The archbishop's palace and most of its rich collections were burnt in the fire of September 19, 1914. Of the palace proper there remains only the great chimney-piece of the Salle du Tau, on which the Latin motto, "Good faith preserved makes rich," is inscribed (see p. [64]), the very opposite of the German "scrap of paper" theory.
The Archevêché: The buildings which lined the courtyard were of different periods. The wing abutting on the entrance-gate was 19th century, while the correct but heavy and dull southern façade was rebuilt in the 17th century by Archbishop Maurice Le Tellier, from the plans of Robert de Cotte.
THE SALLE DU TAU, BEFORE THE WAR
The Salle du Tau (or Kings' Hall)
(See plan, p. [33].)
At the bottom of the courtyard there used to be a large late 15th and early 16th century hall, access to which was gained by a horse-shoe stair with late 17th century wrought-iron hand-rail.
A small porch-like structure at the top of the stair was an unfortunate addition of 1825.
The hall was known as the Salle du Tau, in memory of the ancient palace which was shaped like the Greek letter Tau, or the Kings' Hall, on account of the portraits of the Kings consecrated at Rheims, received in 1825.