Hôtel Donon

Hôtel Donon is a private residence in the Marais district on rue Elzévir, featuring a rectangular courtyard with two extending wings. The building displays Renaissance architecture with multiple underground levels and upper floors arranged around the central court.

Médéric de Donon, a royal advisor, commissioned the residence between 1575 and 1577 following his marriage to Jeanne della Robbia. The building dates from an era when the Marais was a favored residential district for Parisian nobility.

The mansion now houses the Cognacq-Jay Museum, displaying an important collection of eighteenth-century paintings and decorative arts. Visitors can observe how wealthy Parisians lived and what objects they valued during that era.

The mansion is centrally located in the Marais and accessible by nearby metro stations throughout the district. Visitors should note that museum hours and exhibitions can vary by season, so checking ahead is advisable.

The attic features the shape of an inverted ship's hull, an unusual architectural detail from the Renaissance period. Several rooms retain their original painted wooden beams dating from the seventeenth century.

Location: 3rd arrondissement of Paris

GPS coordinates: 48.85820,2.36144

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:21