Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel Le Lièvre de la Grange is an architectural complex composed of two twin private hotels, built at 4 and 6 rue de Braque in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. These buildings, erected between 1731 and 1733, were commissioned by Marie-Madeleine Le Lièvre de la Grange and designed by architect Victor-Thierry Dailly, with the mastery of the mason Pierre Caqué. Destined for rent from their origin, they remained owned by the Le Lièvre family until 1814. Their rock style, typical of the early reign of Louis XV, is distinguished by carved ornaments like ram heads, bearded old men, and a swan, works by sculptors Bourguignon and Lissy.

The facades on street and courtyard, as well as the interior elements (vestibulum, stairwell with its wrought iron ramp), were inscribed in the historical monuments by decree of 18 November 1953. It should be noted that the original gardens were partially destroyed to allow for commercial construction. At the turn of the 20th century, n°6 housed a renowned photography workshop, that of the Maison Nacivet, associated with the Maison Grimaud (located on Rue Saint-André-des-Arts), illustrating the reassignment of the places to modern uses.

The architecture of the two houses, extended by wings surrounding an initially divided courtyard, reflects the elegance of the era. The entrance gates, surmounted by balconies with carved consoles, and the mascarons adorning the facades on the courtyard testify to remarkable artistic know-how. The large staircase of No. 6, with its original wrought iron ramp, is a preserved example of the 18th century craftsmanship, while subsequent changes (such as the partial disappearance of the gardens) recall the urban adaptations suffered by the Parisian heritage.

The family Le Lièvre de la Grange, owner for more than 80 years, made a lasting mark on the history of the place. Their heritage is still in the architectural details, although the hotel has experienced various occupations, including that of the House Nacivet, active in photography at a time when this medium revolutionized the capture of images. The partial inscription in the title of historical monuments in 1953 emphasized the heritage value of facades, roofs, and interior elements, thus protecting part of this testimony of the Paris des Lumières.

Today, the Hotel Le Lièvre or La Grange embodies both the grandeur of 18th century civil architecture and the urban transformations of Paris. Its rock style, its sculptures, and its double-body structure make it a representative example of Parisian mansions of the time, while its later history — between artisanal workshops and heritage protections — illustrates the dynamic between preservation and evolution in the French capital.

External links