It will be almost impossibel to recite all the wonderful spots in my eternal Paris even those known to me but there are some that brings back wonderful memories and merit to be in my blog, thanks to pictures found in my cd rom vault. This I passed by several times as is a beautiful area to walk ,where my family spent many times, Therefore, I like to tell you about the Hôtel Amelot de Bisseuil of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Hôtel Amelot de Bisseuil, aka the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs de Hollande, is a private mansion built in the 17C in the historic Marais quartier or neighborhood of the 4éme district or arrondissement of Paris, The front faces 47 rue Vieille-du-Temple (see post), and the back on 10 rue des Guillemites. It is served by the metro line 1 Saint-Paul station.
Due to the shallow depth of the plot, the mansion has two courtyards rather than the classic courtyard and garden layout. The first is a narrow courtyard with a stone balustraded balcony, leading to the main entrance on rue Vieille-du-Temple. At the top of the understated façades, figures of children in stencils support the cornice. Four panels displaying sundials are positioned between the windows. The second courtyard, larger than the first and connected to it by a vaulted passageway, has a façade pierced by four niches adorned with statues, and faces the Rue des Guillemites. The statues represent the virtues (strength, truth, prudence, justice, vigilance, wisdom), as well as dawn and dusk. A terrace on the first floor overlooks the second courtyard. The façade facing the rue Vieille-du-Temple features a semicircular arch surrounding a bas-relief depicting two figures of Fame, two winged deities. These are not angels but rather the avatars of the goddesses with a hundred eyes and a hundred mouths, armed with divine trumpets, the famous trumpets of fame. The entrance door is also adorned with Medusa heads, young women with snakes for hair. On the courtyard side, the pediment is also decorated: sculpted figures depict the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, accompanied by their mother she-wolf.
The interior retains exceptional rooms with wood paneling, paintings, and ceilings. The Psyche Gallery takes its name from artistic representations of the mythological figure. The ceiling depicts the Apotheosis of Psyche in the center and Mercury and Psyche, and Psyche Abducted by the Zephyrs, at the ends. The overmantel of the fireplace represents Psyche’s Toilette. The ceiling of the Flora Room was decorated in the 18C. The Italian-style bedroom was reconstructed at the end of the 20C using engraved plates based on drawings by Cottard. Only the fireplace and the painted ceiling depicting the Wedding of Hercules and Hebe are original to this room.
A bit of history I like tell us that on the site of the Hôtel Amelot de Bisseuil stood the Hôtel de Rieux, named after Jean II de Rieux, who fought alongside Du Guesclin. His son, Pierre de Rieux, who assisted Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orléans, later lived there. Louis I of Orléans, younger brother of King Charles VI, was assassinated near the hôtel in 1407 by supporters of the Duke of Burgundy, John Lackland. His body was transported to the Hôtel de Rieux by his squire. The residence then belonged to François de Hardy, husband of Henriette de Coulanges, aunt of the Marquise de Sévigné. In 1638, he sold it to Denis Amelot de Chaillou, who undertook a complete reconstruction. It is probably from the Hôtel de Rieux that the Hôtel Amelot de Chaillou owes its distinctive feature of having two courtyards. The entrance to the Hôtel de Rieux faced onto the Rue des Guillemites. In 1711, Claude Miotte, secretary to King Louis XIV, purchased the hôtel.
It was in the Protestant chapel of this hotel that Mademoiselle Necker, the future Madame de Staël, was baptized in 1766. On October 9, 1776, Beaumarchais rented the entire building, he was himself a descendant of Huguenots. There, he founded the firm Roderiguez, Hortalez & Co., a fictitious shipping company subsidized by the French and Spanish governments, to supply American colonists rebelling against the British government with weapons and other essential goods. Beaumarchais lived there with Marie-Thérèse Willer-Mawlaz, whom he married as his third wife, thus legitimizing the birth of their daughter Eugénie. He wrote The Marriage of Figaro (1778) there, a play so daring that it was not performed until six years later. He also composed Tarare there, which was performed at the Opéra in 1787. He moved out the same year. In 1951, Paul-Louis Weiller ,an industrialist and former WWI flying ace acquired the property and commissioned renovations, which his son Paul-Annick continued until his death in 1998. During this period, the hotel hosted a succession of prestigious guests, from President Nixon and Prince Charles to Sophia Loren and Charlie Chaplin. Paul-Louis Weiller was renowned for his generosity, so much so that Greta Garbo nicknamed him “Paul-Louis XIV.” He established the Paul-Louis-Weiller Foundation there, dedicated to supporting artists in need; a popular restaurant is also housed within the property. From 1922 to 1940, he founded and managed SNECMA, later renamed Safran: it was the largest French aircraft engine factory. He created several airlines and was instrumental in the creation of Air France.
The Paris tourist office on Paris Centre (arrond 1-4) of Paris : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/explore-the-centre-of-paris-a846
There you go folks, a dandy city to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my eternal Paris, driving and walking all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Hôtel Amelot de Bisseuil of Paris !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 