Hotel De La Marine, 1

Our next visit, thanks to Monuments Passion again, was the Hotel de la Marine, on the eastern periphery of the Place de la Concorde, with its twin, the Hotel de Crillon. See illustration. Both date from the design of the Place de Louis XV, the Hotel de Crillon to house assorted nobles, and the Hotel de la Marine--originally, the Hotel du Garde Meuble--to house the spare royal furniture, art, etc. Sort of like the Concierge, centuries before. 

After 1793, there was no need to house the royal furniture, etc., and the Hotel du Garde Meuble became the Admiralty, as the Brits would say, or the Navy, or, the Hotel de la Marine. The navy department expanded over the years, eventually taking over the entire building for another century or two, and thus many of the building's original contents were preserved. Well, except for the two ceremonial cannons that initiated the storming of the Bastille, but that's another story. 

After the navy moved out, the Hotel de la Marine was extensively restored, including a fancy restaurant or two, and opened a few years ago as another of Paris' historic sights. The tour...augmented with much high tech...is largely of the contents and rooms of the Hotel du Garde Meuble, finishing up with the navy's grand halls, with some nice views of the arcade and of the Place de la Concorde. Some say, if you don't have time for Versailles or the Palais Garnier, the Hotel de la Marine is another option for seeing the opulence of bygone ages.

Full frontal, from the Place de la Concorde

Interesting vaulting over the large interior courtyard

Paintings--not quite of Louvre quality--all over the place

Interesting 18th century flooring

The rooms are mostly the offices and private quarters of the keeper
of the royal stuff

Much faux-Roman decor

Alas, not a Hubert Robert, but a decent view of the twin Hotels...

Private dining room

Incredible tapestries

Game table

Madame Keeper's boudoir

Doggie lounge

Identified as an Elisabeth Vigee LeBrun, but in rather poor
shape, unlike those seen in the Louvre or at Versailles or
in great museums everywhere

Outside, enjoying the columns and the views

Grand Palais nearby

Back inside