Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel des Coulanges, built in 1607 on the Place des Vosges in Paris, is commissioned by Philippe I of Coulanges for his family. This 17th century monument is best known as the birthplace of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, the future Madame de Sévigné, who lived there until her 11th birthday. The hotel, sold in 1637, passed into several hands before being profoundly transformed in the early 20th century by illustrious occupants such as Isadora Duncan, who installed a dance hall there.

In the 20th century, the hotel was bought in 1963 by Béatrice Cottin, who undertook extensive restoration work for more than 40 years. Despite considerable investment, the project remains unfinished, and the hotel is squatted in 2009 by the Black Thursday collective, activist for the right to housing. Legal and financial conflicts led to the expulsion of squatters in 2010, while Béatrice Cottin, in debt and under guardianship, died in 2015.

In 2016, businessman Xavier Niel acquired the hotel for 33 million euros, committing to preserve it in his family heritage and to create a public space dedicated to Beatrice Cottin. Ranked a historic monument in 1926 for its facades and roofs, the hotel retains remarkable elements such as French ceilings, stone fireplaces and a vaulted gallery, witness to its past prestige.

The history of Hotel Coulanges reflects both the fascist of the 17th century Parisian aristocracy and the contemporary challenges of heritage preservation. His occupation by artistic figures such as Isadora Duncan or Georges Dufrénoy adds a cultural dimension to his architectural heritage. Today, its protection as historical monuments makes it a symbol of Parisian memory, between literature, art and real estate controversies.

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