Hôtel de Guénégaud (Hunting and Nature Museum)
Where is the Hôtel de Guénégaud?
It is located at 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris.
It now houses the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature.
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
Who built the Hôtel de Guénégaud and when was it built?
The Hôtel de Guénégaud was built by architect François Mansart between 1648 and 1651 for Jean-François de Génégaud des Brosses, Conseiller d'État.
How is the architectural style of the Hôtel de Guénégaud characterized?
The Hôtel de Guénégaud is characterized by its sober decoration and balanced volumes. It features the systematic use of buttresses to punctuate the rhythm of the facades.
The Hôtel de Guénégaud features a remarkable stone grand staircase with a straight double flight and curved steps.
What is the history of the Hôtel de Guénégaud and its successive owners?
The hotel was built on land once owned by the Gentien and Le Beauclerc families in the 16th and early 17th centuries. It was later purchased by Jean-François de Guénégaud des Brosses in 1647. Several owners succeeded each other over the years, including Pierre Louis Reich de Penautier, Claude de Guénégaud, Jean Romanet, and others.
How was the Hôtel de Guénégaud saved from demolition?
The hotel was threatened with demolition, but thanks to André Malraux, Minister of Cultural Affairs at the time, it was classified as a historic monument in 1962. It was subsequently purchased by the City of Paris.
What is currently housed in the Hôtel de Guénégaud?
At present, the Hôtel de Guénégaud houses the headquarters of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chasse et de la Nature, as well as the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, which has been extended into the neighboring Hôtel de Mongelas.
How can I visit the Hôtel de Guénégaud?
Entrance to the Hôtel de Guénégaud is reserved for members of the Club de la Chasse et de la Nature.
What is the literary evocation of the Hôtel de Guénégaud in fiction?
The Hôtel de Guénégaud is probably the Hôtel de Niorres in Ernest Capendu's novel, set in 1775. The novel describes the severe, sad appearance of the hotel, located opposite the Hôtel de Soubise.
A summary of the Hôtel de Guénégaud
François Mansart built this hotel between 1648 and 1651 for Jean-François de Génégaud des Brosses, Conseiller d'État. The sobriety of the decoration and the balance of the volumes characterize his style. The rhythm of the two facades is punctuated only by the systematic use of buttresses, with a large window on the second floor. The window on the garden façade is a French window opening onto a balcony supported by sturdy brackets and crowned with a pediment. Access to the apartments, staircase and garden is on a single axis: the antechamber opens onto both courtyard and garden. The staircase is a true masterpiece. Restored, the hotel now houses the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature.
Photos of the Hôtel de Guénégaud - Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
Summary return of the private mansions of the Marais