Palais du Tau
The Palais du Tau is the archbishop's palace in Reims .
The building was erected between 1498 and 1509 on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa. The villa survived until the 6th or 7th century and was later converted into a Carolingian royal palace. The first documented use of the name Palais du Tau dates back to 1131. It is derived from the floor plan of the building, which is reminiscent of the letter T, Greek Tau .
The oldest part of the palace still preserved today is the chapel from 1207. During the Gothic period , most of the ensemble was rebuilt between 1498 and 1509 and redesigned in Baroque style between 1671 and 1710 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and Robert de Cotte . It was badly damaged by fire on September 19, 1914 and was not renovated until the end of World War II.
The kings of France spent the night before their coronation at Notre-Dame de Reims in this building. Before the coronation act, the future king was dressed there and after the ceremony, a banquet took place in the Salle du Tau of the palace, where an oversized fireplace from the 15th century can be found. The first recorded banquet took place in 990, the last in 1825.
Since 1972 the palace has housed the Musée de l'Œuvre , which exhibits sculptures and pictorial work , as well as relics from the cathedral and other objects that commemorate the coronation celebrations. The so-called talisman of Charlemagne is among the memorabilia . The Palais du Tau also exhibits the only royal crown and a coronation mantle preserved after the destruction of the French Revolution , as well as the reliquary of the sacred ampoule .
The Palais du Tau , Notre-Dame Cathedral and Saint Rémi Abbey were named UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1991.
Web links
Coordinates: 49 ° 15 '11.5 " N , 4 ° 2' 3.5" E