Hôtel des Menus Plaisirs, Royal administration building in Versailles, France
The Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs is an administrative building in Versailles with large storage rooms and office spaces designed to organize royal celebrations and ceremonies between 1741 and 1748. It contains specialized spaces constructed to store theatrical props and sets for court performances.
Built in the 1740s to support royal entertainment administration, the structure later served a different purpose for the nation. In 1789, members of the National Assembly gathered here to vote on abolishing privileges and declare the Rights of Man and Citizen.
The building now hosts the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, connecting its past to French Baroque music through concerts and music education. This maintains the space's ongoing link to the royal court's artistic traditions.
The building stands on Avenue de Paris in Versailles and can be viewed from the exterior, though access to certain areas may be limited. Visitors should check current opening times, as use by musical events varies.
The building was specially designed to store vast quantities of theatrical equipment needed for lavish court entertainments. This collection of props and sets reveals the remarkable scale of production for performances at the court of King Louis XV.
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