The Hotel de la Marine in Paris is getting ready to let its walls talk

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ParisCultural Heritage

Hôtel de la Marine à Paris
© © Franck Legros / Adobe Stock - Hôtel de la Marine à Paris

Reading time: 0 minPublished on 26 March 2024, updated on 15 April 2024

For the first time in more than two centuries, the Marine hotel will open its doors to the public on January 2020 with an innovative scenography. The objective of this exhibition is to show the French Art de vivre inherited from the 18th century through two main courses. Do not miss an immersion through the roots of taste and the effervescence of styles!

The hotel is facing a whole renovation. Located in the Concorde Square in Paris, this hotel will enter the pantheon of the monuments to be visited in 2020. The innovative scenography of the hotel will walk visitors through the splendor of the building's décor and the rich history of French pagentry.

Immersion in the 18th century

"The idea is to understand the 18th century and how it has influenced more than 200 years of history” said Alain Moatti, co-founder of the agency Moatti-Rivière, responsible for the staging. "The starting point is the effervescence of taste and French style in the 18th century".

At the same time, the Center of National Monuments which manages the building is running a restoration of the facades and interiors.

The fabulous scenery will be animated to carry several levels of narration

The hotel was first the furniture storage of the crown during its edification by the architect Anges-Jacques Garbiel in 1774. It then became the headquarters of the naval minister during the French revolution. Reshuffled in the 19th century, the ceremonial rooms have been conserved while the stewards' apartments have been restored to their original splendor: a work based on the archives to find the furniture and objects originals!

Equipped with interactive headphones, the visitors will have to choose between two routes: a short trek through the ceremonial rooms to the loggia overlooking the Place de la Concorde, or a long journey through the stewards' apartments and temporary exhibitions. The latter are also accessible separately.

Stories to discover

By the magic of binaural sound (3D) and some incredible visual devices, the fabulous decor will come alive on several levels of narration.

The walls and objects have not only witnessed the history of France, from the execution of King Louis XVI to the arrival of the obelisk, but are also firsthand vestiages to "the story of a country that invented a taste and an aesthetic."

Plusieurs histoires à découvrir

Par la magie du son binaural (3D sonore) et de quelques dispositifs visuels, le fabuleux décor s’anime pour livrer plusieurs niveaux de narration.

Et les murs et les objets racontent tour à tour l’histoire d’un bâtiment aux premières loges, de l’exécution du roi Louis XVI à l’arrivée de l’obélisque, mais aussi l’histoire de l’invention des styles ou encore celle de la marine et au-delà "l’histoire d’un pays qui invente un goût et une esthétique"...


Recommandations et conseils Si vous êtes déjà venu à Paris, vous en connaissez sûrement la façade qui s’érige fièrement sur la partie nord-est de la place de la Concorde, formant une unité parfaite avec le palais voisin, qui abrite notamment le célèbre hôtel de Crillon. Vous rêvez d’en arpenter les couloirs et les salles d’apparat pour en découvrir les mystères (et sa superbe vue sur le place de la Concorde) ? C’est désormais chose possible. Pour vous y rendre, la solution la plus pratique et la plus écologique reste d’emprunter les transports en commun. Métro et bus ne manquent pas pour desservir la rue de Rivoli ou la place de la Concorde. Une solution de mobilité efficace sans le stress des embouteillages et du parking. Autre conseil : réserver votre visite à l’avance, car comme de nombreux monuments parisiens, le site peut être victime de son succès.

Pour aller plus loin

By Redaction France.fr

The magazine of the destination unravels an unexpected France that revisits tradition and cultivates creativity. A France far beyond what you can imagine…