Guided tours, exhibition of instruments, sets and costumes, the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles opens the doors of the Hotel des Menus-Plaisirs on September 16 and 17, 2023!
The Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, built between 1741 and 1748, initially housed the King’s Menus-Plaisirs administration in charge of organizing the cultural pleasures of the king and the court. It housed the props and sets 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 États-Généraux, 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 the Rights of Man and Citizen (26 August 1789).
Since 1996, the Hotel des Menus-Plaisirs has returned to its original vocation and is home to the Versailles Baroque Music Centre (CMBV) whose mission is to make French baroque music shine in the world.
This tour, led by the staff of the CMBV, invites you to discover this historic site emblematic of French history, and to understand its function and its place on the political, social, and artistic levels from the 18th century to the present day!