Palaces with a Place in History

Once UpOn a Time in paris…
Hotel de crillon
Commissioned by Louis XV, Hotel de Crillon was built in 1758
by noted architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel for Louis Francois
Trouard. For a time, he rented it to the Duke d’Aumont,
before it passed to the Crillon family, who retained ownership
until 1907. In 1909 it began its illustrious era as a hotel. From
its beginnings, the Crillon has played a part in French history:
Marie Antoinette took piano lessons in one of the large, firstfloor
suites, now named the Marie Antoinette Suite; all of the
meetings leading up to the formation of the League of Nations
in 1919 took place at the hotel; it served as Allied headquarters
in World War I, and as the residence for the commanders of
the French and British forces in World War II. After the
Liberation in 1944, it became the base for American military
commanders and diplomats on missions to Paris. Hints of its
aristocratic past can still be seen in the Wedgewood porcelain
medallions in the ceiling of the Salon des Aigles; and in Les
Ambassadeurs restaurant – once the ballroom of the home –
with its crystal chandeliers and marble floor.
On a Hillside in THe sOUTH Of france…
chateau Hotel de la messardière
Built in the 19th century, the Château was given to Henri
Brisson de la Messardière, an outstanding cavalry officer, and
Louise Dupuy d'Anjac, and young artist and musician, for their
wedding. Following Henri's untimely death, Louise was faced
with poverty, but the determined young widow decided to take
the Château's fate into her own hands by using it as lodgings for
prestigious guests. Later, during the roaring twenties, the
lounges of La Messardière were the stage for extravagant receptions
and parties. Sadly, Louise's poor management skills slowly
but surely led the Château into decline. After passing through
the hands of a series of owners, the Château was once again
faced with ruin. Standing alone on the hillside, exposed to the
four winds (and pillagers), it was widely believed to be haunted.
Finally, in 1989, the Château was restored and extended under
the supervision of the chief architect of historical monuments,
J.C. Rochette, and opened in 1990 as a hotel. Yet the memory
of the ancient Messardière family is still honored, with works of
art by the last descendant, Victoire de la Messardière, adorning
the Château walls.
nesTled in a Valley
schlosshotel Hugenpoet
Schlosshotel Hugenpoet is a moated castle situated in
Germany’s Ruhr Valley. The first owners were the Barons of
Nesselrode, called Hugenpoet. They, like many other knights
of their times, were frequently embroiled in feuds and ambushed
the heavily armed wagons loaded with merchandise
which passed by. Hugenpoet was not spared either during the
troubled times in the Middle Ages. In 1478 the castle was taken
by storm and burnt down; only parts of it remained standing
until 1756. Interior features of note include the magnificent
staircase, carved from the finest black marble, as well as three
fireplaces, installed in the early 19th century. Made of Bamberg
sandstone, they were created between 1577 and 1578, and are
deemed to be among the most splendid works of the Late
Renaissance based on paintings of Rafael. After World War II,
the ground floor of the castle was leased by the Folkwang
Museum whose building had been destroyed by bombs. Part of
the museum’s renowned collection was displayed there until
the museum returned to Essen in 1954. That same year,
Düsseldorf hotelier, Kurt Neumann was persuaded to join the
project of turning the castle into a hotel, and it opened for
Easter in 1955. Over the years, meetings and conferences of
political importance have taken place at Hugenpoet; the most
important one being the G7 Summit in 1994.
an emerald isle Gem
olISSIppo lapa palace
ashford castle
Dating back to the 13th century, Ashford Castle was originally