The Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, built between 1741 and 1748, initially housed the administration of the Menus-Plaisirs du roi in charge of organizing the cultural pleasures of the king and the court. It housed the props and decors used for theatre and opera performances given at the court of Versailles. On May 5, 1789, the buildings were chosen to host the opening ceremony of the Estates General, which later became the «National Assembly»: the French Revolution was underway. Two major votes changed the course of history and made this place the cradle of French citizenship: the abolition of privileges (4 August 1789) and the Declaration of Human and Citizen Rights (26 August 1789).
Since 1996, the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs has renewed its original vocation and is home to the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles (CMBV), whose mission is to promote French baroque music throughout the world.