The Royal Palace of Paris (Palais-Royal) was originally built in 1636 by Cardinal Richelieu - so it's no wonder it was called the Cardinal's Palace (Palais-Cardinal) at the time. Richelieu gave the palace to the king in his will, so it became royal in 1642. In the following decades, it became the meeting point of the royal court. The Palais-Royal and its associated gardens are located near the Louvre and on the road leading to the Opé ra. Although this beautiful place can be seen quite quickly, but a relaxing break from the crowds and free admission make the Palais Royal a very worthwhile attraction in Paris.→