Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Béhague hotel, also known as the Béarn hotel, is a Parisian mansion located at 123 rue Saint-Dominique in the 7th arrondissement. Built in 1866 by the architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailler for Count Octave de Béhague, it embodies the elegance of the aristocratic residences of the Second Empire. Its architectural style reflects the eclectic taste of the era, combining classical influences and technical innovations.

Between 1895 and 1904, the hotel was profoundly renovated and enlarged by Walter-André Destailler for Martine de Béhague, Countess of Béarn. The latter installs its prestigious collection of art, historical and literary objects, making the hotel a place of world culture and reception. In 1906, the Countess added a private theatre, the Byzantine Hall, designed by Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo and equipped with an exceptional organ built by Charles Mutin, successor of Cavaillé-Coll.

The 26-game organ, equipped with a rare hydraulic blower, is classified as a historical monument in 2007. In 1939, the hotel was acquired by Carol II of Romania and became the seat of the Romanian embassy in France. Since 2003, the entire building has been classified as historical monuments, preserving its architectural and artistic heritage.

The Byzantine room, with its Byzantine art-inspired décor and its innovative stage system for the period, bears witness to the daring of Martine de Béhague. Adolphe Appia, pioneer of modern theatrical techniques, contributed to its technical design, reinforcing the avant-garde dimension of this place. Today, the hotel combines diplomatic and heritage functions, recalling the history of Parisian elites and Franco-Romanian exchanges.

Future

It now houses the Romanian Embassy.

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