Do you see that inscription that has disappeared? Villa Moricet once stood boldly on the facade. Today, we call this beautiful building at Place Alexandre-Ier, number 2, the Hotel d’Estrades but many still whisper Villa Moricet.
Let’s journey back to discover the man behind the name. Pierre-Joseph Moricet was born in Poitiers in 1775 a baker’s son. Little did he know he would leave such a mark on Versailles. He arrived in Paris. By 1805, he was a hat maker.
Moricet married Marie-Catherine Sibire that same year. Her family had long been Parisians. One uncle was a missionary in Africa and a priest who aided Louis XVI before his execution.
The hat business thrived. By 1811, Moricet became the hat maker for the Imperial Guard. He expanded his business to include trimmings and braids becoming a supplier to the Guard.
After the Restauration in 1815, he became the hat and trimming maker for the Duke de Berry. His shop moved to 12 Rue de Richelieu. Around 1819, the name Moricet vanished from Parisian business listings. Did he retire at 45? Or did he dive into finance?
He invested wisely in real estate. By 1812, he owned a building at 7 Rue du Grand-Chantier. In 1814, he acquired another on Rue des Fosses-Montmartre. This was his home until 1838.
In 1823, Moricet bought property in Versailles. It’s believed he desired a country home. He purchased a property on 32 Boulevard de la Reine. It sat where numbers 88 and 90 stand today.
The house had a main floor. It also had two stories and a mansard roof facing the boulevard. A small paved courtyard sat nearby. A garden stretched behind it.
By 1826, renovations happened. A porter’s lodge was added. The property became known as a “beautiful house and property.”
The family needed more space. In 1826, they bought a walled garden with a small building. In 1828, they purchased another garden. It included a greenhouse and fruit trees.
Through these purchases, Moricet created a large property. It stretched nearly 100 meters. By 1841, the main house included a billiard room and a master bedroom. Despite its size, it was only a “pied a terre”.
Moricet sold the property in 1848. He was already living in his grand home at the Montreuil crossroads. The census called it the “Chateau de Monbauron.”
Before selling, Moricet hired Jacques-Antoine Vallin to paint his portrait. He appeared with his younger daughter in a garden setting. A second portrait showed Madame Moricet with their elder daughter, Marie-Adele.
Marie-Adele married Jules Sageret in 1826. Her dowry showed Moricet’s wealth. Sadly, she died shortly after giving birth to a daughter.
Jules then married Marie-Florence. They moved into a building owned by his mother. They also stayed in Versailles.
In 1846, Moricet bought a large country house. It was known as the Lanchere property at 2 Carrefour Montreuil. He then bought more land next to it in 1847.
Moricet transformed the Hotel d’Estrades. He added two turrets. He built a covered gallery and a grand staircase. He replaced the wall with a gate offering passersby a view. Some criticized these changes.
At the same time, both his daughter Irma and his granddaughter Blanche would marry into the Passy family. After his death, his wife passed away in 1858 and Villa Moricet passed to Irma.
And though the Moricet family eventually sold it, the name Villa Moricet remained. It is a testament to Pierre-Joseph Moricet’s ambition. It reflects his success and his impact on Versailles.