Hôtel de Beauffremont

The Hôtel de Beauffremont is an 18th-century private mansion on rue de Grenelle in Paris's 7th arrondissement, on the Left Bank. Despite the name, this isn't a hotel where visitors can book a room - it belongs to the French category of "hôtel particulier," a grand townhouse built for a single aristocratic family, and it remains one of the finest examples of that tradition in the Faubourg Saint-Germain district.

Who built it, and when?

Construction began in 1732 at the request of Paul de Grivel de Grossouvre, comte d'Orrouer, which explains the building's original name, Hôtel d'Orrouer. Architects Charles and Pierre Boscry designed the structure, while sculptor and architect Nicolas Pineau handled the interior decoration - work reflected today in a sequence of seven salons spread across the ground and first floors. The street facade opens onto the courtyard through a monumental gateway framed by Ionic columns beneath a full semicircular pediment.

How did the name change over the centuries?

Ownership passed through several noble families before the mansion took its current name. After the founding family, the property belonged in turn to the de Boisgelin de Cucé, de Montmorency, and finally de Bauffremont-Courtenay families - the source of the name used today. Twice in its history the building served as the seat of the Austrian embassy in Paris, first from 1742 to 1745 and again from 1850 to 1861. More recently, fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy owned the residence from 1986 until 2018, when it was acquired by French entrepreneur Xavier Niel, its current owner.

Can visitors go inside?

No. The Hôtel de Beauffremont is private property and is not open to the public. From the street, passers-by can view the facade and, to a limited extent, the outbuildings at the rear of the property - two pavilions that once housed a carriage house and a stable large enough for twenty-five horses, a detail that hints at the scale of the estate in its heyday.

Why does the building have protected status?

On 15 May 1926, the Hôtel de Beauffremont was listed as a monument historique, France's designation for protected heritage buildings. The protection covers the street, courtyard, and garden facades, along with the 18th-century decoration of the ground- and first-floor salons. That legal status guarantees the mansion's appearance will be preserved even though its interior stays off-limits to the public.

Where is it, and what else is nearby?

The address is 87 rue de Grenelle, right in the middle of Faubourg Saint-Germain, a district lined with similar 18th-century mansions, embassies, and museums. Since the interior can't be visited, most travellers simply factor the facade into a longer walk along rue de Grenelle, pairing it with nearby Left Bank sights such as the Musée Rodin or Les Invalides, both within easy walking distance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hôtel de Beauffremont an actual hotel where you can stay? No - despite the name, it's a private mansion, not a place to book a room.

Where exactly is the building located? At 87 rue de Grenelle, in Paris's 7th arrondissement, within the Faubourg Saint-Germain district.

Who owns it today? Entrepreneur Xavier Niel has owned it since 2018; before him, designer Hubert de Givenchy held it for over three decades.

Is it open for tours? No, the mansion is private and cannot be visited inside - only the street-facing facade is visible to the public.