Palais Monclar

In the 19th century, architect Michel-Robert Penchaud took over the construction of the Palais de Justice from Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, and at the same time built the prison behind it.
The prison was completed one year after the Palais de Justice, or Palais Verdun, in 1832.

The prison was only decommissioned in 1991.

In 1997, after meticulous archaeological excavations and major works, the site was enlarged and transformed to accommodate the Court of Appeal. The layout was designed to preserve the surrounding wall, a vestige of prison architecture.
The building was then named Palais Monclar, in reference to Jean-François Ripert de Monclar (1711-1773), Attorney General to the Parliament and renowned for his eloquence.

Today, this historic building is a branch of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal, dealing mainly with criminal cases.