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Origin and history

The Gendarmes Pavilion, also known as the former Gendarmes Hotel or Gendarmes Gate, is a listed historical monument located at 6 avenue de Paris in Versailles. Built in 1732 on the outbuildings of the Princess of Conti's hotel (now city hall), it was commissioned by Louis XV to house the Royal Guard. The architect Jacques V Gabriel, the King's first architect, provided the design. Originally, the building extended to the Impasse des Gendarmes, but part of it was destroyed in the early 20th century to give way to the Post Building.

The facade of the pavilion, restored between 1941 and 1943, was restored to its false brick decoration. Ranked in 1911, its portal decorated with military trophies and surmounted by an egg-eye was rehabilitated in 2009 after archaeological research. In 2013, the building was restored in its original layout, now home to an antenna from France 3 Paris Île-de-France and the headquarters of Versailles Grand Parc. Its portal and façade remain the protected elements.

The monument illustrates the 18th century military and royal architecture, while at the same time bearing witness to the urban transformations of Versailles. Its current use combines historical heritage and administrative functions, reflecting its adaptation to contemporary needs while preserving its royal heritage.

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