A gilded cage for presidents. That’s what some whisper about the Hôtel de Lassay. Right here before you stands the official residence of the President of the National Assembly. For centuries this building has witnessed power plays and secret romances.
The Hôtel de Lassay wasn’t always a political hub. It began as a private mansion. Armand de Madaillan marquis de Lassay commissioned it in 1722. He was a friend and advisor to the Duchess of Bourbon. He also happened to be her lover. The original architect Giardini died the same year. Jean Aubert ultimately oversaw construction. It lasted from 1726 to 1730. Aubert also worked on the adjacent Palais Bourbon. The Hôtel de Lassay was built in the Italian style. It had one floor topped with a flat roof.
After Lassay’s death the hotel passed to his daughter then his granddaughter. She sold it in 1768 to Louis-Joseph Prince de Condé. The Prince had already renovated the Palais Bourbon. He brought in Le Carpentier for the Hôtel de Lassay. Later Claude Billard de Bélisard took over. Jean-François Leroy replaced him around 1780.
Le Carpentier modernized the Regency-era decor. A U-shaped addition was constructed for smaller apartments. They were lavishly decorated. The prince lived there with his mistress Princess Catherine of Monaco. Dezallier d’Argenville Thierry and the Baroness d’Oberkirch described the apartments. The Baroness wrote of delightful furnishings and a circular salon with a movable ceiling. A hidden orchestra played unseen. The cupola depicted the story of Venus. The winter dining room was heated from below. A unique style at the time.
In 1792 the Hôtel de Lassay was confiscated. It housed the École Polytechnique from 1794 to 1804. In 1815 the Condé family regained it. The Duc d’Aumale sold it to the state in 1843. It became the President of the Chamber’s residence. An additional floor was added and a gallery connected it to the Palais Bourbon.
The Hôtel de Lassay’s most famous period was under the Duc de Morny in 1854. He was President of the Corps Législatif. A grand party in 1855 was attended by Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. The Hôtel de Lassay sat empty from 1870 to 1879. The government was in Versailles. In 1873 the Shah of Persia stayed there. In 1879 it finally became the residence of the President of the Chamber of Deputies.
Today the Hôtel de Lassay is more than just a building. It’s a silent witness to French history. It continues to play a crucial role in French politics. It quietly observes the passage of power. The weight of centuries rests on these stones. Each room holds countless stories waiting to be uncovered. Marvel at the Hôtel de Lassay. Let its history speak to you.