Built to house the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne (royal furnishings), the Hôtel de la Marine is one of two grand-scale palaces (along with the Hôtel de Crillon, now a luxury hotel) commissioned by Louis XV in the late 18th century to grace place de la Concorde. After the building was looted during the French Revolution, the French navy was headquartered here until 2015. Audioguide tours provide an insight into its history – prebook online.
Key events to have taken place in the building include the signing of le décret d'abolition de l'esclavage (decree of the abolition of slavery) in 1848. German troops were installed here from 1940 to 1944 during the Nazi Occupation of Paris.
In all, 6200 sq meters are visitable, including its ceremonial rooms and 18th-century apartments, and an exhibition space. A ground-floor passage with a tearoom, restaurants and a bookshop will connect rue Royale and rue St-Florentin.
