brosse took part. It is composed of a square court, the body main courtyard of entry surmounted of a dome, the Tournon dome, and houses redoubled in the main building.

Innovations, as the main building which becomes great extensive compared to the two wings, or the monumental central part, marks the castle. The palate of Luxembourg is the result of the free inspiration of the Palais Pitti (Florence, Italy) required by Marie de Médicis which, being bored with the Louvre, in particular wished to find the Florentin spirit and softness that this evoked to him in particular through the use of the stone embossing in the architecture of the building rather than of a mixture of brick and stone, as one found some for example in the hunting lodge of Versailles.

See too

Podcast of the article

the Voice Of the Knowledge Palate of Luxembourg

Internal bonds

Garden of Luxembourg
French Senate

External bonds

Official site of the French Senate

Gate of the Palate of Luxembourg
virtual Visit of the Palate of Luxembourg
Photographs of the Palate and the gardens

the Palate of Luxembourg, picturesque Paris

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