Paris, the capital city of France, is often called ‘The City of Lights’ or ‘City of Love’. An unpretentious charm and beauty lie hidden in every nook and cranny of the city. Allow the aesthetically pleasing rues, cafe-lined boulevards, and quaint bistros and bars to melt your heart. While the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe dazzle you, let another noteworthy monument pique your curiosity. The iconic 18th-century museum, Hotel de la Marine, on Place de la Concorde.
COVID-19 Safety Measures
Starting June 12, 2021, Hotel de la Marine Paris will be open to the general public. The monument is following every COVID-safety guidelines issued by the French government.
Why Visit Hotel de la Marine Museum
Hotel de la Marine, an 18th-century monument in the heart of Paris, is a remarkable testament to French ingenuity. From the signing of the decree to abolish slavery in French colonies and exhibiting the Crown Jewels that made up the national treasure to being the headquarters of the French Navy, it has played an important role in shaping French history.
After more than four years of restoration work, led by the National Monuments Centre, the hotel unveils its 18th-century apartments and stateroom to the public. The iconic Parisian site, located on the famous Place de la Concorde, will take you back in time with its precious artwork, furniture, jewels and decorations.
Witness the dazzling courtyard, the lavish apartments and reception rooms of the Intendants and the iconic loggia. An autumn visit promises a view of the Al Thani Collection, an exhibit of the personal jewel collection of Qatar’s royal family.
Your Hotel de la Marine Tickets
Hotel de la Marine tickets will soon be available for purchase.
Best Way to Buy Hotel de la Marine Tickets
The best way to buy your tickets is to buy them online and in advance.
- Convenience: This way, you can directly head to the queue for picking up the free connected headset that will guide you throughout your visit, bypassing the ticket counter.
- Advance Booking: As the Hotel de la Marine is opening up after a very long time, it is expected that tickets will sell like hotcakes. In such a case, it is best to book your tickets in advance to ensure you can visit on the date of your choice.
- Discounts: When booking your Hotel de la Marine tickets via third-party websites, you can avail of numerous discounts and deals.
History of Hotel de la Marine
Hotel de la Marine was built in the 1770s, during the reign of King Louis XV. It was the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, an institution to supply and maintain the furniture of royal residences. The Institution also stored other weapons, fabrics, and Crown diamonds. Skilled craftsmen and upholsterers worked here to produce top-quality furnishing items like beds, chairs, sofas, armchairs, and tapestries.
The French Revolution changed the history of this palace. When France became a Republic, the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne lost its importance. The French navy occupied the building, making it their headquarters. The palace henceforth bore the name Hôtel de la Marine.
To showcase France’s power, the navy ministry held many prestigious balls here between 1802-1893. The monument was even strategic during the Nazi Occupation of Paris. German troops were stationed here during WWII. France's navy ministry was based in this palace for 226 years, leaving the building only in 2015. After four years of renovation, the national monument is finally opening to the public!
Architecture
The iconic French Monument, originally called Hotel du Garde-Meuble, was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, chief architect of King Louis XV. The monument's symmetrical neo-classical facade and geometric lines reflect 18th-century antiquity. While the monument's base has archways, the central part of the monument has a colonnaded terrace.
Inside the museum, a courtyard and an array of embedded LED lights on the floor offer the first views of the museum’s inside. The maritime symbols and scenes on the Honor staircase leading to the first floor reflect the marine past of the museum. The reception rooms and the loggia occupy the first floor, giving you a glimpse into French history.
What to See at Hotel de la Marine
Visitor Circuits
Through your tour, you will explore the reception rooms that display the power and wealth of France. The colonnaded loggia or the balcony promises some of the finest views of Paris. It has witnessed the French history in the making, from the execution of Louis XVI to watching the Bicentennial parade of the French Revolution.
Stewart Courtyard ceiling
The steward's residence had a private courtyard, called the Cour de l’Intendant. To add a touch of modernity to the 18the century monument, British architect Hugh Dutton added a glass roof to the courtyard during the restoration process. The glass canopy refracts natural light, illuminating the courtyard.
The Mirrors Room
The Mirrors room, a cozy private space, was designed to suit the taste of Pierre-Élisabeth de Fontanieu, the first Intendant to live in the Hôtel de la Marine. Large wall mirrors with delicate golden decors- floral, birds, decors of women, and decors of chubby cherubs, adorn the room, creating an immersive museography.
The Flying Table
Serving guests required servants to move to and from, often interrupting conversations with the guests. So Fontanieu installed a flying table in his private apartment. The table slid up and down between the reception room floor and the pantry through a network of pulleys and ropes. The pantry was located just below the reception room.
The Al Thani Collection
A special exhibit will showcase the private collection of royal jewels owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, the ruling family of Qatar. The Al Thani Collection is a rich diversity of artworks from times gone by that celebrates art across cultures. It includes Indian gems and jewelry spanning 5000 years, antiquities, paintings, and medieval manuscripts.
The highlights are an Egyptian head of a royal figure carved from red jasper, a Maya mask pendant, a Chinese gilt-bronze sculpture of a seated bear dating to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), and the jade wine cup of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The treasures will be on display in a designated gallery for 20 years to fund the museum's restoration.
Plan Your Visit to Hotel de la Marine
Hotel de la Marine Paris is open every day from 10.30 AM to 7 PM on Saturday to Thursday. On Fridays, it is open until 10 PM. The ticket office closes 45 minutes before the end of the visits.
Hotel de la Marine is annually closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.
Duration: You can expect to spend 45 minutes to one and a half hours touring the Hôtel de la Marine. Based on your ticket choice, the tour includes the Intendant’s apartments, Reception Rooms, the loggia, and the Al Thani Collection.
- Metro: The Concorde station is the closest stop to the Hotel de la Marine. Take metro lines 1, 8, and 12 to the Concorde station to get to the Hotel de la Marine Paris.
- Bus: There are two bus stops close to the Hotel de la Marine. Bus lines 42, 45, 84, and 94 serve the Concorde-Royale stop whereas bus lines 52, 72, and 73 serve the Concorde stop.
- Car: You can drive down to the venue. Note that the Hotel de la Marine Paris does not have a car park but there are public car parks nearby.
The best time to visit Hotel de la Marine Paris is during the opening hours or in the late evening before the museum closes as it is the least crowded then. Avoid weekends or school holidays as it can be a busy place at the Hotel de la Marine.
Since the Hotel de la Marine Paris is open on Mondays and Tuesdays, contrary to a few museums in Paris that are closed on these days, these days can be busy too.
The Hôtel de la Marine has restaurants and cafes that offer unforgettable French flavours. The north of the courtyard features a restaurant with a menu designed by Jean-François Piège, a Michelin-starred chef.
Café Lapérouse to the South of the courtyard offers fine food, ideal for a refreshing break.
The following facilities are made available to visitors:
- The monument has a left-luggage office and cloakroom to store small bags.
- There is free public Wi-Fi through the monument.
- Patrons accompanying people with special needs can loan wheelchairs from the site.
- People with special needs can easily navigate the venue in wheelchairs.
- The gift shop sells a wide range of books and souvenirs.
- Intendant’s staircase and apartments
- The mirrors room
- Portraits of seafarers in the salons of honour
- The stately reception rooms
- Loggia
Note: The Al Thani Collection will be available for viewing from Autumn 2021
Around Hotel de la Marine
Visitor Tips
- Book the time and date of your visit online to avoid an end-moment disappointment. Over-the-counter tickets are subject to limited availability, depending on the number of daily places still available.
- People who are allowed free entry to the Hotel de la Marine Paris need to book the time slot of their visit online. Please carry a valid ID to support your free entry.
- The free audio experience (available in nine languages), provides a 3D sound experience, making your visit original and immersive. Don’t forget to collect your headset when visiting.
- You can take photographs and shoot films in the museums during your visit, except in the Al Thani exhibition.
- No food, drinks, and pets are allowed inside the museum.
- The book and gift shop, the restaurant, the café, the bar, or the courtyard do not require an entry ticket.
Hotel de la Marine Tickets: FAQs
Hotel de la Marine Paris is open to tourists starting June 12, 2021.
Tickets to Hotel de la Marine Paris can be purchased online.
Buying your tickets in advance and online is the best way to buy Hotel de la Marine tickets.
Tickets to Hotel de la Marine Museum will be available soon.
Hotel de la Marine Paris can be accessed easily by wheelchair.
Hotel de la Marine Paris is following COVID-safety guidelines issued by the French government.
Hotel de la Marine Museum is open daily from 10:30 AM to 7 PM. The inner courtyard is open from 9 AM to midnight. On Fridays, the museum is open until 10 PM.
Children can enjoy free tickets to the Hotel de la Marine.