A gilded carriage clattered to a halt before the Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin in 1776. Its first resident, César-Gabriel de Choiseul-Praslin, stepped out. The Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin, a baroque masterpiece, was built in 1732. It stood as a testament to the era’s opulence. Choiseul-Praslin, the Duke of Praslin, was a prominent figure in the court of Louis XV. He served as ambassador to Vienna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of the Navy. His cousin, the Duke of Choiseul, was Louis XV’s chief minister. This connection propelled Choiseul-Praslin’s career.
As Minister of the Navy, Choiseul-Praslin commissioned Louis Antoine de Bougainville’s historic voyage around the world in 1766. This expedition greatly expanded French knowledge of geography and natural history. Ironically, both Choiseul-Praslin and his cousin fell out of favor with the king in 1770. They were forced into exile at the magnificent Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. Choiseul-Praslin acquired this lavish estate in 1764. He purchased the Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin in Paris after Louis XV’s death. He sought to re-establish his presence in the capital’s social scene.
The Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin is one of many “hôtels particuliers” built by wealthy tax collectors known as “fermiers généraux”. These individuals were granted the right to collect taxes for the French crown, keeping a portion for themselves. This system generated immense wealth for the tax farmers but also bred resentment among the populace. The luxurious lifestyles and perceived unfairness of the system contributed to the unrest that fueled the French Revolution.
The French Revolution brought a dramatic end to the era of the fermiers généraux. The system was abolished, and many of the tax collectors met their fate at the guillotine. Their grand mansions, including the Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin, were repurposed. Some became museums, schools, or government buildings. Others served as residences for foreign dignitaries. In 1999, the Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin was purchased by businessman François Pinault. He acquired it for a substantial sum and oversaw extensive renovations. The restoration returned the hotel to its former glory, preserving a piece of Parisian history. The Hôtel de Choiseul-Praslin stands today as a reminder of a bygone era of privilege and power, a silent witness to the tumultuous history of France.