Hôtel Le Brun, Private mansion in 5th arrondissement of Paris, France.
Hôtel Le Brun is a private mansion in Paris with four sculpted facades and a triangular pediment bearing the family coat of arms crowned with a comital title. The building features ornate decorations on its garden side that represent allegories of artistic practice and commemorate a notable painter through symbolic imagery.
Construction began in 1700 when Charles II Le Brun, an auditor at the Court of Accounts, commissioned the architect Germain Boffrand to design the residence. This timing placed the building squarely in the early baroque period, when such grand private mansions were reshaping Paris's 5th arrondissement.
The name honors the Le Brun family who commissioned it, with their coat of arms displayed prominently on the building. The carved decorations celebrate painting and sculpture, reflecting how much weight society placed on artistic pursuits during that era.
The mansion sits on Rue du Cardinal-Lemoine and now operates as a venue called 'Grand Hotel des Reves' hosting immersive theater experiences for families. Since it functions as an active performance space, visitors should check in advance to understand how the building is accessed and what activities may be happening during their visit.
Unlike most Parisian residences of its era, this building was not connected to neighboring structures but stood alone with all four facades completely visible from the street. This independence from adjacent buildings was remarkable for such a densely built neighborhood and allowed the architecture to be appreciated from every angle.
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