The Hôtel de la Marine, originally known as the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble, was designed by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel and constructed between 1757 and 1774. Located on the prestigious Place de la Concorde, it has witnessed numerous significant events in French history.
The building played a surprising role in the French Revolution. On July 13, 1789, a crowd stormed the Hôtel de la Marine and took weapons, including two ornate cannon. These cannon fired the first shots at the Bastille the next day, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
Naval Headquarters: Following the Revolution, the building became the Ministry of the Navy in 1789, a function it served for over two centuries until 2015.
The building’s front facing Place De la Concorde is painted above. It features a loggia with twelve Corinthian columns, creating a play of light and shadow. The ceiling of the loggia is adorned with sculpted octagonal medallions representing various aspects of the nation