Did you know that the Hôtel Montespan has a connection to a mistress of King Louis XIV? Let’s uncover the story behind this Parisian location. The Hôtel Montespan is linked to Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart. She was better known as the Marquise de Montespan. She was a famous favorite of Louis XIV. Together, they had seven children.
The Avenue de Montespan is in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It’s a private street. The avenue begins at 177 Avenue Victor-Hugo. It ends at 99-103 Rue de la Pompe. The Metro line 9 serves this area at the Rue de la Pompe station.
Interestingly, number 2-2 bis on the Avenue de Montespan is an Art Nouveau building. It was built in 1909 by architect Paul Robine. The building has two faces. One side is an apartment building on Avenue Victor-Hugo. The other side is a private mansion. It has a garden and courtyard facing Avenue de Montespan. Once, it housed the Zoroastrian Cultural Center until June 2018. In 2021, it became office spaces after renovations.
At number 9, the dancer Isadora Duncan bought the former “Salle Beethoven” in 1919. She planned to start a dance school there. By 1926, the address was home to an Academy of Choreographic Art. The dancer Alexandre Volinine sponsored the academy.
Now, let’s travel back to the era of Louis XIV. Imagine the Marquis de Montespan. He was married to Françoise Athénaïs. She later became the king’s mistress. The Marquis famously didn’t accept the situation. He continued to love his wife throughout his life. He decorated his carriage with horns. This displayed his status as a cuckold for all of Paris and Versailles to see.
The Marquise had ten children with the king. Eventually, she was replaced by another favorite. Despite this, the Marquis de Montespan became a hero. People even wrote songs about him. The story of the Marquis is captured in a book titled “Monsieur Montespan.”
So, as you stand before the Hôtel Montespan remember its link to love. Remember its link to power and resilience during the reign of Louis XIV. It serves as a quiet reminder of a tumultuous past. It also serves as a past full of intrigue in the heart of Paris.