Palais Bourbon

The Palais Bourbon is the location of the French National Assembly, and that makes it an iconic landmark with national importance. This is not the function that it was initially meant to serve, as upon its completion in 1728, it was dedicated to Louise-Francoise de Bourbon, the daughter of Louis XIV. It was an upscale mansion at the time, and not a palace, as it did not have any royal significance in that period. It was during the French Revolution that the Palais Bourbon was acquired and nationalised and that its political serving began. At that time, it had already been expanded to a more colossal structure than it was earlier. It was later customized to be able to serve a better function. The final work on the palace was done in the 19th century, when it was adjoined to the Hotel de Lassay. Worth noting is that the impressive pillars that mark the entrance were incorporated in early 1800s upon Napoleon’s request. Its outlook resembled a temple, Madeleine temple to be more specific, much to Napoleon’s pleasure.

The Palais Bourbon serves an administrative function. It is where the members of the French National Assembly convene to discuss matters of a political nature. Because its initial construction design was not intended for what it finally came to be used for, the reconstruction projects have helped make it a better suited facility for governing. The most recent work done on it has made it possible for the legislative members to better carry out their duties. Each member has been given an office to better carry out his work.

Away from the administrative matters, the Palais Bourbon is itself an architectural work of art. Not only does its period of existence mean that it pours fourth in history, it also means that the design has not been interfered with on a large scale. Even with the adjustments, the integrity of the original architectural pattern has been preserved, and this has made the Palais Bourbon a place worth visiting. It has a broader approach to 18th century architecture, and this is something worth appreciating, especially since the colonnaded front that it boasts was not very conventional at the time. Guided tours are offered in the Palais Bourbon, but advance bookings need to be made. You stand more to gain from a visit to the palace since you not only learn about the French administration right now, but also get an insight into the building designs from two centuries ago. The palace has a very comprehensive library with a lot of literary works from the aristocrats and other occupants of France before the onset of the French revolution. There are more recent books, and the composition of the library is not limited to the manuscripts that were written in the 17th and 18th century.

The fact that the legislative house of the France holds dear its architectural past is praiseworthy, and more so is the fact that you are allowed to visit one of the most beautiful monuments in Paris and have a one on one time with the Palais Bourbon.