Hôtel de Nevers, Private mansion in 2nd arrondissement, France.
The Hôtel de Nevers is a private mansion on rue de Richelieu of which only three sections of the original facade remain, featuring classical French architectural details. The surviving portions now belong to the National Library and show traces of the building's former grandeur as an aristocratic residence.
The mansion was built in 1646 by architect Pierre Le Muet and initially served as part of Cardinal Mazarin's palace before becoming an independent residence after his death in 1661. A major demolition ordered by Napoleon III in 1859 destroyed most of the building, leaving only fragments of the original structure standing.
The salon hosted by the Marquise de Lambert drew writers and thinkers who gathered to discuss ideas about literature and politics. This space became known as a meeting point where intellectual conversations shaped the thinking of early 18th-century Paris.
The surviving sections of the building can be viewed from the street at rue Colbert, though access to the interior is restricted as the site is part of the National Library. Visit during daylight hours to see the facade details clearly.
Only three original bays of the facade survived the demolition ordered by Napoleon III in 1859, making it a rare fragment of 17th-century Paris that would have disappeared entirely otherwise. These surviving sections offer a glimpse into architectural styles that have otherwise vanished from the city.
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