Developed in close collaboration with the Hôtel de la Marine, this exclusive journey recounts how a magnificent historical monument was brought back to life, reuniting the collection of a King. The imposing palace on Place de la Concorde was built in the mid-1700s as repository for the furniture of Louis XV. When the naval ministry – headquartered here since 1789 – vacated in 2015, the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN) began a vast restoration to revive the building’s 18^th century splendor. Working from detailed inventories left by the superintendents who lived and worked here, the lavish apartments and reception rooms have been recreated with stunning authenticity and a true lived-in atmosphere.

We tell the inside story of how the CMN joined with other institutions such as the Louvre and the Mobilier National in a unique, four-year collaboration to achieve the most ambitious renovation in their history.