[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Grand Hôtel
Edifié en 1861 à l’instigation des frères Péreire pour l’Exposition Universelle de 1867, le Grand Hôtel offrait pour ses 800 chambres, le luxe, à l’époque inoui, de 70 salles de bains. Sa décoration intérieure fut confiée à des artistes, peintres et sculpteurs de grand renom. II comprenait une salle à manger et de vastes salons de réception. La cour d’honneur était couverte d’une magnifique verrière. On y trouvait aussi un bureau télégraphique et un bureau de tabac. II fut inauguré le 14 juillet 1862 par limpératrice Eugénie et le banquier Péreire. L’entrée est rue Scribe et les façades donnent aussi sur la rue Auber et le boulevard des. Capucines. Très vite sa réputation fut immense: "Le quartier général des Américains de passage est sur le boulevard des Capucines... On part de New-York pour le Grand-Hôtel" selon le Paris-Guide de 1867. Ce fut aussi le premier hôtel à offrir un plan-tarif permettant de retenir sa chambre avec le détail du service et le respect du budget. On y trouvait même un service si complet et si moderne, que l’on pouvait aisément prolonger sa villégiature au Grand Hôtel.

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign describes the Grand Hotel, a luxury hotel that opened in 1862 and is still used today as a hotel (Intercontinental)

The hotel was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

The hotel is designated as a historical heritage site of France.

Translation of the text on the sign:

[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Le Grand Hotel
Built in 1861 at the instigation of the Péreire brothers for the Universal Exhibition of 1867, the Grand Hôtel offered for its 800 rooms the luxury, at the time unheard of, of 70 bathrooms. Its interior decoration was entrusted to renowned artists, painters and sculptors. It included a dining room and large reception rooms. The main courtyard was covered with a magnificent glass roof. There was also a telegraph office and a tobacconist. It was inaugurated on July 14, 1862 by Empress Eugénie and banker Péreire. The entrance is rue Scribe and the facades also overlook rue Auber and boulevard des. Nasturtiums. Very quickly its reputation was immense: "The headquarters of passing Americans is on Boulevard des Capucines... We leave New York for the Grand-Hôtel" according to the Paris-Guide of 1867. It was also the first hotel to offer a rate plan allowing you to reserve your room with details of the service and respect for the budget. There was even such a complete and modern service that one could easily extend their stay at the Grand Hôtel.