Presenting the îlot Saint-Germain
« The îlot Saint-Germain », historical headquarters of the Defense Ministry in Paris, is composed of several buildings forming a quadrilateral delimited by the following perimeter: n°s 8-18 rue Saint-Dominique, n°s 2 and 4 place Jacques Bainville, n° 231 boulevard SaintGermain and n°s 75 and 77 of the rue de l'Université.
The îlot encompasses the « hôtel de Brienne », mansion where the Defense Ministry is, as well as the « hôtel de la Lionne » and the « hôtel de Bourbon-Busset ». These old, private townhouses form an ensemble with the building situated at n° 12 rue Saint-Dominique, sometimes distinguished from the rest of the îlot Saint-Germain and referred in its own right as « îlot Saint-Dominique ». For easier reference, sometimes the expression « îlot Saint-Germain/îlot Saint-Dominique » is used (ISG/ISD for short) to designate these two great ensembles of buildings that compose the Ministry, separated by the « bâtiment des Jardins ».
The « îlot Saint-Dominique » must escape sale, the hôtel de Brienne having been classified as a historical monument by a ministerial decree of January 21st 1993; it should remain the residency of the Ministry of Defense.