Well , I have not stayed here lol! But did participated in meetings held here and its gorgeous to say the least of its fame worldwide. I have mentioned it briefly in several posts before in my blog but never a post of its own, and this icon of my eternal Paris deserves one , me think. Hope you enjoy my take on the Hôtel de Crillon of Paris!
A historic icon of Paris on the Place de la Concorde, this is the Hôtel de Crillon.
In 1758, the King Louis XV commissioned his architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel to produce two identical façades on either side of rue Royale on “Place Louis XV” (current pl de la Concorde): the eastern façade, which is occupied by the Hôtel de la Marine, while the first Hôtel de la Monnaie was to take possession of the western facade. But this location is ultimately considered too far from the business district and a Council decision decides that the new building would rise to its current location on the Quai de Conti. The land behind the western colonnade is then divided into four lots which are sold to private individuals, who are responsible for building private mansions behind Gabriel’s façade:
The Hôtel de Coislin no 4, closest to rue Royale, which retains original decor only oak paneling adorned with garlands and flowers in the upstairs lounges; the Hôtel du Plessis-Bellière no 6, also called the Hôtel Pastoret, built for Rouillé de l’Estang ,squire, king’s secretary and treasurer-general of financial police and which was the home of the latter’s nephew, the lawyer, man of letters and politician Emmanuel de Pastoret; the Hôtel Cartier no 8, also called the Hôtel Moreau, also as above, the work of Moreau-Desproux who had it built for himself; the Hôtel d’Aumont no 10, at the corner of rue Boissy d’Anglas, nowadays occupied by the Hôtel de Crillon, was built in 1765. The first owner of the hotel was, in 1776, an architect who rented it to the Duke of Aumont, the latter having the interior decorations redone by several artists.
Legend has it that Queen Marie-Antoinette came to take her piano lessons in this hotel in 1788, the Hôtel d’Aumont was acquired by François Félix de Crillon, who gave it his name. Confiscated by the government during the French revolution, it was finally returned to the Crillon family who occupied it until 1907.
In 1907, the Hôtel de Crillon was bought with two buildings which follow it in the rue Boissy-d’Anglas, by the Société des Grands Magasins et des Hôtels du Louvre or the Louvre Group, which decided to transform it into a palace. At its inauguration on March 11, 1909, the Hôtel de Crillon was the first large “prestige hotel” in Paris with an exceptional location, luxurious comfort and a reputation that attracted over the years the preference of heads crowned and heads of state. It was at Hôtel de Crillon that, from February 3 to April 11, 1919, was drawn up by the American President Woodrow Wilson and the Allied delegates, the founding pact of the League of Nations or later the United Nations.
In 1973, the prestigious hotels of Le Crillon, Le Lutetia, Le Louvre in Paris and Le Martinez in Cannes were united in the Concorde Hotels & Resorts subsidiary of the Taittinger Group ;one of the Louvre Group’s hotel subsidiaries majority owned by the Taittinger family. The Taittinger group and the Société du Louvre were sold in 2005 by the Taittinger family to the American group Starwood Capital Group. (same as us…: J The Hôtel de Crillon is one of the seven Parisian palaces, and is listed in numerous guides as one of the most prestigious hotels in the world. In November 2010, Le Crillon was sold for 250 million euros by Starwood to a member of the Saudi royal family.
Due to the increase in competition in luxury hotels in Paris in the 2010s and the creation of the status of “palace” in France coveted by the Hôtel de Crillon, a complete shutdown for four years of works occurs on March 31 2013. A large number of pieces of furniture (Louis XV style) and services are then auctioned off, such as the bar counter created by the sculptor César, the crystal console by Philippe Starck, beds, wing chairs, bath sheets, cutlery, as well as part of the wine cellar. In particular, the elephant-liquor cabinet in Baccarat crystal will remain in place, as well as the two marble fountains that would come from the Palace of Versailles. The hotel reopens on July 5, 2017.
Since 2017, it has offered 81 rooms and 43 suites. The most famous suites are located on the fifth floor of the hotel: the Bernstein suite and the Louis XV suite overlooking the Place de la Concorde. These two suites associated with room 552 form the Grande Bernstein. The presidential suites on the third floor can all communicate and also have a view of the square. It will have a hair saloon and brasserie a spa and pool and the kitchen. On September 19 2018 it received the distinction of Palace so becoming the 25th palace of France.
The Salon des Ambassadeurs is done, an ultramodern bar is in this historic place , all historical corners of the hotel were renovated and restore to its famous glamour. In the Salon d’hiver, the ceilings a work of art has been restored completely, on the upper level the view is fantastic over the Place de la Concorde. The Salon des Aigles was a great technical knowhow to bring it to its former glory. In the basement, 90 meters long by 30 meters wide, two levels were done without having to move the façades built in 1758! There is a pool! of 14 meters long, and on the kitchen almost all is done with 7 elevators to bring the meals quicker up. You just need to wait to fit in on its 81 rooms or the 33 suites and 10 signature suites (where two were design by Karl Lagerfeld).
Restaurants wise it has the La Brasserie d’Aumont, Écrin, gourmet restaurant; Jardin d’Hiver, Le Bar Les Ambassadeurs and La Terrasse Gabriel. We had our lunch for the meeting in the La Brasserie d’Aumont! and cocktails at the La Terrasse Gabriel!!! Memorable moment of my hotel management work period in Paris!
You can still see at the corner of rue Boissy-d’Anglas and place de la Concorde above the current plaque of pl de la Concorde, a plaque indicating its old name, Place Louis XVI, which was his for four years from 1826. Hôtel de Crillon ;10 place de la Concorde, Paris of course !
The rosewood hotels webpage for the Hôtel de Crillon in English: rosewood hotels for the Hotel de Crillon
The Paris tourist office on the Hôtel de Crillon in English: Paris tourist office on the Hotel de Crillon
And there you still a dream to actually stay there, gorgeous, sublime, what French hotelerie/restaurant tradition is all about. In the meantime a must to see while in Paris just take a peek ok. I will just leave you with a taste brief, hope you enjoy it; the Hôtel de Crillon is Paris!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 