Private van transfer from Orly airport Hôtel de Beauvais in Paris

History and Visit of the Hôtel de Beauvais in Paris

The Hôtel de Beauvais is one of the most renowned private mansions in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, located at 68 rue François-Miron, in the Marais district. Built in 1655 by the architect Antoine Le Pautre at the request of Catherine-Henriette Bellier, lady-in-waiting to Anne of Austria, it was classified as a historical monument in 1966. Today, it serves as the headquarters for the Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris.

The foundations of the Hôtel de Beauvais are laid on the site of an old medieval house that belonged to Éloïse de Palaiseau. In the 13th century, she donated the property to the Abbey of Chaalis, which replaced it with a townhouse. Over time, the dwelling changed owners, notably becoming the property of the wife of Nicolas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances in the 17th century. Pierre de Beauvais purchased the house on March 30, 1654, and after acquiring a neighboring house, he undertook its expansion. The following year, the townhouse was replaced by the construction of this prestigious private mansion. Catherine-Henriette Bellier, the wife of Pierre de Beauvais, solicited Antoine Le Pautre for the construction of the building, as a sign of gratitude for services rendered to Queen Anne of Austria. Notably, Catherine Bellier, nicknamed Cateau la Borgnesse, played a key role with the queen, performing several delicate missions, including that of introducing the young Louis XIV to love at the queen’s behest.

The Architectural Ingenuity of the Hôtel de Beauvais

Le Pautre demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in constructing the hotel, as the site was narrow and irregular. He adopted the Grand Style of 17th-century French architecture for the façade, featuring large rectangular openings and rusticated stone chainings, embellished with modest decorations. The balcony was adorned with vases of flowers and fruits. Le Pautre constructed a double lodging that opened onto both the street and the courtyard. To adhere to the tradition that a hotel must be built between a courtyard and garden, he created a small garden on the first floor, adorned with a water jet basin, a grotto, and an aviary, and in the courtyard, stables designed for eighteen horses as well as a chapel topped with a square dome, its façade crafted to resemble a trompe-l’œil, serving as a symmetrical element to the right façade. The external vestibule symbolized the architect’s bravery, built atop eight Doric columns, topped with a frieze of metopes and triglyphs, decorated with the initials of the founders PCHB for Pierre Catherine Henriette Bellier Beauvais. Le Pautre managed to incorporate within the hotel a magnificent stone staircase of honor equipped with a balustrade of openwork interlacing and preceded by Corinthian columns, adorned with remarkable sculptures representing trophies, children, sphinxes, eagles…

Inaugurated on August 26, 1660, Queen Anne of Austria and the Queen of England, Mazarin, and Turenne were on the balcony of the Hôtel de Beauvais to pay tribute to the entrance of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse his wife during their presentation to the Parisians. The Hôtel de Beauvais underwent architectural modifications in the 18th and 19th centuries. After restoration work, it has housed the Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris since 2004. The hotel has attracted numerous film directors and appears in several works, including The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Philip Kaufman.

Transfer from the Hôtel de Beauvais to Paris Airports

The Hôtel de Beauvais, located conveniently near Orly, Roissy Charles de Gaulle, and Beauvais airports, offers seamless transfer services for a stress-free start to your stay in Paris. Consider our shuttle services for a balance between cost and convenience, avoiding the high costs and variability of taxis or the challenges of public transportation with heavy luggage. Our shuttle from CDG ensures a comfortable and direct route to your hotel, ideal for those weary after a long flight. For more personalized travel, explore Paris with our private vehicle services.