Colonnes de Buren, Palais-Royal - IMG--9293

Palais Royal, originally called the Palais-Cardinal, the palace was the personal residence of Cardinal Richelieu and continued to be a principle residence of junior royals. In addition to living quarters the complex had several theaters and shopping arcades surrounding a large garden.

During the revolutionary period, the Palais was owned by Louis Philippe II duke of 'Orléans. He became known as Philippe Égalité and ruled at the Palais de l'Égalité, as it was known during the more radical phase of the Revolution. He had made himself popular in Paris when he opened the gardens of the palace to all Parisians. In one of the shops around the garden Charlotte Corday bought the knife she used to stab Jean-Paul Marat. Along the galeries, ladies of the night lingered, and smart gambling casinos were lodged in second-floor quarters.

The Marquis de Sade referred to the grounds in front of the palace in his Philosophy in the Bedroom (1795) as a place where progressive pamphlets were sold.

A fair-weather friend to the Enlightenment sentiments of the radicals who would guillotine his cousin King Louis XVI (whose execution he voted for), upon his own execution during The Terror, the palace's ownership lapsed to the state, whence it was called Palais du Tribunat