Théâtre du Ranelagh

The Theatre du Ranelagh occupies a unique position in Parisian history, surviving the demolition of the grand estate that once surrounded it. In the late nineteenth century, the wealthy automobile pioneer Louis Mors commissioned the Belgian architect Alban Chambon to build a private music salon within his mansion gardens. While the mansion itself was razed in the early twentieth century to make way for new apartment blocks, the theater was preserved and eventually integrated into the urban landscape. An inscription remains on the building, expressing the original intent of its creator to share his love of music for his friends and himself.