Hôtel de Noirmoutier, Private mansion in 7th arrondissement, Paris, France

Hôtel de Noirmoutier is a three-storey mansion on Rue de Grenelle, built 1721–1724 by Jean Courtonne for Antoine François de La Trémoille, Duke of Noirmoutier. Its pale beige ashlar facade is symmetrical, with rusticated ground floor, arched doorway with fanlight, five tall upper windows and a wrought-iron balcony across the central three. A triangular pediment crowns the projecting central bay, and three dormer windows sit on the roofline.

Jean Courtonne built the mansion in 1721-1724 for Antoine-François de La Trémoille, Duke of Noirmoutier, who was blind and dictated its proportions and ornaments by touch. After passing through several owners, it became state property under a decree of 29 germinal an III and was later sold to a wine merchant. The State bought it back in 1814 and installed the bodyguard of the Count of Artois, then staff schools and army headquarters; Marshal Foch lived there from 1919 until his death in 1929.

The mansion is also known as hôtel de Sens, a name it took in 1734 when Mademoiselle de Sens bought it and enlarged the grounds. Since 1970 it has been the residence of the prefect of Paris, who is also prefect of the Île-de-France region.

The mansion is located on Rue de Grenelle in the 7th arrondissement and opens to visitors during annual Heritage Days celebrations. During these limited times, you can explore the period dining room and walk through the ceremonial staircase area.

The building served as the architectural model for an exact replica that American art collector Spencer Hays had constructed in Nashville, Tennessee. This American copy demonstrates the influence that classical French design had on collectors across the Atlantic.