From royal residence to Nazi headquarters, the Luxembourg Palace has seen it all.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Built for Marie de' Medici in the 17th century, this Parisian landmark has served as a royal home, a scandalous party venue, a prison, and the seat of the French Senate. Its walls have sheltered everyone from Peter the Great to Hermann Göring, surviving centuries of political upheaval and architectural transformation.

Commissioned in 1615 by Marie de' Medici, the Luxembourg Palace was designed by Salomon de Brosse to mirror the Palazzo Pitti in her native Florence. Marie intended the structure to be her primary residence, filling it with artistic commissions, most notably the 24-canvas cycle by Peter Paul Rubens. However, her time there was short-lived; she was forced from court in 1631 following the 'Day of the Dupes.' The palace subsequently passed through various royal hands, including Gaston, Duke of Orléans, and eventually Louis XIV, before becoming a site of notoriety under the Duchess of Berry in the early 18th century.

The palace's function shifted dramatically during the French Revolution, transitioning from a royal residence to a prison and eventually the seat of the Sénat conservateur. Architect Jean-François Chalgrin led a major transformation between 1799 and 1805, gutting the original interiors to create a legislative chamber. Later, in the mid-19th century, Alphonse de Gisors expanded the building, adding a new wing and a library that featured paintings by Eugène Delacroix. These renovations were so precise in their imitation of the original 17th-century style that the old and new sections remain difficult to distinguish.

During the German occupation of France from 1940 to 1944, the palace served as the headquarters for the Luftwaffe. Hermann Göring and Field Marshal Hugo Sperrle occupied the building, utilizing it for their own luxurious accommodations. Despite being designated as a German 'strong point' for the defense of Paris, the palace escaped major destruction in August 1944 when General Dietrich von Choltitz chose to surrender the city. Since the war, the palace has returned to its role as the seat of the French Senate, hosting significant events like the 1946 Paris Peace Conference.

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