Hôtel de Beauvais, Private mansion in Saint-Gervais, Paris, France.
Hôtel de Beauvais is a private mansion in Paris's Saint-Gervais neighborhood with an oval staircase suspended without supporting columns and a medieval cellar featuring cross-vaulted ceilings at 68 rue François Miron. The building holds elaborate details and contains rooms from different periods beneath its exterior.
The mansion was built between 1654 and 1660 by architect Antoine Le Pautre and received King Louis XIV and Maria Theresa during their ceremonial entry into Paris. This event made the place a memorable royal moment in the city.
The building displays French Baroque design with strict symmetry, rusticated stone bands, and horizontal moldings, while ground-floor shops remain part of everyday street life. This blend of grand architecture and common use gives the place its present-day character.
The building now houses Paris's Administrative Court, so visitor access is limited. Guided tours open the interior during European Heritage Days and on monthly organized visits.
The mansion sits on an irregular plot of land, yet the architect created an illusion of symmetry through clever design solutions in both the exterior and courtyard. This architectural trick shows how creativity solved a difficult building challenge.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
