Marvelous isn’t it? This is the H\u00f4tel Amelot de Bisseuil. It stands before you a testament to Parisian grandeur. We’re standing at the intersection of Rue Vieille-du-Temple and Rue des Guillemites. This magnificent private mansion boasts a history as rich and layered as its architectural details.
The H\u00f4tel Amelot de Bisseuil also known as the H\u00f4tel des Ambassadeurs de Hollande has a mysterious name. Several theories swirl around its origin. Did it house Dutch ambassadors? Or was its chapel a refuge for Huguenots after the Edict of Nantes was revoked? The truth may remain elusive but the mystery adds to its allure. This hotel witnessed a pivotal moment in Parisian history. Louis I d’Orléans brother of King Charles VI was assassinated nearby in 1407. His body was reportedly carried through what was then the H\u00f4tel de Rieux. The current building though arose much later.
Construction began in 1638 under Denis Amelot de Chaillou an intendant of Finances. His son Jean-Baptiste Amelot vicomte de Bisseuil completed the project around 1657-1660. Architect Pierre Cottard designed this masterpiece. The narrow plot of land dictated the hotel’s unique design. Instead of the usual courtyard and garden layout it features two courtyards. The first courtyard is elegant and narrow. A stone balcony graces its facade. The second courtyard is larger. It’s linked to the first by a vaulted passageway. Statues depicting virtues like Prudence and Justice adorn its niches. Statues representing Dawn and Dusk stand there too. A first floor terrace overlooks this elegant space.
The facade on Rue Vieille-du-Temple is especially remarkable. A bas-relief by Thomas Regnaudin depicts two winged figures called Renommées. They aren’t angels but rather personifications of Fame. Medusa heads adorn the doorway. On the courtyard side the pediment shows Romulus Remus and their wolf. Seven unique sundials are on the south and north facades. They were restored in 2016. The facade on Rue des Guillemites was renovated between 1997 and 2000.
Inside the H\u00f4tel Amelot de Bisseuil you would find exceptional rooms. Boiseries paintings and ceilings are stunning. The Galerie de Psyché is a highlight. Its ceiling painted by Michel Corneille the Elder depicts the Apotheosis of Psyche. A reconstructed Italian-style bedroom includes an original fireplace. Its ceiling painted by Louis de Boullogne shows the Wedding of Hercules and Hebe.
Famous residents include Beaumarchais who wrote The Marriage of Figaro here. Paul-Louis Weiller a renowned industrialist and patron of the arts later owned it. He hosted Nixon Prince Charles Sophia Loren and Charlie Chaplin. His lavish lifestyle earned him the nickname Paul-Louis XIV. He established the Paul-Louis-Weiller Foundation within the hotel. It helped artists in need and operated a popular restaurant serving over 500000 meals.
The H\u00f4tel Amelot de Bisseuil has changed hands several times. After being bought in 2010 for 38 million euros it underwent extensive restoration. It was resold in 2017 for 69 million euros to a Belgian investor. The plan is to transform it into a luxury hotel with around ten suites. Imagine the stories these walls could tell. A magnificent piece of Parisian history the H\u00f4tel Amelot de Bisseuil continues to captivate.