European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                9 k Cal re above the place Des Vosges offers the Tranquility of a secluded Square left the Luxembourg gardens Are a favorite of the left Bank s students. Above left notre Dame and the Seine. The South Sicle with Marie at the opposite end of the Square. A ,. A Marie had a Rno ment of glory however. After Henry s death intent on keeping up with friends she demanded a Home on the newly fashionable left Bank the finance authorities refused. It was impractical to build a new Palace when her first in Tuil eries gardens was not yet Complete they said she knew there was Gold in the National Treasury collected by Henry to pay for a War. And on a july night in 1615, she drove to the Treasury located at the Bastille with their son Louis Xiii and a collection of princes Dukes ministers and guards. There she claimed that her order to withdraw Money overruled her dead husbands to save it and asked the caretakers to produce their key. It worked. She made a second robbery one month later according to Cronin not one Gold. Coin remained in the Treu a but two years after the robbery 16-year-old Louis perhaps i red of his mothers extravagance and political intrigue gained Power in a Palace a revolution. He exiled Marie to another City in France. She returned in 1625 when Luxembourg Palace was completed and lived there just six years her influence reduced. She left France in Quot 1631, driven out by a former political ally. Richelieu against whom she had recently conspired. Despite their positions and wealth Marie arid Henry lacked something in their lives peace. In fact in their most turbulent and complicated moments both of them might have envied today a vacationers who Are Able to use their old Royal haunts As temporary islands of Tranquility. A amps photos by Peter Jaeger april 4, 1991 stripes Magazine 7 7