“An exchange of grand homes.” That’s what they called it back in 1670. Right here, where you stand, once stood the grand Hôtel de Conti. It wasn’t the first Hôtel de Conti in Paris. But it was the most magnificent, a testament to the power and prestige of the Conti family. Anne-Marie Martinozzi, the Princesse de Conti, made a shrewd exchange. She traded her modest home on Quai Malaquais for this architectural gem. Imagine opulent interiors adorned with tapestries and paintings. It was a place fit for a princess. The Hôtel de Conti, a place of grandeur and intrigue. Alas, its story is bittersweet. Despite its splendor, the Hôtel de Conti was ultimately demolished in 1768. Progress, they called it. But the echoes of its grandeur still linger.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to