The Hôtel de Crillon is renewing itself! Discover one of the most luxury palaces in town at the famous Place de la Concorde. A place that does not lack of stories to tell! Built in the 18th century to symbolize the power of king Louis XV, the place has become the house of the Duc de Crillon whose hotel is still named after. Its structure and architecture are very sophisticated and let the front of the Crillon to be listed as Historic Monument. By the way, since 2017, you can discover it in a new light.
After four years of renovation works as directed by art director Aline Asmar D’Amman, the hotel de Crillon opens to welcome a luxury and modern renewal without letting History behind, on the contrary. At the Hotel de Crillon are found restored items from the 18th century. So, without further ado, here are five historic stories about the Hôtel de Crillon!
For its architectural renovation, the Hôtel de Crillon called in one of the famous lovers of the 18th century: Karl Lagerfeld. The designer collaborated to renovate two grands apartments at the hôtel de Crillon. For instance, he has had the idea to use to ancient fountains from the Versailles garden and turn them into marble washstands for the bathrooms of these two suites at the hôtel de Crillon. The genuine French chic!
If Karl Lagerfeld is known for his love for fashion, he was moved by another passion: books! This was normal then to have large bookcases set when renovating the grands apartments of the Crillon. And one of them is magic! By pushing a button, books disappear to let the way to a closet! How magical is that?
We can say that Marie-Antoinette’s spirit still rules at the hôtel de Crillon! In the suite named after her, everything has been created as a reference to her modernity and femininity. As a matter of fact, through a bull’s eye, the room can visually communicate with the bathroom and the other way around. Rather original, isn’t it?
A rock Marie-Antoinette? Yes, she can be! Still in the suite named after her, a portrait by Pascal Danguin and Lauren Collin representing the queen but rock fashion and drawn in black and white. This painting is based on a modern cover of the famous portrait painted by the famous Elisabeth Vigée Lebrun. A work of art that has been banned first because of Marie-Antoinette’s low-cut neckline painted, but that has now found its spot back.
This is at the Salon des Aigles that world history has been made! It is in this very room that the Peace Treaty has been signed and ending the war, leading to the creation of the United Nations in 1945. The hôtel de Crillon truly is part of the French history but also of the world’s.
That’s it, the hôtel de Crillon almost has no longer secrets for you! But do you know other fun facts that will make you know Paris inside out? Here there are!
