Hôtel Montesquiou-Fezensac, Private mansion in 7th arrondissement, Paris, France.
Hôtel Montesquiou-Fezensac is a private mansion in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, featuring a neoclassical garden facade with arched openings and an original 18th-century staircase adorned with wrought-iron railings. The building encompasses multiple floors and rooms adapted to its various functions over time.
Architect Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart designed this residence in 1781 for Anne-Pierre de Montesquiou-Fezensac, the first equerry to the Count of Provence. The building evolved through successive chapters, transitioning from a noble residence to a monastic setting and eventually to an institutional use.
Benedictine nuns transformed this residence into a monastery from 1851 to 1938, introducing a neo-Gothic cloister that drew Catholic scholars and thinkers to its halls. The building's layout and ornamental details still bear traces of this monastic era.
The building is now in official use and can be viewed from the street, where its classical architecture and garden elements remain partially visible from the exterior. Interior access is not typically available to the public, so viewing the facade and grounds from the street is the best option for visitors.
The mansion was sold in 2008 at a price that marked one of the most significant real-estate transactions for a diplomatic property in Paris at that moment. The comprehensive renovation that followed brought the historic structure into line with contemporary official requirements while respecting its architectural heritage.
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