Palais de Justice, Paris

The Palais de Justice is defined by the massive iron gates that front the Cour du Mai, topped with intricate gold leaf that catches the light even on gray days. This complex served as the royal residence for French kings until the fourteenth century, when the monarchy decamped for the Louvre. It evolved into the center of the French legal system, housing the Parlement of Paris. During the French Revolution, the building became the seat of the Revolutionary Tribunal, where Marie Antoinette stood trial.