The Hotel de la Marine in Paris is getting ready to let its walls talk

For the first time in more than two centuries, the Marine hotel will open its doors to the public on January 2020 with an innovative scenography. The objective of this exhibition is to show the French Art de vivre inherited from the 18th century through two main courses. Do not miss an immersion through the roots of taste and the effervescence of styles!

The hotel is facing a whole renovation. Located in the Concorde Square in Paris, this hotel will enter the pantheon of the monuments to be visited in 2020. The innovative scenography of the hotel will walk visitors through the splendor of the building's décor and the rich history of French pagentry.

Immersion in the 18th century

"The idea is to understand the 18th century and how it has influenced more than 200 years of history” said Alain Moatti, co-founder of the agency Moatti-Rivière, responsible for the staging. "The starting point is the effervescence of taste and French style in the 18th century".

At the same time, the Center of National Monuments which manages the building is running a restoration of the facades and interiors.

The fabulous scenery will be animated to carry several levels of narration

The hotel was first the furniture storage of the crown during its edification by the architect Anges-Jacques Garbiel in 1774. It then became the headquarters of the naval minister during the French revolution. Reshuffled in the 19th century, the ceremonial rooms have been conserved while the stewards' apartments have been restored to their original splendor: a work based on the archives to find the furniture and objects originals!

Equipped with interactive headphones, the visitors will have to choose between two routes: a short trek through the ceremonial rooms to the loggia overlooking the Place de la Concorde, or a long journey through the stewards' apartments and temporary exhibitions. The latter are also accessible separately.

Stories to discover

By the magic of binaural sound (3D) and some incredible visual devices, the fabulous decor will come alive on several levels of narration.

The walls and objects have not only witnessed the history of France, from the execution of King Louis XVI to the arrival of the obelisk, but are also firsthand vestiages to "the story of a country that invented a taste and an aesthetic."

The Hotel de la Marine in Paris