Hôtel particulier

Whereas an ordinary maison (house) was built as part of a row, sharing party walls with the houses on either side and directly fronting on a street, an hôtel particulier was often free-standing and, by the 18th century, would always be located entre cour et jardin – between the cour d'honneur (an entrance court) and the garden behind.

The English word hotel developed a more specific meaning as a commercial building accommodating travellers; modern French also uses hôtel in this sense.

In French, an hôtel de ville or mairie is a town hall and not a hotel.

The Hôtel de la Marine, now a museum, took its name when it was the naval ministry building.

The Hôtel des Invalides in Paris retains its early sense of a hospital for war wounded.