Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hôtel de Crillon, located in 10 Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, was built in 1775 by architect Louis-François Trouard behind a facade designed in 1758 by Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Originally, this land was part of a royal project to symetricize Louis XV Square (now Place de la Concorde) with two identical facades. The eastern façade housed the Crown Warden Hotel, while the western façade, originally planned for the Mint Hotel, was eventually divided into lots for private individuals. Trouard, a former pupil of Gabriel, acquired the West Lot and built a mansion for the Duke of Aumont, who became his perpetual tenant and financed his sumptuous decoration, entrusted to artists such as Pierre-Adrien Pâris.

The residence passed into the hands of the Count of Crillon in 1788 and was confiscated as national property during the Revolution before being returned to the family in 1810. In the 19th century, the hotel remained in the offspring of the Crillon, undergoing notable restorations, such as those of the woodwork of the Salon des Eagles in 1869 by Charles Lenormand. In 1906, it was sold to the Société des Grands Magasins et Hôtel du Louvre, marking the beginning of its transformation into a palace. The architect Walter-André Destailler led the works from 1907 to 1909, retaining only the facade and walls of the honorary salons, whose eighteenth-century decorations were sold to collectors, such as the boudoir today exhibited at the MET in New York.

Inaugurated in 1909, the Hotel de Crillon quickly became a prestigious place, hosting historical events such as the signing of the League of Nations Pact in 1919. During World War II, it was requisitioned by the Germans and restored after the Liberation. In 1973, he joined Concorde Hotels & Resorts, before being bought by Starwood Capital Group in 2005, then by a member of the Saudi royal family in 2010. A major renovation from 2013 to 2017, supervised by Richard Martinet and decorators like Karl Lagerfeld, modernises the establishment, which reopens in 2017 and obtains the "palace" label in 2018. Today, it has 78 rooms and 46 suites, and has starred restaurants such as L.

The Hotel de Crillon has been listed as a historic monument for its facades since 1896, and for its first floor lounges and roofs since 1964. His history was marked by anecdotes, such as Marie-Antoinette's piano lessons or the birth of Prince Henri de Polignac in 1878. It also served as a setting for cultural works, such as the novel The sun also rises from Ernest Hemingway, and hosts prestigious events such as the Beginner's Ball. An architectural replica of its façade exists in Philadelphia, reflecting its global influence.

Among the personalities who stayed at the Crillon were heads of state such as Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon or Fidel Castro, artists such as Madonna, and military figures such as Marshal Joffre. The hotel was also the scene of symbolic moments, such as the presentation of the 1998 World Cup by the French team. In 2025, he ranked among the world's top 50 hotels, confirming his status as an icon of luxury and French heritage.

Future

The Hotel de Crillon is one of the oldest and most luxurious hotels in the world and has been owned since 2010 by Mutaib Ben Abdullah Ben Abdulaziz, a member of the Saudi royal family.
Closed in March 2013 for construction, the hotel will reopen on July 5, 2017.

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