Hôtel de Lamoignon, Renaissance private mansion in Quartier Saint-Gervais, France.
The Hôtel de Lamoignon is a Renaissance private mansion in Paris built around a central courtyard with a main structure and side wings. The stone facades display carefully crafted architectural details typical of the period, with refined proportions and carved ornamentation.
The mansion was commissioned by Diane de France between 1585 and 1590, then enlarged in 1624 when Charles de Valois added a northern wing. These construction phases shaped the structure we see today.
During the 1600s, the mansion served as a gathering place where prominent writers and thinkers of Paris met to discuss literature and philosophy. This intellectual tradition remains part of the place's identity today.
The building now houses the Historical Library of Paris, which holds extensive collections about the city's past. Visitors can view the exterior and explore the courtyard, while the library's interior requires prior arrangement to visit.
At the corner of Rue Pavée and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois stands one of Paris's last decorative watchtowers, a small structure that many visitors overlook. This architectural feature offers a glimpse into how medieval fortifications were integrated into city streets.
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