Centre des monuments nationaux

Come and visit the Hôtel de Béthune-Sully in the heart of the Marais, one of the finest Louis XIII buildings in Paris and the residence of the family of Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, Henri IV's famous minister.

Visiting the Hôtel de Béthune-Sully in Paris

• A classical layout. The main building is centrally positioned between the courtyard and garden, a typical characteristic of early 17th-century French-style mansions. The door in the pavilion to the right of the orangery leads to the famous Place des Vosges.

• Original decor. The richly sculpted facades contrast with the sobriety that characterised the preceding period. The interior apartments may be visited on European Heritage Days. Some of the rooms, such as the Duchess's Italianate bedchamber, still have their original decor, whilst others were restyled by the contemporary artist Daniel Dezeuze.

Understanding the Hôtel de Béthune-Sully in Paris

• Sully's residence. Building started on the mansion in 1625. It is near the Place Royale (now the Place des Vosges), a development launched by Henri IV and overseen by Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully (1559-1641), who bought the residence in 1634. It stayed in his family until the middle of the 18th century. Madame de Sévigné and Voltaire both stayed here.

• A public building. It was bought by the State and its restoration, which started in the 1950s, launched the redevelopment of the entire district. Since 1967 the building has been the headquarters of the Centre des monuments nationaux. Since 2004 the State's contemporary photo collection has been on display in the Jeu de Paume Museum.