Matignon Palace (the official residence of the prime minister of France)
In 1722, construction of a mansion began in the Paris suburb of Saint-Germain for Luxembourg Marshal's fourth son, Christian-Louis de Montmorency, Duke of Luxembourg, Prince of Tigny and Marshal of France since 1734, who distinguished himself in all wars conducted by King Louis XIV.
But the expense of the enterprise forced the Prince of Tigny to sell the unfinished building to the governor of Normandy, Count de Torigny Goyon de Matignon, whose name has been invariably associated with the mansion ever since. The construction was finished by his son Jacques Francois, the husband of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco's elder daughter. After Jacques Francois' death in 1751 the mansion was passed on to his son Honore Camille, who after his mother's death became Sovereign Prince of Monaco. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the mansion was sequestered by the state and later returned to the Prince of Monaco's children, who sold it in 1804.
The new owner sold the mansion to Foreign Minister Talleyrand in 1808. Acting on Emperor Napoleon I's instructions, Talleyrand gave magnificent receptions there four times a week. In 1811, Talleyrand sold it to the state.
After the Bourbon Dynasty was brought back to the throne in 1814, King Louis XVIII exchanged the Matignon mansion for the Elysee Palace whose owner at the time was Duchess de Bourbon.
In 1822, ownership of the mansion passed to Duchess de Bourbon's niece, Princess Adelaide d'Orleans, sister of Duke Louis-Philippe, France's future king (1830-1848).
In 1844, the mansion was inherited by Adelaide d'Orleans' nephew, Duke de Montpensier, who sold it in 1852 to the Geneva banker Duke de Galliera. The latter's widow, Duchess de Galliera, bequeathed the mansion to Austrian Emperor Francois-Joseph. From 1888 to 1914, the mansion housed the Austrian embassy.
At the outbreak of the World War I the mansion was sequestered by French authorities. In 1920, the Court of Arbitration set up in compliance with the Treaty of Versailles moved into the mansion.
Since 1935, the mansion has been the residence of the French prime minister.
