Palate of Orsay

The Palais of Orsay was an old administrative building located on the Quai of Orsay, with Paris. Started in 1810 to accommodate the Council of State, it is completed only in 1840. The Council of State is joined in 1842 by the Court of Auditors.

In 1870, the end of the Second Empire sees the creation of a provisional commission (March 15th 1870 - August 1872) to replace the Council of State. The Commune (March 18th 1871) involves its removal with Versailles, with files, library and works of Article.

The Palate of Orsay is burnt in the night of the 23 with the May 24th 1871. A fire describes by Zola in the Rout :

the immense fire, most enormous, most appalling, the giant stone cube, on the two floors of gantries, vomitting flames. The four buildings, which surrounded the large interior court, had taken fire at the same time; and, there, oil, versed with full tons in the four staircases, with the four angles, had streamed, travelling along the steps of the torrents of the hell.

The commission, become again Council of State, settles in August 1872 to the 101, Rue of Grenelle, before joining the Palais Royal where it is still today. The Court of Auditors also settles in the Palais Royal before definitively joining in 1912 the Palais Cambon built for its use. The site of the Palate of Orsay was then repurchased by the Compagnie Paris-Orleans, which set up its new terminal there, the Gare of Orsay.

External bonds

Article on the site of the Council of State
Ruins of the Palate of Orsay on the site of the Court of Auditors
Photographs of the ruins of the Palate in 1871

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