At its inauguration, this imposing building was the biggest at the Cité internationale with 320 rooms. Thanks to partnerships it welcomes numerous students from overseas. The designer Arman Guéritte, the chief architect for the Palace of Versailles, succeeded in avoiding the “barracks” effect by designing a building that was well-ordered and in the image of a brick castle, crowned by 36 crests belonging to the former French provinces. Park side, the U-shaped plan reveals a paved forecourt that monumentalises the entrance flanked by two columns and crowned with a helmeted bust of Athena that was sculpted by Gaumont. Inside there is a line of lounges that originally demonstrated four region decor-styles: those of Alsace, Provence, Normandy and Bourguignon.
The first donations for its creation were those of a Frenchman from Mulhouse who wished to remain anonymous and Murry Guggenheim, an American citizen of Alsatian origin. The latter wanted to construct a building for Alsatian students who became French again in 1918. Thanks to additional funding, both public and private, notably from numerous town and French departments, the project was finally extended to all of the French provinces. It was inaugurated in June 1933.
The Maison des Provinces de France is managed by the Fondation nationale Cité internationale universitaire de Paris.
After 70 years of activity the house was completely restored in 2003, under the direction of the architect Daniel Kahane. The building was bought up to safety standards and comfort has been increased. Its reception capacity has been increased with the creation of new rooms, new solid wood furniture designed by the design agency Idéo & Nathalie Kranz. Four historic rooms have been restored, each true to the original furniture and wallpaper of the four original decorators : Jallot, Printz, Ruhlmann and Vinay. Today there are 383 rooms.
Aimé Césaire stayed in this house in 1934. A parliamentary deputy for Martinique, he, together with Léopold Sédar Senghor, initiated the political and literary trend of black culture. A poet and a writer, he is the author of Cahier d’un retour au pays natal, a reference in 20th century literature.