Historical Hotels - Le Meurice in Paris had many important royal guests

On the opposite of the Tuileries Garden, between the Place de la Concorde and
the Musée du Louvre on Rue de Rivoli , a magnificent historical palatial hotel
is located: Hotel Le Meurice.

Already from the street, Hotel Le Meurice looks fabulous and classy, but this
blog is about royal history, so my surprise was big, when I researched more about
this interesting topic.

Hotel Le Meurice in Paris, France
own picture taken in 2017

Some History

During the 18th century, a French postmaster called Charles-Augustin Meurice
knew that English tourists wanted to be on the continent with the comforts they
were used at home.

In 1815 he opened the Hôtel Meurice in Paris, however it was originally located
at Rue Saint-Honoré.

In 1835, Le Meurice moved from Rue Saint-Honoré to its current location on the
Rue de Rivoli in a new luxurious building. A wealthy clientele followed and
from the July Monarchy till the French Third Republic, Le Meurice welcomed
the high society of that time. They liked especially the excellent location of
the hotel, which is in the heart of Paris and near the luxury boutiques.

In the early 20th century, Le Meurice was enlarged by the addition of the
Metropole Hotel, located on the Rue de Castiglione.

The interior, especially the rooms on the ground floor was in Louis XVI style.
The elevator was a copy of the sedan chair used by Queen Marie Antoinette.

Between September 1940 and August 1944 the hotel was occupied by Nazi
Germany during World War II. In August 1944 it even became the
headquarters of General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris.

In 1997, the hotel was sold to the Sultan of Brunei's Brunei Investment Agency,
who made it part of the company's Dorchester Collection.

Famous Royal Guests

Five star hotel Le Meurice hosted many kings, sultans and other eminent guests.
Inter alia:

King Alfonso XIII of Spain stayed here in his exile;
Charles, Prince of Wales;
Kings of Italy, Belgium, Greece, Bulgaria, Denmark, Montenegro;
Shah of Persia;
Bey of Tunis.

Shah of Persia: Source picture: Wikipedia

Other famous guests were inter alia:
Anthony Eden, the British Prime Minister;
Salvador Dali;
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton;
Mata Hari;
Jay-Z
and many more.

Medieval French Royal History: House of Valois

If you are interested in the former French Royal Family, you certainly have heard
from the Royal House of Valois, which started in 1284 and ended in 1589.

Some royal history

Before the French Royal Family were members of the Royal House of Valois,
another dynasty had lots of power: House of Capet.

From 1270 till 1285 France was ruled by King Philip III. He was a member
of the House of Capet.

King Philippe III of France had left 3 surviving sons (Louis, Philip and Charles)
and a daughter (Isabella). Each son became king but they died young without
male heirs (except Charles), leaving only two daughters who could not
inherit the throne.

Finally in 1328 Philip Count of Valois, the son of Charles, Count of Valois
became the King of France. He was the closest heir in male line and a grandson of
King Philip III.

But there were other candidates of the French throne inter alia:

Joan of Navarre, daughter of King Louis X. She received the Kingdom of
Navarre.

King Edward III of England, son of Isabella of France, daughter and only
surviving child of King Philip IV. Edward claimed to be the heir of the French
throne as a grandson of King Philip IV.

In 1337 this discussion between the Kings of France and England led to the
confiscation of the Duchy of Aquitaine by England and it even led to the
Hundred Years' War!

King Philip IV of France was the father of King John II of France.
King John II of France was the father of inter alia King Charles V of France
and Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.

In 1415 King Henry V of England and a great-grandson of King Edward III
invaded France. This was the start of a huge battle: the Battle of Agincourt.
The Battle of Agincourt meant a loss for the French Royal Family.

In 1482 Mary of Burgundy, the last ruler of Valois-Burgundy died and
their wealth went over through her husband, Maximilian of Austria,
to the Royal House of Habsburg.

In 1483, Charles VIII became the new King of France. He married to
Anne of Brittany but he died without male heirs.  The same thing happened to
King Louis XII of France.

King Louis XII of France was succeeded by his cousin and son-in-law:
Francis of Angoulême who became King Francis I of France in 1515.

King Francis I of France was succeeded by his son King Henry II
of France in 1547, who was married to Catherine de' Medici.

Finally their son, King Henry III of France, was the last Valois ruler of
France. The noble family ended in 1589, when he died without male
heirs.

He was succeeded by King Henry IV of France who was a descendant
from the noble House of Bourbon.

Power


Between 1284 and 1589 the noble House of Valois had lots of power.
Members of this dynasty were inter alia:

- Count of Valois;
- King of France;
- Duke of Milan;
- Duke of Orléans;
- Duke of Anjou;
- Duke of Berry;
- Duke of Burgundy;
- Duke of Brittany;
- King of Naples.


All about royal families

For me, and this blog, it is always very interesting, researching the ties
between the various royal and ducal families in Europe (and the world).





Source pictures: Wikipedia