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| Hôtel de Pontalba | |
|---|---|
 PresidentDonald Trump addressing a crowd in the gardens of the Hôtel de Pontalba, 2017 | |
 Interactive map of the Hôtel de Pontalba area | |
| General information | |
| Type | Official residence |
| Architectural style | Hôtel particulier (mansion) |
| Location | 41Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France |
| Current tenants | United States Ambassador to France (since 1971) |
| Completed | 1855 |
| Client | Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba |
| Owner | United States government (since 1948) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Louis Visconti |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | Félix Langlais |
TheHôtel de Pontalba (French pronunciation:[otɛldəpɔ̃talba]) is anhôtel particulier, a type of largetownhouse in France, at 41Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the8th arrondissement of Paris. It has been theofficial residence of theUnited States ambassador to France since 1971.[1]
In 1710,Henri François d'Aguesseau,Chancellor of France, acquired a tract of land which included the present site of the Hôtel de Pontalba. Ten years later, he built a house, and the house subsequently passed through a series of owners.New Orleans-bornBaroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba purchased the property in 1836, and by 1842, she had demolished the d'Aguesseau house and commissioned the architectLouis Visconti to design a newer house for the site.[1]
Construction of the mansion was finished in 1855. Baroness de Pontalba occupied the mansion until her death in 1874, upon which it was willed to her heirs who sold the property to BaronEdmond James de Rothschild in 1876. Baron de Rothschild hired Felix Langlais to substantially renovate, enlarge, and embellish the residence, leaving only the original gatehouse and portals intact, but following much of the H-shaped ground floor plan.[1]
During theGerman occupation of France, the mansion, then owned by BaronMaurice de Rothschild, was requisitioned as an officers' club for theLuftwaffe. After the war, it was rented out to theBritish Royal Air Force Club, and then to the U.S. In 1948, the American government purchased the building, primarily for theUnited States Information Service. These offices were moved to theHôtel Talleyrand as restoration was completed in 1971 during the tenure of AmbassadorArthur K. Watson. The building then became the official residence of the ambassador.[1]
48°52′10″N2°19′06″E / 48.8694°N 2.3184°E /48.8694; 2.3184
