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Origin and history

The former Hercule hotel was a Parisian mansion located at 5-7 rue des Grands-Augustins in the 6th arrondissement. His name comes from frescoes depicting the Works of Hercules, an ancient hero. Acquired in 1409 by Barthélemy Le Viste, a member of Parliament, he was rebuilt by Jean de la Driesche before being sold to Louis de Halluin, the king's chamberlain. In 1493 Charles VII bought 10,000 pounds. The hotel welcomed such personalities as Archduke Philip in 1499 and James V of Scotland in 1536, as well as the assemblies of the Order of the Holy Spirit.

In the 16th century, the hotel belonged to Antoine Duprat, grandson of Chancellor Duprat, and extended to the gardens of Saint Denis Abbey. Part of its location was then occupied by the Hotel de Savoie (or Nemours), demolished in 1671 to create the rue de Savoie. Over the centuries, Hercules Hotel was divided among several owners, including booksellers. His mythical studio inspired Balzac for The Unknown Masterpiece, and Pablo Picasso painted Guernica there in 1937, marked by a commemorative plaque.

Ranked a historic monument since 1926, the Hercules Hotel bears witness to the Parisian civil architecture of the Renaissance and its role in political and artistic history. Jean de Marlès, in ancient and modern Paris (1837), highlights his past fame, linked to royal stays and prestigious ceremonies. Today, it embodies a medieval and modern heritage, between memory of the great names and contemporary creation.

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