Far from the heart of Paris in Chennevières-sur-Marne, a place exists. This place is called Place Mon Idée. We are not in the Paris you know but in a suburb. However, Place Mon Idée has its own story.
Imagine Paris during the “Années folles”. Great artistic growth gripped the city after World War I. Intellectuals gathered in salons and cafes to share ideas freely. Avant-garde concepts took root giving rise to surrealism and jazz. Amidst this backdrop, Le Royal Monceau hotel debuted. It stood minutes from the Arc de Triomphe. Pierre Bermond and André Jugnot partnered with architect Louis Duhayon to construct it. Duhayon used Renaissance Revival and Art Deco motifs. The façade stood out against Paris’ skyline.
Le Royal Monceau opened in 1928. It became a social gathering spot. Josephine Baker and Maurice Chevalier performed there. Ernest Hemingway, Joseph Kessel, and Coco Chanel frequented the bar. The hotel maintained its vibrancy throughout the Great Depression. World War II brought business to an end. The Allies used Le Royal Monceau as headquarters after the Liberation of Paris in 1944. It reopened fully a year later. Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery and General Dwight D. Eisenhower frequented it.
After the war, Le Royal Monceau continued to entertain celebrities. Israeli politicians David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir signed Israel’s birth certificate there in 1948. The hotel closed for renovations at the start of the next century. Philippe Starck revitalized the architecture. New amenities included an art gallery, a bookstore, and a movie theater. It reopened in 2010 as Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris. Its elegance made it one of the finest places to stay in Paris.
Paris is known as the “City of Lights.” Its history began with the Celtic Parisii. They settled on the Île de la Cité. The community became a major trading hub. The Roman Empire conquered the Parisii in the 1st century B.C. They redeveloped it as Lutetia Parisiorum. Wealth flowed into the community. Magnificent structures dominated the skyline.
The city’s golden years ended with the collapse of the Roman Empire. It fell prey to hostile Huns and Vikings. The French then rose to challenge the marauders. Clovis established his seat of power there. Later, the raiders were turned back. Hugh Capet’s election as French monarch in 987 returned Paris to political relevance. The French monarchy sponsored numerous building projects. They created a massive marketplace. The Île de la Cité remained the heart of the city.
French kings expanded the city. They developed structures like the Pont Neuf and the Place des Vosges. Paris became a bastion for The Enlightenment. Landmarks like the Place Vendôme were constructed. Revolution erupted in Paris in 1789. Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and restored Paris to France’s capital. He constructed the Arc de Triomphe and the Pont des Arts.
During Napoleon III’s reign, Georges-Eugène Haussmann transformed downtown Paris. He redeveloped districts in the Second Empire style. Paris hosted the 1889 and 1900 Universal Expositions. The Eiffel Tower debuted at one of those fairs. Intellectuals moved to the city making it the birthplace of artistic movements. Paris embraces its place as a purveyor of culture. Its historic downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Louis Duhayon chose Renaissance Revival architecture for Le Royal Monceau. This style drew inspiration from Early Modern Western Europe. Architects incorporated colonnades and low-pitched roofs. A grand staircase was a central focal point. Duhayon also incorporated Art Deco design aesthetics. Art Deco architects sought to reflect technological advances. The style became popular in 1922. Architects loved its sleek linear appearance.
Mistinguett, Maurice Chevalier and Josephine Baker were famous guests. Josephine Baker became one of the most renowned entertainers. She joined the French Resistance in World War II. Baker used her acting to fight injustice. She opposed racial segregation in the United States. Baker was one of the few people allowed to speak at the March on Washington in 1963. Her final show occurred in Paris in April 1975. Josephine Baker has since been remembered as a central figure in the fight for modern equality.
So although Place Mon Idée seems disconnected from central Paris it is still in the realm of its greatness and is connected to the history of Paris.