Hôtel de Cassini

The Hôtel de Cassini is a private mansion with a U-shaped layout featuring a central building and two perpendicular wings. The interior displays marble flooring in the entrance hall, while the garden-facing side is defined by a mansard roof.

Claude Billard de Bélisard designed this residence in 1771 for Marquis Dominique-Joseph de Cassini, a military officer and member of a renowned family of astronomers. The building reflects the architectural traditions of the Enlightenment period.

During the early twentieth century, artists and writers gathered here when Cecil and Mimi Pecci-Blunt owned the property. The couple were patrons who attracted creative figures to their home.

The building has housed French government administrative offices since 1974, making it inaccessible to casual visitors. The exterior facade and courtyard remain viewable from the public street.

The courtyard facade of this Parisian mansion influenced the architectural design of two American estates: Miramar and Rose Terrace, both designed by architect Horace Trumbauer. This cross-Atlantic connection reveals how French design shaped the grand homes of wealthy Americans.

Location: 7th arrondissement of Paris

Architects: Claude Billard de Bélisard, Jean-Jacques Arveuf-Fransquin

GPS coordinates: 48.85190,2.32097

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:48