Hôtel de la Marine
Visit the historic Hôtel de la Marine, once the home of Paris’ high-ranking officials. Marvel at the opulent lives of French royalty in the private rooms adorned with rare and valuable artifacts.
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About Hôtel de la Marine
The defining feature here is the visit format: a geolocated “confidant” audio route with 3D sound that turns restored rooms into a narrative walk through the lives of residents and staff. Instead of a vast museum circuit, Hôtel de la Marine offers a focused sequence of salons, private apartments, inner courtyards, and optional exhibitions inside an 18th-century Place de la Concorde monument.
Did you know?
Hôtel de la Marine was built to house the royal Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, the body responsible for furnishing royal residences, before becoming the French Navy Ministry for over two centuries.
The monument reopened to the public in 2021 after a major restoration based on research into historic paint layers, fabrics, and room layouts.
Its “confidant” headset uses geolocation to launch audio automatically as you move, so visitors do not have to key in stop numbers from room to room.
Some salons span styles from Louis XV to the Second Empire, letting you trace changes in French interior taste within a single visit.
Certain rooms add discreet soundscapes, such as distant conversations or clinking dishes, to reinforce the sense that the apartments are still in use.
Why visit Hôtel de la Marine?
Plan your visit
Main Entrance – Cour d’Honneur / Place de la Concorde side
This is the main public entrance for Hôtel de la Marine, located in the central section of the north façade of Place de la Concorde and leading into the Cour d’Honneur. All regular visitors use this entrance, including timed-ticket holders and same-day buyers. Digital or printed tickets are scanned at the entry checkpoint, followed by mandatory bag checks and security screening. After security, visitors proceed to visitor services for cloakroom access and audio-device pickup before starting the route. Short queues can form here at busier times, though exact wait times are not verified. Step-free access is mentioned in general for CMN sites, but the exact ramp and elevator setup at this entrance is not clearly published, so visitors with mobility needs should confirm details in advance.
- Exact daily opening hours vary by season and special events, so check the current official timetable before your visit.
- Last entry times for the apartments and exhibitions are not fixed in the research and should be confirmed for your date.
- Evening or late-opening visits are offered only on certain scheduled dates.
- Some holiday or weekday closures may apply, but the exact closure calendar is not verified here.
Cloak room
A cloakroom and bag-check facility is available for visitors, including storage for larger items before touring the apartments. Very large luggage may not be accepted, so avoid arriving with oversized suitcases.
Audioguides
The standard visit includes the immersive “confidant” audio tour, with headsets distributed after security before the route begins. Audio is offered in several major languages; check current availability when booking.
Souvenir shop
A bookshop and gift shop is located near the exit in the visitor services area. It sells books and design objects linked to French decorative arts and the monument’s history.
Dining outlets
Hôtel de la Marine has a café and one or more restaurants within the building. These dining spaces are at ground level, facing the courtyards or Place de la Concorde, and are the designated areas for eating and drinking.
Toilets
Restrooms are available near the main visitor areas.
Outside food and drinks
Eating and drinking are restricted to the on-site café and restaurant areas. Food and beverages are not allowed inside the historic apartments or exhibition galleries.
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