Automobile Club de France, view of Place de la Concorde, exceptional gastronomy
The Automobile Club de France (ACF) – its founding
The Automobile Club de France is a private French club founded on 12 November 1895, housed in two adjoining private mansions: the Hôtel du Plessis-Bellière and the Hôtel Cartier, located at 6–8 Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
A distinctly “English-style” management approach
Reserved for men, the club is run by the Société de gestion de l’Automobile Club de France (ACF). It is the world’s oldest automobile club. Long frequented by wealthy aristocrats and industrialists, the ACF ranks among the most exclusive private clubs in the capital, alongside the Tir aux Pigeons, Polo de Paris, Le Siècle and the Jockey Club. Yet it is a “themed” club whose origins are intertwined with the history of French—and indeed global—automotive history.
The Automobile Club de France’s (ACF) purpose
In 1898, this organization designed and organized the first automobile show in the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. In 1899, at the suggestion of Paul Meyan and with the support of the newspaper *Le Matin*, it created the Tour de France Automobile, later regarded as (for that first season) the fourth edition of the Grand Prix… The famous Mi-Carême procession of the 1903 Paris Carnival, departing from Place de la Concorde, was organized by the ACF. The Queen of Queens was transported by “Le Triomphe,” an electric motorized float by De Dion (in 1903!), with prestige automobiles decorated for the occasion accompanying her in the parade.
Automobile Club de France
The Automobile Club de France is led by a president, elected from among the club’s members, assisted by members sitting on the ACF’s various councils. The president of the “Cercle,” as it is known internally, is elected by and from an Executive Committee of 24 members, themselves chosen by the general membership at a General Assembly.
How the Automobile Club de France Operates
The club is administered and managed by an Executive Committee. The Board of Directors consists of the President of the ACF, the four vice-presidents, and the General Delegate for automotive activities.
The “Cercle” also has an advisory board and several committees (finance, interior, sports, games, automotive activities, etc.). The ACF has signed reciprocity agreements with numerous foreign clubs (Royal Automobile Club of London, Union Club of New York City, Jockey Club of Argentina, etc.).
The Automobile Club de France has 2,185 members, all men. The ACF was one of the Parisian gentlemen’s clubs created at a time when British cultural influence was still very strong in France and worldwide. Today, it retains its spirit and codes: high moral standards for members, co-optation, non-mixed membership, mandatory dress code, emphasis on cultural and recreational activities, and the primacy of conversation.
While women cannot join the Automobile Club de France, they may, as spouses, participate in certain club activities.
Admission to the Automobile Club de France
Sponsorship is mandatory (2 sponsors and 7 sub-sponsors). A 12-member application committee, whose names are not disclosed, reviews the application and appoints a rapporteur who meets the candidate at their home. The candidate, accompanied by their two sponsors, is then presented to the committee for an interview. The council then holds a secret vote, where one unfavorable vote cancels out three favorable ones. Admission is only final after approval by the president.
Since its inception, the President of the French Republic, the Sovereign of Monaco, and the King of the Belgians have been members by right.
Automobile Club de France Heritage
The Automobile Club de France owns the Hôtel du Plessis-Bellière and the Hôtel Cartier, with its premises overlooking Place de la Concorde in Paris. The façade, with its majestic peristyle, is listed as a historic monument. The ACF boasts a library housing nearly 50,000 works, a swimming pool designed by Gustave Eiffel, a gymnasium, a theatre, a cinema room, a bar-lounge, a restaurant, an aerial terrace, and several salons. The fencing hall, one of the oldest in Paris, remains in use (the International Fencing Federation was founded at the ACF).
The ACF also owns a luxury campsite, Domaine des Naïades, in Grimaud, Var.
Automobile Club de France Catering Services
The Automobile Club de France offers its private clientele (businesses or individuals) its expertise in organizing weddings, family meals, family events, or professional meetings.
With salons ranging from 20 to 600 m², this ideal setting allows you to imagine and design high-end events, combining indoor spaces with a terrace offering breathtaking views of the historic monuments of this royal square.
The diversity and quality of the salons make it possible to offer all types of entertainment: private concerts, dance evenings, artistic, fun, or interactive activities, tailored to your desires and your sense of celebration.
Our teams of chefs and