The beginnings

In December 1949, after searching for the ideal location in the French capital, the Danish state acquired a property from the Soubiran family on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The chosen site tool on its current form in 1860, when Jean Amédée Gautray acquired a plot of land near the Champs-Élysées and joined it to a land from the Folie Beaujon, a former amusement park. In 1864,Jean Soubiran bought the property and had the buildings that were still there when the Danish state acquired it, built. Comprising a mansion, out buildings and stables, the plot soon demmed unsuitable for the needs and objectives ofthe Danish government. The decision was taken to demolish the old buildings and build a House of Denmark on the Champs-Élysées and a Danish Protestant churchon rue Lord Byron. The architect Tyge Hvass was chosen to carry out the project.The first stones of the building were laid on 23 September 1952 by the Danish Prime Minister, Erik Eriksen; the French Foreign Minister, considered tobe one of the fathers of Europe, Robert Schuman; and the Danish Ambassador to France, Ejnar Wærum.

Opening the doors

Completed in 1955, the House of Denmark, located at 142 avenue des Champs-Élysées, was inaugurated on 23 April with great pomp and ceremony, inthe presence of King Fredrik IX of Denmark, Queen Ingrid, French President René Coty, Danish Prime Minister H.C. Hansen and French Prime Minister Edgar Faure. The day, which was dedicated to Franco-Danish friendship, was attended by a number of restigious guests and ended with a concert by Danish Radio at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

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