Hôtel Beauharnais

The Hôtel Beauharnais is a private mansion in the Invalides district featuring a neoclassical exterior and an Egyptian-inspired portico that frame its entrance. The interior contains multiple rooms decorated in the Empire style, along with a garden space that opens toward the Seine.

The building was constructed in the early 18th century as a private residence for a wealthy family before changing ownership in the early 1800s. It has served diplomatic purposes since the early decades of the 19th century and continues to operate in that capacity today.

The rooms display Empire period furnishings and artistic elements that show how a wealthy household decorated its spaces, while painted landscapes on walls reveal the owners' appreciation for nature and art. These details give visitors a sense of how people of status lived and what they valued aesthetically.

The mansion is located on rue de Lille and visits are arranged by advance reservation only, as the building is not open for casual drop-in viewing. Bring comfortable walking shoes since tours involve moving through multiple rooms and levels.

The ground floor includes a throne room and music-related spaces that preserve the arrangement choices of earlier residents in their original form. These specialized rooms show how different areas were designated for specific purposes in a high-ranking household.