The Parliament

The palace of the Parliament of the Dauphine

A stop on the Grenoble audio-guided tour, the palace of the Parliament stands on Place Saint-Andre, with its fine flamboyant Gothic facade. This listed historic building, whose oldest part dates back to the fifteenth century, was until the Revolution the seat of the Parliament of the Dauphine.

The highest court of justice of the Dauphine

In the sixteenth century, three parts linked Place Saint-Andre to the Isere: to the east, the chamber of accounts, now vanished; in the centre, the parliament; to the west, the prison, also vanished. The former parliament was the highest court of justice of the Dauphine, with seventy magistrates, ten chamber presidents, fifty-five councillors and several attorneys general.

What to see

The flamboyant Gothic facade, later completed with Renaissance additions, is a remarkable testimony of Grenoble's civic architecture. Observe its ornate windows and carved details, which recall the judicial and political past of the Dauphine, on the peaceful Place Saint-Andre.

Practical information

The palace of the Parliament is on Place Saint-Andre, in the historic centre of Grenoble. Its facade can be viewed freely from the square; visiting conditions should be checked depending on the season.

What was the role of the palace of the Parliament ?

It was, until the Revolution, the seat of the Parliament of the Dauphine, the highest court of justice of the province.

What architectural style does the palace show ?

Flamboyant Gothic, completed with Renaissance additions, dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.