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Odoramento tour at the Hôtel de la Marine

Formerly the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne in the 18th century, then the headquarters of the Ministry of the Navy from the Revolution onwards, this monument standing proudly on the Place de la Concorde is now home to a cultural venue combining historical heritage and museum innovation. Since its reopening, this great landmark of French history has been offering fun and immersive tools for visitors, such as an olfactory trail that takes them back to the Age of Enlightenment.

A heritage jewel

After being the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne and then the prestigious headquarters of the Ministry of the Navy, the place where the decree abolishing slavery and Marie-Antoinette's execution record were signed was opened to the public after 4 years of ambitious renovation by the Centre des monuments nationaux.

Since 2021, it has been a museum accessible to all types of public, thanks to innovative mediation systems. From its beautiful loggia facing the National Assembly, or from one of the 27 period rooms, you can imagine yourself in the footsteps of the intendants who lived here, through :

  • Dancing mirrors reflecting the great parties held in the monument in the 19th century, such as Napoleon's coronation ball.
     
  • An interactive map inviting visitors to follow the progress of voyages of exploration or naval battles also designed in situ.
  • A portrait gallery of historical figures seemingly straight out of the Harry Potter universe, as the characters represented (all involved in the creation or fitting-out of the Garde-Meuble) come to life and interact with one another.
     
  • A connected headset, the Confidant, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a grand residence in the Age of Enlightenment, through the eyes of the steward's valet.


Since March 2024, this journey through time has been enhanced by a new itinerary that invites visitors to discover the ambience of the place, not just in terms of sound or sight, but also in terms of smell : Odoramento.

A rich visitor experience

Marcel Proust would have us believe otherwise: eating a madeleine can take us back to a pleasant childhood memory, and discovering a monument spontaneously invites our eyes to imagine its history.
But what about the sense of smell, that other sense so often neglected in heritage discovery?

Perfumer Chantal Sanier has been commissioned by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux to design a customized Odoramento, a journey through the various olfactory atmospheres created by her cold wax sculptures. Inspired by period objects, these fragrant creations are displayed in several rooms in the apartments of the Intendant du Garde-Meuble :

  • The intendant's staircase, which, as when he was receiving guests, must evoke cleanliness and good housekeeping through sandalwood, white flowers, cloves and nutmeg.
  • Madame's bedroom is more dreamlike, with bergamot, rose, jasmine, neroli and ylang-ylang.
     
  • The study, with its studious atmosphere suggested by incense, patchouli, birch and gunpowder.


The bathing room (mint, eucalyptus and vanilla), the second antechamber and Monsieur de Fontanieu's bedroom (cedar, leather, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, rum and tobacco) are also brought back to life by this artist, who has already created another bespoke installation at the Grand Musée du Parfum and an olfactory scenography in the Jardins du Palais Royal.


So, are you ready to immerse yourself in the universe and history of this inspiring Hôtel de la Marine?
Enjoy your visit.

Valérie from Comme des Français

 

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Crédits photo : Centre des Monuments nationaux / Benjamin Gavaudo / Amroise Tézenas