Palace of Tau

Reims, France

The Palace of Tau in Reims, was the palace of the Archbishop of Reims. It is associated with the kings of France, whose coronation was held in the nearby cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims and the following coronation banquet in the palace itself. Because of its historical importance for the French monarchy, the Palace of Tau was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. Today, it serves to host cultural events for the city of Reims.

A large Gallo-Roman villa still occupied the site of the palace in the 6th and 7th centuries, and later became a Carolingian palace. The first documented use of the name dates to 1131, and derives from the plan of the building, which resembles the letter Τ (tau, in the Greek alphabet). Most of the early building has disappeared: the oldest part remaining is the chapel, from 1207. The building was largely rebuilt in Gothic style between 1498 and 1509, and modified to its present Baroque appearance between 1671 and 1710 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and Robert de Cotte. It was damaged by a fire on 19 September 1914, and not repaired until after the Second World War.

The Palace was the residence of the kings of France before their coronation in Notre-Dame de Reims. The king was dressed for the coronation at the palace before proceeding to the cathedral; afterwards, a banquet was held at the palace. The first recorded coronation banquet was held at the palace in 990, and the most recent in 1825.

The palace has housed the Musée de l'Œuvre since 1972, displaying statuary and tapestries from the cathedral, together with the remains of the cathedral treasury and other objects associated with the coronation of the French kings.

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Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Chris Chaisson (2 years ago)
This is a must in order to get a full understanding of the cathedral. Definitely worth the entrance fee.
Tudor Iliescu (2 years ago)
Great artifact collection. Worth getting the audio guide because all the exhibit descriptions are in French. I would recommend getting a combined ticket because entry price is 8 Euros.
K. M. (2 years ago)
While I was unable to appreciate the beauty of its exterior, I truly enjoyed the history and timeless beauty of the interior!
Sasha (2 years ago)
Wow, I've been through a lot of feelings going through this place with a great historical load. If you are a fan of history, I recommend you to visit this place, it is the place where the kings were crowned, you can discover a multitude of personal objects of the royal family, clothes, jewelry. The location is impressive as a building, also right next to the cathedral. Everything is impeccable, mysterious, well maintained.
Jeevashi Pareemanen (2 years ago)
This is a place where Kings have been crowned. It is stunning and mystical at the same time. Situated next to the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Reims, it is a place to see if you are fan of history and royalty. The display is amazing and takes you on a journey across the lives of Kings. We were alone in the museum early morning so that could be the best part of the day for a visit. Zero queueing and the whole place just for us, the stroll became almost a VIP one. It will not take more than 1 hour unless you really want to spend 5mins contemplating every display, carpet or statues. Equipped with the Education pass and a kid of 11, the entry was free on top of that. Plan your visit and buy your tickets in advance to go quicker otherwise wake up early and enjoy the museum at your own pace freely.
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