Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Pavillon du Roi, or Hôtel du Pavillon du Roi, is an iconic mansion located on Place des Vosges in Paris, in the 4th arrondissement. Built between 1605 and 1608 under the control of the superintendence of the king's buildings, it was one of the first buildings erected during the creation of the Place Royale (now Place des Vosges). Designed to serve as the main entrance to the square, it stands out for its superior height to the other buildings and its stone ground floor decorated with three unevenly high arcades, evoking a triumphal arch. The pavilion, designed as an architectural model for the 35 other buildings in the square, is attributed to architect Louis Métezeau, although this paternity is not formally confirmed. The masonry was carried out by master mason Jonas Robelin.

The King's Pavilion never housed a king, despite his name. His first occupants were Charles de Court, the king's first valet and ordinary painter, and his wife Marie de Guille, who served as concierge until 1614. After their departure, the building changed hands several times: bought in 1674 by the lord of the Plessis Guy Le Cocq (serving as a nickname), he was sub-leased to the shield of the Prince of Soubie, Mr. Morel. In the 18th century he passed into the hands of several owners, including Jeannes Gourgues, who sold him in 1751 because of his state of advanced disrepair. The pavilion was then acquired by Joseph Philippe-Vambergue, then by Alexandre-Joseph de Bonneval, who rented it to tenants such as the dentist François Leroy de la Faudignère.

At the Revolution, the pavilion was confiscated as a national property and sold to Jean-Adam Muller, who quickly handed it over to the painter François Dumont. In 1856, the writer Just Olivier lived there. The facades and roofs were classified as historical monuments in 1956, while interior elements, including 17th century painted ceilings rediscovered in 2018, were listed in 2022. These ceilings, decorated with floral motifs, danges and cut leathers, testify to the original decorative richness. The pavilion, now in condominium, retains its central passage, linking Place des Vosges to Rue de Birague, and plays a major architectural role in the unity of the square.

The King's Pavilion consists, with the Queen's Pavilion located opposite to the north, of the two most imposing buildings of Place des Vosges. Their symmetrical layout and their height higher than other private hotels in the square underline their importance in the urban development desired by Henry IV. The crossing through the ground floor, originally designed for checkers and pedestrians, remains a key functional and historical element. Recent work has partially restored the interior decorations of the seventeenth century, especially in the eastern rooms of the first floor, where painted beams and floor ceilings have been discovered.

The history of the Pavillon du Roi reflects the social and architectural developments in Paris, moving from an unoccupied royal building to a report building and then a private condominium. Its classification as historical monuments in 1956, followed by the inscription of its interior decorations in 2022, attests to its heritage value. Recent discoveries, such as 17th century murals, offer a new light on its original design and its role in Parisian world life. Today, there remains an exceptional testimony of classical French architecture and urban planning in Place des Vosges, one of the oldest royal squares in Paris.

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