Overlooking the green waters of the Seine, the quai de Béthune is yet another peaceful corner of the city. It was built between 1614 and 1646, during development of the island.
In the course of time the quay has changed name several times – du Dauphin, des Balcons (because of the proposal of the architect Louis Le Vau, one of the creators of French classicism, to impose balconies on all houses that faced the river), de la Liberté… Finally in 1806 it was given its present name after minister of Henri IV, Duke of Sully, Maximilien de Béthune (1560-1641).
Hôtels particuliers (common French term that can be translated as “private houses of grand sort”) built along the quai mainly date to the mid-17th century. Here at different times lived Louis-François-Armand de Vignerot de Richelieu, grand-nephew of Cardinal Richelieu, Charles Baudelaire, Marie Curie, Georges Pompidou, president of the Republique in 1969-74, and Louis de Funes.
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| Quai de Béthune on Saint-Louis island |
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