Stamp - 99th FFAP Congress - Hôtel de Soubise

In the heart of the Marais district, the Hôtel de Soubise displays the refined elegance of a great Parisian aristocratic residence, witness to several centuries of political and artistic history. Built from 1705 on the site of the Hôtel de Clisson, whose powerful fortified portal still stands, it became the prestigious residence of the Princes de Rohan-Soubise, one of the most influential families in the kingdom. Designed by architect Pierre-Alexis Delamair, the mansion adopts a classical U-shaped plan around a main courtyard, separated from the rue des Francs-Bourgeois by a sober stone façade. To the rear, gardens provide a welcome breathing space in the heart of the city. The sober main building features the same columns as those of the peristyle in the courtyard of honor. Elegant allegorical sculptures adorn the front and cornice. While the exterior is restrained, the interiors reveal exceptional splendor, which reached its peak in the 1730's. Decorated by Germain Boffrand, the famous oval salons of the Prince and Princess embody one of the masterpieces of the Rocaille style. Stucco, carved woodwork, mirrors and paintings by Boucher, Natoire and Van Loo make up an exquisitely light décor, breaking with the classical order of the façade to create an intimate, fluid aesthetic. This palace, one of the finest architectural ensembles in Paris, was the home of Marshal de Soubise, Louis XV's "friend at heart". During the French Revolution, the hotel was confiscated and assigned to the Archives nationales, which it still houses today. Now open to the public, the Hôtel de Soubise combines heritage, history and artistic creation. It offers visitors a unique journey to the heart of the aristocratic art of living and the nation's memory. Vincent Noyoux

Création et gravure Elsa Catelin Timbre : d'ap. photo © MATTES René / hemis.fr Contour : d'ap. photo © Collection Artedia/Artedia / Bridgeman Images Vignette : © Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP)