Stamp - Palais du Tau - Reims

Palais du Tau Reims The former palace of the archbishops of Reims bears a curious name, referring to its original "T"-shaped plan (Tau in Greek). Built on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman domus, right next to the cathedral, the building long had the appearance of a fortress, before major renovations by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect of Versailles, and his disciple Robert de Cotte transformed it into a classical palace in the 17th century. It was here that the kings of France were crowned in Reims Cathedral, symbolizing the alliance between God and monarchy. From Louis the Pious in 816 to Charles X in 1825, thirty-three monarchs passed through these halls. These walls were also the setting for the great feast that followed the coronation, attended by thousands of guests, where the king, in the midst of twelve great vassals, re-enacted Christ's Last Supper in the midst of his apostles. In 1722, at the coronation of Louis XV, an effervescent wine called "champagne" was served for the first time. Transformed into a court during the Revolution, then into a prison, the palace was restored for the last coronation in French history, that of Charles X. Classified as a historic monument in 1907, the Palais du Tau burned down along with the cathedral and most of the city of Reims under German bombardment in 1914. It wasn't until the 1950s that it was completely rebuilt, and transformed into a museum in 1972. On display is Charlemagne's "talisman", a jewel of gold and precious stones enclosing a relic of the Holy Cross. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the palace is currently undergoing a major renovation project, with the aim of transforming it into a museum dedicated to the coronation of the kings of France. Jean-Yves Le Naour

Timbre-poste (taille-douce) : Vincent Lelièvre et gravure Claude Jumelet, d'après photos © Jean-Luc Paillé / Centre des monuments nationaux Contours de feuilles : Création Vincent Lelièvre