Palais du Tau is so named because of its t-shaped form. The palace was already in existence during antiquity. It was altered several times before being transformed into a classical palace between 1671 and 1710, under the direction of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Louis XIV’s leading architect, and Robert de Cotte, his pupil and main collaborator.
Historically, Palais du Tau was home to the Archbishop of Reims. Decorating the walls are 15th-century tapestries which tell the story of “Mighty King Clovis”. 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 royal treasury’s most remarkable objects are Charlemagne’s talisman (9th century) and Saint Remi’s chalice (12th century). The Sainte-Ampoule, or “holy flask”, contains the holy oil with which new kings were anointed during the coronation ceremony. Because of its historical importance for the French monarchy, the Palace of Tau was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991
The palace is closed until June. Tickets cost €8. It is located at 2 Pl. du Cardinal Luçon, 51100 Reims, France
Have you ever visited the Palais du Tau?
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
10 Things to do in Reims
Catacombs (Paris)
Musee d’Orsay, Paris
Paris (In the Afternoon)
Paris
Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House)
Paris on a budget
Paris (Montmartre)
Paris at Night
Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris
Ruinart Champagne House, Reims
The Somme
The Armistice Museum
Shakespeare & Co, Paris
Pin it for later:
