Hôtel Beauharnais
The Hôtel Beauharnais (French: [otɛl boaʁnɛ]) is a historic hôtel particulier, a type of large French townhouse, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. It was designed by architect Germain Boffrand.[1] Its construction was completed in 1714.[1] By 1803, the structure was purchased by Eugène de Beauharnais,[1] who had it rebuilt in an Empire style. It has been listed as an official historical monument since July 25, 1951.[1] Today it serves as the official residence of the German Ambassador to France.[1]
Location
The premises are situated on the left bank of the
History
The building was erected at the behest of Foreign Minister
After several changes of ownership and being plundered during the French Revolution, it passed to Eugène de Beauharnais, a stepson of Napoleon who became Viceroy of Italy and also aimed at the succession to the French throne. The building then received its present-day portico in an Egyptomanian style which was popular in the wake of the French campaign in Egypt. Opulently furnished with large-scale paintings by Hubert Robert, the spacious rooms fitted with Beauharnais' great demands. However, the Viceroy had little opportunity to reside at his Paris home. When Napoleon married the Habsburg archduchess Marie Louise in 1810, he used the Hôtel as a guest house for Beauharnais' father-in-law, King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria.
After the French defeat in the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna, the premises were first rented and finally purchased by Prussia under King Frederick William III in 1818 and became the seat of the Prussian legation. In 1862 Otto von Bismarck resided here, before his appointment as Minister president by King William I in September.
Following the
During
References
- ^ a b c d e f Base Mérimée: Hôtel de Beauharnais, actuellement résidence de l'ambassadeur d'Allemagne, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
External links
- L'Hôtel de Beauharnais (in French)