Pavillon Henri IV

Pavillon Henri IV is a four-star hotel and gastronomic restaurant located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the Yvelines department of France, about 20 minutes from Paris. It occupies a historic building that includes the pavilion of the king's oratory, one of the surviving remnants of the former Château Neuf de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a royal residence under Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV. King Louis XIV was born there on 5 September 1638. The site is partially classified as a monument historique by decrees of 12 May 1925 and 13 October 1988. The property was given in 1777 by Louis XVI to his brother, the Comte d'Artois, later Charles X, who began demolishing the dilapidated structure to rebuild it, but the French Revolution ended the project. In 1825 an entrepreneur named Barthélémy Planté bought the remains, restored and enlarged them, then sold the property to the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest. It was subsequently leased to the chef Jean-Louis-François Collinet, who turned it into a restaurant, and from 1865 to Barbotte Père et fils. The restaurant gained fame through Collinet, credited with creating pommes soufflées and sauce béarnaise. Pommes soufflées are said to have been invented accidentally on 24 August 1837, the first day of train service between Gare Saint-Lazare and the Pecq landing stage, when a delayed train forced the chef to re-fry his potatoes for a reception for Queen Marie-Amélie. Over the decades the Pavillon Henri IV hosted notable figures. In the 1840s Alexandre Dumas stayed at the hotel and wrote some of his best-known works there, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Jacques Offenbach spent time there in 1877, 1879 and 1880, composing parts of his late works Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Belle Lurette. Adolphe Thiers, first president of the Third Republic, died there on 3 September 1877. P.G. Wodehouse was a resident in March 1947. From 1 to 16 November 1955, on his return from exile in Madagascar, Moroccan monarch Mohammed V occupied the entire hotel with his family and entourage; a commemorative plaque was inaugurated on 24 July 1982 as part of the twinning between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Témara. During the Second World War, the town was occupied from 14 June 1940 to 26 August 1944, and the Oberbefehlshaber West, the German army high command for the occupied zone, was installed in the Pavillon Henri-IV until it was hit by a Royal Air Force bomb on 3 March 1942 and transferred to Villa David. Today the Pavillon Henri IV operates as a four-star hotel with a panoramic restaurant and terrace, seminar and reception rooms, a wellness area, private parking and a panoramic terrace overlooking the Seine valley and Paris. Accommodation ranges from Classic rooms of 13 to 19 m² to Junior Suites of 38 to 42 m², some with views of the Seine. The hotel offers a continental breakfast served in the panoramic dining room or a private salon, and hosts weddings, receptions and events.

The building that houses the Pavillon Henri IV includes the pavilion of the king's oratory, one of the surviving remnants of the former Château Neuf de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. That castle served as a royal residence under Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV until 1660, when the royal family moved back to the Château-Vieux before leaving for Versailles in 1682. King Louis XIV was born there on 5 September 1638. In 1777, Louis XVI gave the property to his brother, the Comte d'Artois, the future Charles X. The castle was uninhabitable, and in 1779 demolition began with the aim of rebuilding on stronger foundations, but the French Revolution ended the project prematurely. What remained was sold as national property. In 1825, an entrepreneur named Barthélémy Planté bought the site, restored and enlarged it, and then transferred it to the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest. The building was first leased to Jean-Louis-François Collinet, a chef who transformed it into a restaurant, and from 1865 it was leased to Barbotte Père et fils. The restaurant quickly gained fame thanks to Collinet, to whom the creation of pommes soufflées and sauce béarnaise is attributed. Pommes soufflées were reportedly invented by accident on 24 August 1837, the first day of train service between Gare Saint-Lazare and the Pecq landing stage, when a reception was held for Queen Marie-Amélie; the train's delay forced the chef to re-fry his potatoes, producing the puffed potatoes. During the Second World War, Saint-Germain-en-Laye was occupied from 14 June 1940 to 26 August 1944. The Oberbefehlshaber West, the German army high command for the occupied zone, was installed in the Pavillon Henri-IV until it was hit by a Royal Air Force bomb on 3 March 1942, after which it was transferred to Villa David. The Pavillon Henri IV hosted many illustrious guests. In the 1840s, Alexandre Dumas resided at the hotel and wrote some of his most famous works there, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Jacques Offenbach spent the end of May 1877, spring 1879 and summer 1880 at the Pavillon Henri IV, composing pages of his last works, Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Belle Lurette. Adolphe Thiers, first president of the Third Republic, who came there to rest, died there on 3 September 1877. P.G. Wodehouse, an English author, was a resident in March 1947. From 1 to 16 November 1955, on his way back from exile in Madagascar, the Moroccan monarch Mohammed V occupied the entire hotel with his family and suite. A commemorative plaque of his stay was inaugurated on 24 July 1982, as part of the twinning between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Témara. The building is partially classified as a monument historique by decrees of 12 May 1925 and 13 October 1988. Today it operates as a four-star hotel with a restaurant, seminar and reception rooms, a wellness area, private parking and a panoramic terrace overlooking the Seine valley and Paris.

• 1988

  The building is partially classified as a monument historique by decree of 13 October.

• 1982

  A commemorative plaque of Mohammed V's stay is inaugurated on 24 July as part of the twinning between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Témara.

• 1955

  From 1 to 16 November, Moroccan monarch Mohammed V occupies the entire hotel with his family and suite.

• 1947

  P.G. Wodehouse is a resident in March.

• 1942

  The Oberbefehlshaber West headquarters is hit by a Royal Air Force bomb on 3 March and transferred to Villa David.

• 1925

  The building is partially classified as a monument historique by decree of 12 May.

• 1877

  Adolphe Thiers dies at the Pavillon Henri IV on 3 September; Jacques Offenbach stays there.

• 1865

  The restaurant is leased to Barbotte Père et fils.

• 1840

  Alexandre Dumas resides at the hotel and writes The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

• 1837

  Pommes soufflées are reportedly invented by accident on 24 August, the first day of train service between Gare Saint-Lazare and the Pecq landing stage.

• 1825

  Barthélémy Planté buys the remains, restores and enlarges them, then sells to the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest.

• 1779

  Demolition begins to rebuild on stronger foundations, but the French Revolution ends the project.

• 1777

  Louis XVI gives the property to his brother, the Comte d'Artois, future Charles X.

• 1638

  Louis XIV is born at the Château Neuf de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 5 September.

Four-star historic hotel and gastronomic restaurant with panoramic views over the Seine valley and Paris, positioned as a prestigious venue for leisure, business and events near Paris.

• Classic rooms

  13–19 m², double bed 140 x 200, shower or bathtub.

• Privilège rooms

  21–31 m², double bed 160 x 200 or 180 x 200, shower or bathtub.

• Privilège Seine-view rooms

  21–31 m², double bed 160 x 200 or 180 x 200, shower or bathtub, with Seine view.

• Junior Suites

  38–42 m², double or twin king-size bed, shower or bathtub.

• Panoramic restaurant and terrace

  Gastronomic dining with panoramic views over the Seine valley and Paris.

• Seminar and reception rooms

  Spaces for seminars, weddings and receptions.

• Wellness area

  On-site wellness facilities.

• Continental breakfast

  Served in the panoramic dining room or a private salon; includes hot drinks, fresh fruit juices, pastries, breads, butter, assorted jams, honey and yoghurts.

1. 1Pavillon Henri IV | Accueil | Hôtel 4 étoiles Yvelinespavillonhenri4.fr
2. 2Pavillon Henri IVwikidata.org
3. 3Pavillon Henri-IVfr.wikipedia.org