Pavillon du Butard, Neoclassical hunting lodge in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France.
The Pavillon du Butard is a neoclassical hunting lodge in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, distinguished by its symmetrical facades and balanced proportions. The stone structure sits within the wooded setting of the Fausses-Reposes forest.
The pavilion was built between 1750 and 1754 by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel as a royal hunting lodge commissioned by King Louis XV. Following the French Revolution, the property passed to state ownership in 1794.
The building's name reflects the hunting tradition that shaped life in this forested area for centuries. Visitors can still sense this connection through the pavilion's location and design within the woodland landscape.
The building has been closed to regular visitors since 2015, though preservation groups continue efforts to organize cultural activities at the site. Access is currently limited, but ongoing restoration work keeps the place relevant for those interested in its heritage.
Empress Josephine de Beauharnais acquired the property in 1802 to expand her nearby Malmaison estate, but returned it to the state in 1809. This brief episode links the building to one of France's most compelling historical chapters.
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