Hôtel d'Aguesseau

The Hôtel d'Aguesseau is a classical French private mansion located at 18 rue Séguier in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, distinguished by its monumental portal and interior courtyard. Its architecture displays the formal elegance characteristic of 17th-century Parisian town houses, with carefully designed proportions and ornamental details.

Built in 1635, the mansion belonged to Antoine d'Aguesseau, who held the position of First President of the Parliament of Bordeaux starting in 1632. Its construction reflects the period when such residences served as symbols of status for high-ranking judicial officials in France.

The mansion now hosts Actes Sud publishing house, continuing its role as a space for French literature and intellectual work. Writers and publishers move through its rooms daily, keeping the building connected to the world of books and ideas.

The mansion is easily accessible via Odéon or Saint-Michel metro stations, both within a short walk. The main entrance is located on rue Séguier, a quiet street that connects to the broader neighborhood around the Seine.

A commemorative plaque marks the former office of Georges Pitard, a communist lawyer who was executed by Nazi forces in 1941 while the building was occupied. This small memorial preserves the memory of a person whose work once took place within these walls.