Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Glamour at the Elysée Palace

The Elysée Palace was built in Paris in 1720 to present an image of opulence and power. The palace was designed by the architect Armand Mollet, who had designed houses that were both functional and graceful. He was the first to arrange dining rooms to be near kitchens, and bathrooms to be near bedrooms.

The grand palace, with its extensive gardens, was used by Louis XV as a guest residence for his foreign visitors. Madame de Pompadour (Louis XV’s mistress), Napoleon, Queen Victoria, and Duke of Wellington all at one point stayed at the palace. The Elysée went through many transformations over the centuries, and it has served as the official residence for the president of France since 1849. It is now the current official residence of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni Sarkozy.

In the early eighties Philippe Starck worked as an interior designer and refurbished the private apartments in the Elysée Palace for President Mitterrand of France.

I have attached a link that will take you on a tour of the panoramic views of the Palace’s interiors and the exteriors. Be sure to keep moving your mouse so you will get the whole picture. Enjoy.

http://www.elysee.fr/panoramic/index.php


Carla Bruni Sarkozy brought her own glamour to the palace
Link via Elysée 's site
Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair, Photography Annie Leibovitz

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