The Palais de l'Alma is a National Palace of the French Republic, located at quai Branly in the 7th arrondissement.
It is close to the Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, and almost in front of the Pont de l'Alma. The name of the palace comes from the Battle of the Alma
North facade of the Alma palace, view from quai Branly
Triangular pediment of the palais de l'Alma
It was built between 1861 and 1864 by the architect Jacques-Martin Tétaz in order to make new stables for the House of the Emperor, Napoleon III, who demanded to have horses available at all times, and to house the 130 people responsible for them.
In 1881, it became a dependency of the Presidency of the Republic for its stables.
As early as 1888, it housed the meteorological office and the statistical service.
From 1947, only the meteorological office remained there.
The northern part of the west wing housed the Supreme Judicial Council between 1952 and 2011.
The palace is composed of several buildings surrounding a large central courtyard garden, an annexed courtyard and a garden on the south side of the palace.
Aerial view of the Palais de l'Alma
Today most of the premises are assigned to different departments of the Presidency of the Republic, including the correspondence department, which employs more than a hundred people. The palace also houses the Presidential Gift Gallery, which successive Presidents of the Republic have received during their travels.
The palace has about seventy official apartments, some of which are used by the President's close collaborators. François Mitterrand had housed Anne Pingeot and their daughter Mazarine there during his presidency, a period when their existence was hidden from the general public.
The building has been classified as a historical monument since a decree of October 30, 2002.
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