PARIS // The Hotel Lambert mansion in central Paris, a 17th-century architectural jewel with a rich history, was damaged in a major fire yesterday amid controversial renovations after its purchase by the Qatari royal family.
Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze for about six hours after it broke out around 1.30am local time at the Lambert, a 'hotel particulier' or private townhouse, on Ile Saint-Louis overlooking the Seine.
Firefighters said the blaze started on the roof of the building, which was bought by Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani from the Rothschild banking dynasty for €60 million (Dh282m) in 2007. Sheikh Abdullah is the brother of the former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who abdicated last month.
The fire "spread pretty fast because the building is empty and in the midst of renovation", fire service Lt Col Pascal Le Testu said. "The operation was complicated because the structure is fragile," he said.
Heritage experts had arrived at the mansion yesterday morning to check its contents but were unable to go inside due to safety concerns.
But Lt Col Le Testu said the damage appeared to be extensive.
"The roof was completely devastated and the structure is weakened because a staircase and pediment over the central portion have partially collapsed," he said.
He said the building's famed frescoes by Charles Le Brun in the "Gallery of Hercules" were also "severely damaged by smoke and water".
Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe expressed his "shock" and "sadness" over the fire and promised in a statement that the city would monitor renovation works at the building, which he described as a "significant part of Paris's heritage".
Built in the 1640s at the eastern tip of Ile Saint-Louis, the mansion was designed for a wealthy financier, Nicolas Lambert, by the architect Louis Vau.
The mansion is considered one of the finest examples of mid-17th-century French architecture, featuring the frescoes by Le Brun and works by other masters of the day. It is part of a World Heritage site along the banks of the Seine.
Plans for large-scale renovations, including the installation of a parking area and vehicle lift, were initially blocked by a French court following complaints from activists and neighbours.
Supporters of the Qatari family's plans said the mansion had been neglected and damaged over the centuries and was in desperate need of repairs. Some also suggested the criticism was rooted in opposition to seeing foreigners buy exclusive properties in rarefied central Paris.
The dispute was finally resolved in January 2010 when an agreement was signed with a heritage association after weeks of delicate government-supervised negotiations.
Qatar's royal family has become a major investor in France, buying up prestige properties, investing in flagship companies such as energy giant Total and media group Vivendi, and purchasing football club Paris Saint-Germain.
The French foreign ministry estimates that Qatar has invested at least €12 billion in France over the last five years.
