Palais+Du+Luxembourg

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Basic Information
= = Located in the Luxembourg district of Paris, the Palace was built between 1615-1625 for Queen Marie of Médicis following the death of her husband Henri IV. Modeled after her childhood home located in Florence, this breathtaking palace is situated on the left bank of the Seine. was designated a National Palace in 1791. The Palace was built on the site of another palace called François de Luxembourg Mansion, which is how Palais Du Luxembourg derived its name. Marie of Médicis was the mother of King Louis XIII. He banished his mother from the Palace. = =

Notable Events
= = In 1792, during the French Revolution the Palace was taken over by Revolutionaries and was used to house prisoners. During World War II, the Palace was used by the Nazis as the Luftwaffe headquarters. It was designated a National Palace in 1791. The French Senate briefly occupied the Palace in 1797 and returned in 1979. It also was host to the Paris Peace Conference in 1946. = =

Current Status
= = The Palace is a huge tourist attraction. The French Senate also continues to meet at the Palace and have since their return to the Palace in 1979. During the meeting times, the building is closed off to tourists. In 1836 King Louis Philippe had the palace renovated to its current structure. A number of the paintings commissioned by Marie of Médicis to decorate the Palace, now hang in the Louvre. The Luxembourg Gardens are now a public park, which is lined with statues of many of France’s Queens. = =