Villa Windsor, Private mansion in Bois de Boulogne, France.
Villa Windsor is a three-story mansion in Georgian style with fourteen rooms, surrounded by gardens at the northwestern edge of Paris. The building displays neoclassical facades with symmetrical windows and a centrally placed entrance that opens from a quiet avenue in the Bois de Boulogne.
The French government offered the property to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1953 after Edward VIII gave up the British throne and went into exile. The couple lived here until the Duke's death in 1972, while the Duchess remained until 1986 before the collection was sold through an auction house.
The name recalls the English royal house whose member lived here after his abdication and created a new framework for his life. The interior rooms still display Chinese screens, wall hangings and frescoes that reflect the personal taste of the former residents.
The property sits in a quiet zone of the Bois de Boulogne and is normally closed to the public since it remains private. Occasional openings are announced by the foundation that manages the building and sometimes organizes guided tours during cultural events.
The decoration was created by the Parisian house Maison Jansen, known in the 20th century for designing interiors for aristocratic and royal clients throughout Europe. The couple's furniture and art objects were auctioned at Sotheby's in 1997 and reached a total that far exceeded initial estimates.
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