Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Palace of the Parliament of the Dauphiné, located in Place Saint-André in Grenoble, finds its origins at the end of the 15th century under Louis XII. Its central part, in cream stone of the Échaillon, illustrates the flamboyant Gothic with a projected chapel. The woodwork of Paul Jude (1521) and the spirals of the adjacent prison testify to his initial judicial use. The building symbolized the prestige of Grenoble, the provincial capital, thanks to the installation of this sovereign court in 1453 by Louis XI.

Enlarged in 1539 under François I and then in 1562 under Charles IX, the palace adopts a blue-grey limestone of the Fontanil for its right part. Pierre Bucher, architect and magistrate, contributes to this. Interior decorations, such as 16th century carved cabinets or Louis XIV ceilings, reflect its stylistic evolution. The Blue Salon, the theatre of Tile Day (7 June 1778), marked its role in the Dauphin Revolution, when the crowd forced the reopening of the parliament.

After the Revolution, the palace became a court until 2002. Ranked a historic monument in 1889, it was extended in 1897 by Daumas and Riondel, with a clear ochre stone. The extension, inaugurated by Felix Faure, integrated the former prison and the quay of Isère. The building will house in 2024 the Museum of Resistance and Deportation of the Isère, after a renovation of 21 million euros aimed at restoring its tapestries and woodwork.

The palace was also the setting for landmark trials, such as that of Francesco Nobilibus (1604-1606), a monk accused of witchcraft for allegedly bewitching François de Bonne. Under 230 interrogations, he was hanged in Grenette Square. This case illustrates the tensions between royal justice and popular beliefs in the 17th century.

Today owned by the Isère department, the palace is visited during Heritage Days and hosts exhibitions. Its architecture, combining Louis XII, Renaissance and neo-renaissance styles, makes it a symbol of the Dauphinian judiciary. The two-coloured facade, decorated with coats of arms and animal sculptures, recalls its prestigious past.

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