Hôtel de la Marine

About Hôtel de la Marine

Hotel de la Marine sits right on the Place de la Concorde, in one of the two matching stone palaces that Louis XV's architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel designed in the 1760s. For most of its life it had nothing to do with the sea. It first housed the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, the royal furniture repository that looked after the crown's furnishings, tapestries, and crown jewels, before the French Navy moved in after the Revolution and stayed for roughly two centuries. The Navy left in 2015, and after a long restoration the building opened to the public in 2021.

What you see inside is largely the 18th-century interior brought back to life: the intendant's apartments, with their panelled rooms, period furniture, and a loggia running along the facade that looks straight out over the Concorde and the obelisk. There are grander ceremonial rooms too, including a long gallery and salons used for receptions. A separate wing holds the Al Thani Collection, a rotating display of art and objects spanning many cultures and centuries, which is ticketed on its own. The audio guide here does a lot of the work, moving between rooms and, in places, using sound and light to recreate how the spaces once felt.

It's an easy stop to pair with the rest of central Paris, since the Tuileries, the Louvre, and the Champs-Elysees are all within a short walk. Entry is paid, and there are usually a couple of visit routes to choose from depending on whether you want the shorter apartments loop or the fuller tour. Buying a timed ticket ahead tends to save waiting, especially on weekends and through the summer. Plan on an hour or two depending on the route and whether you add the Al Thani Collection.