Palais Bourbon

The Palais Bourbon is the seat of the lower legislative chamber of the French government. It is also a palace located in Paris, France. Built at the beginning of eighteenth century by Louise Françoise de Bourbon, the legitimate daughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, the work was entrusted to the Italian architect Giardini and approved by Hardouin Mansart; construction started in 1722. After Giardini's death in 1724, work was continued under Jacques Gabriel and finished in 1728. The palace was enlarged and transformed in 1765 by the prince de Condé, grandson of the duchesse de Bourbon. Soufflot, who directed the work, introduced a degree of austerity into the original plans of Mansart and Gabriel.

The marquis de Lassay, whose support the duchess had relied upon in constructing the Palais Bourbon, had a mansion built near the palace. The story of this Hôtel de Lassay is closely bound up with that of the Palais Bourbon.

At the Revolution the palace was declared national property. It was little used at first but in 1795 was assigned to the Council of the Five Hundred, which met there from 1798. The chamber built for the Council was the first in France.