Library - Former Hôtel de la Marine and Foreign Affairs Gallery

Destination

Bibliothèque – Ancien Hôtel de la Marine et Galerie des Affaires étrangères

5 rue de l'Indépendance Américaine

78000

Versailles

GPS coordinates

Latitude : 48.802062

Longitude : 2.120941

Contact

Library - Former Hôtel de la Marine and Foreign Affairs Gallery

5 rue de l'Indépendance Américaine

78000

Versailles

Phone : +33 1 39 07 13 20

"Library - Former Hôtel de la Marine and Foreign Affairs Gallery"

Presentation

Built between 1761 and 1762 to house the offices of Foreign Affairs and the Navy, this private mansion stands as a major witness to the history of French diplomacy.

It was right here in Versailles that the Treaties of Paris and Versailles were negotiated, bringing the American War of Independence to an end in 1783.

Architect Jean-Baptiste Berthier designed a brick building with flat vaults to reduce the risk of fire, while still ensuring grandeur: a sumptuous gallery was created to impress visiting diplomats and reflect the prestige of French diplomacy.

Today occupied by the municipal library, the building has retained all its period charm. Its magnificent ceremonial gallery, fully preserved, is revealed to the public only during guided tours.