It was originally the residence of Cardinal Richelieu and after him it was given to Anne of Austria ,the mother of Louis XIV and Queen Regent of France. It then became known as the Palais-Royal.
Queen Henrietta Maria and her daughter also later resided here and after that became the Parisian residence of Philippe de France, duc d'Orléans.
In the 18tyh Century the Regent Philippe d'Orléans resided here as did his son Duke of Orléans until his arrest in 1793 and later execution.
The Palais-Royal under Anne of Austria
The now destroyed Château de Montceaux or Château de Meaux outside Paris.
It was given to Catherine de Médicis in 1556 by her husband Henri II . Catherine employed Philibert Delorme to redesign the residence.
It was a favoured residence of the queen and was used up until the foiled Huguenot plot to capture Queen Regent and her son Charles IX during the Surprise de Meaux of 1567.
Following the death of Catherine in 1589 it was later given to Gabrielle d'Estrées and later to Marie de Medici and the Prince de Conti.
It was confiscated in 1793 and ransacked and then sadly demolished in 1798.
Catherine and Charles leaving Meaux in 1567 during the foiled Huguenot plot
A few months ago I discovered this YouTube video below on this property that is not for sale but is now a former castle converted into a multi-use complex as a museum, hotel and owner residence.
I love architecture and even used Google maps to look at it from the satellite settings and was amazed by the restoration done by Jaques Garcia, who had to sell his two Paris hotels to acquire the property when it was put for sale. The only thing I dislike is the excessive use of taxidermy, I hate anything that glorifies hunting animals for display in homes. But the rest of the property is magnificent.
Another thing, I got a surprise for my birthday last week: the actual oversize book on the restoration, first and only print in French! Was not available anywhere but Amazon UK. It's so heavy I use a laptop table to look at it, daily, because you can't keep it on your lap for too long since it's immense and heavy as if made of bricks.
Here's the video that caught my eye on this legendary place restored by Jaques Garcia
The Tuileries Palace was such a splendid Royal and imposing residence which was commissioned by Catherine de Médicis in 1564 as her residence beside the Louvre . It was later used by Henri IV,Louis XIII and Louis XIV and also from 1789 -1792 by Louis XVI and the Royal Family.
It was the scene of much brutality in 1792 and 1793 ,restored by Napoleon and later used again by Louis Philippe as his Paris residence.
It was also used by Napoleon III but it was sadly burnt down by the Paris Commune in May 1871 and its ruins demolished by the French Republic in 1883.
The Château de Pau ,birthplace of the future Henri IV in 1553. It became the main residence of the kings and queens of Navarre from 1512 onwards.
The chateau escaped destruction during the Terror but its interiors were ransacked,
Today its a major tourist attraction.
The Tuilleries Palace during the latter years of Catherine de Médicis .
Work commenced in 1564 opposite the Louvre as Catherine wanted a residence that would have sumptuous gardens . However Catherine never lived at the Palace as she was very superstitious and was during its construction that she would die "near Saint-Germain" .
The queen then looked for a new residence in Paris that was no where near the Church of St Germain-l'Auxerrois!
Catherine took up residence at at the former Hôtel d'Albret 1572 which he acquired and renamed it The 'Hôtel de la Reine'
The 'Hôtel de la Reine' from 1572 onwards was the Paris residence of Catherine de Médicis .
The queen had an astronomical column constructed in 1574 and today it is the only remaining part of the former palace.
Catherine's granddaughter ,Christina of Lorraine was a frequent visitor and had her own apartments at the Hôtel de la Reine.
The Hôtel des Tournelles is another Paris residence which has vanished.
King Henri II died here in 1559 ,his widow Catherine de Médicis abandoned it as she associated it with his death and moved the RF to the Louvre.
The infamous jousting Tournament at l'Hôtel des Tournelles in 1559 which led to the death of Henri II. You can see the residence in the background.
It was later turned into an armoury by Catherine and later demolished.
The Hôtel de Navarre was the Paris residence of the Franco Monarchs/Consorts of Navarre but was later demolished and turned into the residence of the Duke d'Orléans.
Blanche of Artois and her daughter Jeanne I of Navarre both died there.
