Hôtel de Crillon
Encyclopedia
The Hôtel de Crillon in Paris
is one of the oldest luxury hotels in the world. The hotel is located at the foot of the Champs-Élysées
and is one of two identical stone palaces on the Place de la Concorde
. The Crillon has 103 guest rooms and 44 suites. It also has three restaurants, a bar, outdoor terrace, gym and health club on the premises.
The building that is now the Crillon was constructed in 1758 after King Louis XV
commissioned the architect Jaques-Ange Gabriel to build two palaces in what would become the Place de Concorde. The two identical buildings, separated by the rue Royale, were initially designed to be government offices of the French state. The eastern building remains to this day the headquarters of the French Navy
, the Royale. The northern building that would become the Crillon was first occupied by Louis Marie Augustin, Duke of Aurmont
, a famous patron of the French Arts. The building was further enhanced by its second owner, the architect Louis-Francois Trouard, who had the Salon de Aigles built in 1775.
On February 6, 1778, the building was used as the venue for the official signing of the first treaties between the newly-founded United States
and France
. (This is incorrect. The venue was the next door Hotel de Coislin.) Americans Benjamin Franklin
, Silas Deane
and Arthur Lee
met French diplomat Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval
to conclude the French-American treaty
that recognised the Declaration of Independence of the United States
and a trade agreement.
In 1788 the Count of Crillon, François-Félix-Dorothee Berton des Balbes, acquired the building for his home. But it was confiscated shortly thereafter by the government of the French Revolution
in 1791. Two years later King Louis XVI
was guillotine
d in the Place de la Concorde
directly in front of the building in 1793.
Eventually the building was returned to its owner whose descendants lived there for more than a century. In 1907, the Société du Louvre purchased the property and transformed it into a hotel. The building then underwent a two-year refurbishment under the supervision of noted architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur
. Two neighbouring buildings on the rue Boissy d'Anglas were purchased to enlarge the property. The new Hotel Crillon opened on March 12, 1909.
holding company. Starwood Capital bought the hotel from the former Taittinger group in 2005. On November 1, 2010, Le Figaro newspaper reported that a sale is in final negotiations to a Saudi group related to the Saudi Arabian Royal Family. On November 23, 2010, the French online newsource 'Challenges.fr' reported the sale of the Crillon to the Saudi Arabian royal family member Prince Mitab Ben Abdalah ben Abd al-Aziz Al Saoud
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
is one of the oldest luxury hotels in the world. The hotel is located at the foot of the Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
and is one of two identical stone palaces on the Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...
. The Crillon has 103 guest rooms and 44 suites. It also has three restaurants, a bar, outdoor terrace, gym and health club on the premises.
History
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
commissioned the architect Jaques-Ange Gabriel to build two palaces in what would become the Place de Concorde. The two identical buildings, separated by the rue Royale, were initially designed to be government offices of the French state. The eastern building remains to this day the headquarters of the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
, the Royale. The northern building that would become the Crillon was first occupied by Louis Marie Augustin, Duke of Aurmont
Aumont family
The Aumont family take its name from the Duchy of Aumont, a small commune in the department of the Somme. The Duché-Pairie d'Aumont was established in 1665 from the Marquisat of Isles-en-Champagne, the title being granted to Antoine d'Aumont de Rochebaron...
, a famous patron of the French Arts. The building was further enhanced by its second owner, the architect Louis-Francois Trouard, who had the Salon de Aigles built in 1775.
On February 6, 1778, the building was used as the venue for the official signing of the first treaties between the newly-founded United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. (This is incorrect. The venue was the next door Hotel de Coislin.) Americans Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, Silas Deane
Silas Deane
Silas Deane was an American merchant, politician and diplomat. Originally a supporter of American independence Deane served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and then as the United States' first foreign diplomat when he travelled to France to lobby the French government for aid...
and Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee may refer to:*Arthur Lee , U.S. envoy to France*Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham , British soldier and diplomat*Arthur Lee , American psychedelic-rock musician...
met French diplomat Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval
Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval
Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval , also known as Conrad Alexandre Gérard, was a French diplomat, born at Masevaux in upper Alsace . He is best known as the first French diplomatic representative to the United States...
to conclude the French-American treaty
Treaty of Alliance (1778)
The Treaty of Alliance, also called The Treaty of Alliance with France, was a defensive alliance between France and the United States of America, formed in the midst of the American Revolutionary War, which promised military support in case of attack by British forces indefinitely into the future...
that recognised the Declaration of Independence of the United States
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
and a trade agreement.
In 1788 the Count of Crillon, François-Félix-Dorothee Berton des Balbes, acquired the building for his home. But it was confiscated shortly thereafter by the government of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in 1791. Two years later King Louis XVI
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
was guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
d in the Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...
directly in front of the building in 1793.
Eventually the building was returned to its owner whose descendants lived there for more than a century. In 1907, the Société du Louvre purchased the property and transformed it into a hotel. The building then underwent a two-year refurbishment under the supervision of noted architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur
Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur
Gabriel-Hippolyte Alexandre Destailleur was a renowned Neo-Renaissance French architect noted for his designs and restoration work for great châteaux in France and in England....
. Two neighbouring buildings on the rue Boissy d'Anglas were purchased to enlarge the property. The new Hotel Crillon opened on March 12, 1909.
Ownership
Until 2005, through Concorde Hotels & Resorts, the Crillon was part of the Société du Louvre, whose shares are listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, and was controlled by the Taittinger familyTaittinger family
Taittinger is a French wine family who are famous producers of Champagne. The estate is headed by Claude Taittinger , a member of the consultative committee of the Banque de France...
holding company. Starwood Capital bought the hotel from the former Taittinger group in 2005. On November 1, 2010, Le Figaro newspaper reported that a sale is in final negotiations to a Saudi group related to the Saudi Arabian Royal Family. On November 23, 2010, the French online newsource 'Challenges.fr' reported the sale of the Crillon to the Saudi Arabian royal family member Prince Mitab Ben Abdalah ben Abd al-Aziz Al Saoud