Paris folder A/parisA335
Previous | Home | Next"Built by Boullier de Bourges from 1656 to 1659 for Pierre Aubert de Fontenay, a [tax]-farmer of Gabelle, giving it its nickname; this was the largest hotel in the Maris [district]. A main building wraps around a deep cove "basket" at the end of the courtyard, and a half-moon around the portal on the rue de Thorigny facilitated the entry of the growing use of carriages. But the fall of Fouquet Superintendent caused the ruin of its owner; the hotel was then inhabited by Morosini [a noble Venetian family), ambassador of Venice."
Fontenay became rich by gathering the salt-tax; hence the name "Salé"; "gabelle" was the very unpopular tax used 1286-1790 for commodies in general and salt in particular.
Nicolas Fouquet 1615-1680 was Superintendent of Finances under Louix XIV, involved in financial excess and scandals and was the model for a variety of characters ranging from Dumas novels to modern movies.
