Hôtel de Crillon reopens
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel has re-opened following an extensive four-year restoration. Dating back to the 18th century, the historic property has now been reborn as a luxury hotel for 21st century travellers.
Located in the heart of Paris at 10 Place de la Concorde, Hôtel de Crillon’s past provides a rich backdrop for its modern-day story. During the hotel’s closure, craftsmen, artisans and designers worked to strike a delicate balance between conservation and transformation, with the hotel emerging as an elegant expression of the spirit of Paris and a celebration of the French art de vivre.
“I am tremendously proud to welcome Hôtel de Crillon to the Rosewood family, and as our third property in Europe,” says Radha Arora, President of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. “Rosewood’s guiding philosophy is a sense of place and this hotel intrinsically reflects the heart and soul of Paris. It radiates fine French contemporary lifestyle, timeless yet with an edge, not only in its design, but in gastronomy, art and service. Today, we greet the creative and the bold who represent the forward-thinking France of today, and travellers from all around the world who are looking for unique experiences amidst an exquisite sense of place.”
In keeping with Rosewood’s core concept, in which each property reflects its location’s history, culture and sensibilities, Hôtel de Crillon’s design has been reinterpreted through the collective work of leading architects, designers, artisans, and artists.
History has been reinterpreted with a modern twist throughout, while unique objects emblematic to the hotel’s past can still be found throughout the property, from the amethyst chandeliers to gold and crystal Baccarat decanters.
The ambitious project required a high level of care and dedication, and owner representatives Ramzi Wakim and Laurent Dusonchet, together with a handpicked project management team, orchestrated the renovation.
Architect Richard Martinet led the whole restoration and renovation, including the landmark façade and grand reception rooms on the second floor, which are classified heritage landmarks.
Under Artistic Director Aline Asmar d’Amman, who insured the coherence of the whole design project, the hotel’s interiors were created by four Paris-based designers: Tristan Auer, Chahan Minassian, Cyril Vergniol and Aline Asmar d’Amman. The approach was to respect history, while simultaneously injecting a modern attitude and a touch of Parisian irreverence. Elsewhere, Karl Lagerfeld has decorated two suites on Place de la Concorde, together called Les Grands Appartements, whilst landscape architect Louis Benech conceived Hôtel de Crillon’s courtyards.
Hôtel de Crillon’s 78 guestrooms, 36 suites and 10 signature suites embody a Parisian residential style that is equally warm and refined, with the guestrooms and suites elegantly decorated with bespoke furnishings, antiques and carefully chosen objets d’art.
The Louis XV boasts a private terrace that looks out onto Place de la Concorde with views of the Eiffel Tower and Grand Palais, while the Marie-Antoinette suite reflects a feminine spirit with pearl-gray décor and touches of rosy pink. Nestled beneath the Crillon’s mansard roof, the Ateliers d’Artistes are three new suites that pay tribute to the bohemian poets and painters who lived in Paris.
Hôtel de Crillon’s restaurants and bars include L’Ecrin, a space with intimate 18th century décor of the Salon des Citronniers and Brasserie d’Aumont, which presents an eclectic, Parisian atmosphere complemented by revisited brasserie classics. Further, set in one of Hôtel de Crillon’s most historic spaces, Jardin d’Hiver entices guests with a relaxing ambiance suitable for post-shopping champagne, and the 60-seat bar Les Ambassadeurs offers a festive vibe that animates the heritage setting, whilst the intimate La Cave holds Hôtel de Crillon’s impressive collection of fine and rare wines.
Further amenities include Salon Marie-Antoinette, Salon des Batailles and Salon des Aigles, a group of listed heritage landmarks that here retain the 18th century spirit of luxury and refinement. The salons’ ceilings, which date from 1775-1776, soar over six meters high and the spaces can be connected to accommodate events and meetings of varied sizes.
The property also features a new swimming pool area, featuring a mural work by noted ceramist Peter Lane, a fitness studio, and Sense, A Rosewood Spa, Rosewood’s signature spa brand.
“Hôtel de Crillon has always been known for its hosts who nurture warm and genuine relationships with guests, suppliers and each other,” says Marc Raffray, Managing Director of Hôtel de Crillon. “This is what allows all our associates to offer the best of French hospitality, the best lifestyle from a country where it has been cultivated and maintained for centuries.”
Hôtel de Crillon’s 2017 re-opening is the newest chapter in its storied history. Commissioned by King Louis XV in 1758 and built by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, Hôtel de Crillon would later come to be the personal residence of the family of the Count of Crillon before becoming a palace hotel in 1909.
Hôtel de Crillon belongs to an architectural style that is among the most well preserved examples of the French Neoclassical genre, and with its Corinthian colonnade and sculptures by Coustou, the hotel’s façade is a registered historic landmark.
