Ceremonial Lounge
The swearing-in ceremony for each new President takes place in this
decorations by the Head of State.
This is where the great State hall, as do presentations of banquets are held in honour of visiting Heads of State.
The hall is also used for various other ceremonies, including the traditional Christmas party for staff.
Built under the Presidency of Sadi Carnot on the occasion of the Universal Exposition, to plans by Eugène Debressenne, the hall was
inaugurated on May 10, 1889. Its decoration, by the architect Adrien Chancel, was still unfinished at the time, not being completed until just before 1900.
President Mitterrand had the Salle des Fêtes
modernized in 1984, opening up ten French windows in the east and south walls to let in the daylight and restore the original rhythm of the Palace's façade.
Various smaller side-rooms were
installed on either side of the stage and below the floor.
Virtual visit
Visit the room (240 Kbytes -
requires QuickTime VR plug-in)
or the java version
without a plug-in.
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