The Hotel at the heart of the Paris Universal Exhibitions
The Hôtel de l’Exposition, a 3-star hotel in Paris, is located in the heart of the 15th arrondissement, where workers who participated in the construction of the nearby Eiffel Tower were once housed.
From the moment you step into the lobby, you’ll be charmed by the antique painted canvases adorning the walls. Created in the 1950s, they have undergone meticulous restoration.
Large numbers behind the Pavillon (the hotel bar) recall the dates of the various exhibitions that have marked the history of the capital. Among these, the Universal Exhibition of 1889 saw the birth of the Eiffel Tower, today the symbol of Paris; that of 1900 allowed the inauguration of the first line of the metro; the Decorative Arts Exhibition of 1925 presented the work of artists as innovative as Le Corbusier and Picasso, that of 1937, the Arts and Techniques…
The hotel’s theme is continued a little further on, in a lovely display case featuring photographs, books, and period objects. Citroën car enthusiasts will appreciate being able to sleep right next to the former design offices of the chevron-emblazoned brand, which gave birth to the famous Traction, 2CV, and DS.
In this cozy and elegant atmosphere, visitors can take advantage of all the amenities. They will happily gather in one of the lounge areas or order a drink at the bar (reserved for them 24 hours a day), perhaps enjoying the fine collection of whiskies offered by Le Pavillon.
The hotel does not have a restaurant, but the breakfast buffet is served (from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. on weekdays, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. on weekends) in a beautiful vaulted room with stone walls; one wall, designed as a trompe-l’oeil, echoes the theme of the Eiffel Tower.
The district - the Eiffel Tower - The Left Bank of Paris
Over the past half-century, the neighborhood around the Hôtel de l’Exposition Tour Eiffel has changed: working-class streets have given way to residential complexes and office towers. A multitude of businesses of all kinds create a typically Parisian buzz in this part of the 15th arrondissement of Paris. In the evening, the daytime hustle and bustle fades, and the streets return to their former calm. Thanks to the ease of public transportation, hotel guests can easily plan their visits.
There’s no shortage of attractions, starting with its immediate proximity. Where honor is due: the Eiffel Tower, the grande dame of Paris, is within walking distance of the Hôtel de l’Exposition. This metal tower, built by engineer Gustave Eiffel, needs no introduction and was originally intended as a temporary building. Walkers can relax on the immense Champ de Mars, admiring the view of the Invalides dome or the Trocadéro.
Art lovers can head a few hundred meters further to the Musée du Quai Branly, the newest of Paris’s great museums: inaugurated in 2006, it is entirely devoted to non-Western works of art. From there, simply cross the bridge to the other bank of the Seine where, beyond the Trocadéro gardens and the Palais de Chaillot, are the Musée de l’Homme, the Musée Guimet, and the Musée d’Art Moderne.
Sports fans will be in their element: line 10 (Charles-Michel station) takes them to the Parc des Princes or Roland-Garros stadium in a flash (15 minutes).
Another metro station, Dupleix, is very close to the hotel and provides access to the Champs-Élysées or Montparnasse train station in just a few minutes.
The RER provides easy access to Versailles and its Palace, as well as easy access to the Musée d’Orsay.
Finally, for those visiting Paris for a trade fair, a bus line serves the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles.
History – The Universal Exhibitions in Paris – Birth of the Citroën DS
Located on a quiet street in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, the building now occupied by the Hôtel de l’Exposition was built in the 1870s and initially housed a boarding house, as many existed at the time, before becoming a furnished hotel in the late 19th century.
During the construction of the nearby Eiffel Tower, the street was transformed to provide housing for the Tower’s workers, and the architect Gustave Eiffel stayed in this furnished accommodation several times between February 1887 and March 1889.
It should be remembered that the city of Paris hosted several World’s Fairs between 1855 and 1910, and again in 1937, as well as two other exhibitions (in 1925 and 1931), which, while not qualifying as “universal,” also had a profound impact on the history of the capital. Although short-lived, all these exhibitions left a lasting mark on the Parisian landscape, bequeathing to the city some of its major monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, now a symbol of Paris, as well as the Grand and Petit Palais, the Palais de Chaillot, and the Pont Alexandre III.
Flooded during the Seine flood in 1910, the furnished apartment became a 30-room hotel after World War II.
During this period and until the 1980s, the building adjoining the hotel housed the famous Citroën design offices, which saw the birth of historic models such as the Traction, the 2CV, and the DS.
Soundproofing, double glazing
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV (cable and satellite)
Direct telephone line
Wi-fi
Safe