The Élysée Palace is the presidential house in France, the equivalent of the American White House. Synonym of power, the Palace has been the home of kings and presidents of France one after the other. From its construction to present day, the Elysée has been the witness of dramas, romantic affairs, political betrayals, and comical anecdotes. History has been made between its walls. The Elysée Palace has seen everything, from state visits by foreign leaders to salacious scandals: this is why it is so fascinating. It is also a window into French culture.¹

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Elysée Palace began as the Faubourg Saint-Honoré on a grassy hill in the country surrounded by a few farms. As Paris grew, it became located between the street Faubourg Saint-Honoré and the Big Courts along the Champs-Elysées Avenue.²

The architect Armand-Claude Mollet possessed land that he sold in 1718 to Henri-Louis de la Tour of Auvergne, count of Evreux.³ The contract stated that Armand-Claude Mollet would be in charge of building a hotel there; it was intended to be the residence of the count of Evreux. The Hotel was built and decorated between 1718 and 1722. The gardens of the Elysée is a shaded and flowery two hectares of countryside. When the count of Evreux built the courtyard in 1718, he installed formal French gardens characterized by symmetries and perspectives. The gardens were meant to demonstrate the power and fortune of its owner.⁴ At his death in 1753, the count of Evreux left the most famous hotel of its time. It was admired by all, including Blondel, considered the best French architect of the eighteenth century, who described it as, “the most beautiful country cottage of the Paris’ neighborhood.”⁵ 

The decoration of the Palace started with the women, mistresses, and wives of kings and presidents, who contributed to the embellishment of the property. Before the Elysée was home to presidents of the Republic, it belonged to France’s kings, starting with King Louis XV, who gave the Hotel of Evreux—ancient name of the Élysée Palace—to his mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour, Jeanne Antoinette.⁶ The Marquise was very interested in the gardens of the property, because she had a little girl and she made a playground out of them that was something of an ancestor to Disneyland. Because of her young spirit, it was a playground for the Marquise as well. As the fashion was to play at being a shepherd, the Marquise had a herd of sheep. One day she tried to let them in her apartment, where the walls were covered with mirrors. The poor animals, terrified, found themselves lost, and destroyed the place, causing a scandal.⁷

The sculpture in one of the gardens made by François-Xavier Lalanne reminds us of the affection that the Marquise had for the small animal. She also gave luxurious dances in her gardens. The parties reflected the image of the owner of the place: extravagant, luxurious, and sophisticated. ⁸

The Elysée Palace will be long remembered as a place of reception, culture, and pleasure for Parisians and for the many visitors who come each year to see it.