Palais de la Légion d'Honneur

Hotel particulier on the Left Bank between Quai Anatole-France and Rue de Lille, built in 1787 by Pierre Rousseau for the German-French prince Frederick III of Salm-Kyrburg in austere neoclassical style. The prince died under the guillotine in 1794; the spectacular building with its rotunda and arcaded courtyard so impressed Thomas Jefferson, who visited several times from his Paris posting, that he borrowed details for Monticello. Napoleon bought the house in 1804 for his newly founded Legion of Honour; during the Paris Commune in 1871 the building burned out completely and was rebuilt to the original plans. It now houses the Musee de la Legion d'honneur with a collection of orders from 100 countries. Entry is free.