Hôtel de Gunsburg

Hôtel de Gunsburg is a 19th-century private mansion on Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, one of twelve matching façades that ring the famous Étoile roundabout in the city's 17th arrondissement, right next to the Arc de Triomphe.

Where exactly is it?

The address is 7 rue de Tilsitt, one of the avenues radiating out from the square around the Arc de Triomphe. The mansion forms part of a uniform set of twelve townhouses designed to give the roundabout a single, coherent monumental frame. Its coordinates are 48.87513 N, 2.29548 E.

What is the history behind it?

The building went up in 1868 at the initiative of Baron Joseph de Günzburg, following a design plan drawn up in 1853 by Jacques-Ignace Hittorff and carried out by architect Charles Rohault de Fleury. In June 1886 the property was bought at auction for 2.2 million francs by Count Philippe Spiridion Vitali, who turned it into both his Parisian residence and the headquarters of his railway company, the Régie générale des chemins de fer. Between 1965 and 1974 the building housed an administrative unit of the French ministries of social affairs (DAGPB). Today it belongs to a private company and is used as office space.

What stands out on the façade?

The elevation facing rue de Tilsitt carries elaborate sculptural decoration by Frédéric-Louis Bogino, personifying Agriculture and Industry — a theme typical of Parisian architecture in the second half of the 19th century, when the city liked to celebrate its economic growth in stone. That sculptural program, together with the window rhythm and proportions, is what sets this façade apart from its eleven neighbors around the square.

What is hidden inside?

The interiors, though not open to casual visitors, carry real artistic weight. The entrance hall, two staircases with cast-iron railings, a gallery, and three reception salons retain their original 19th-century decor, on which painters and decorators Charles Chaplin, Alexandre Denuelle, and Alexis-Joseph Mazerolle all worked. Because of this heritage value, a decree of 30 December 1983 placed the façades, roofs, entrance hall, both staircases, the gallery, and the three salons on France's register of historic monuments.

Can you go inside?

No. This is a private office building, and the interior is not open to the public. Visits are limited to viewing the façade from street level or while walking the promenade that circles Place Charles de Gaulle.

How do you get there?

Because the mansion sits directly on Place Charles de Gaulle (Étoile), the easiest approach is by metro or RER to the Charles de Gaulle — Étoile station, served by metro lines 1, 2, and 6 as well as RER line A. From there, rue de Tilsitt is only a few minutes' walk around the roundabout.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the main draw here is the façade itself, viewed from outside, there's no strict best season. It's worth avoiding rush hour around the roundabout, though — traffic is heavy and the pavements narrow, so an early morning or late-afternoon stroll makes for a calmer visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of the Hôtel de Gunsburg? No — it's a private office building and the interior is closed to visitors. Only the façade can be viewed from the street.

Who built it, and when? It was built in 1868 for Baron Joseph de Günzburg, based on an 1853 design by Jacques-Ignace Hittorff and executed by architect Charles Rohault de Fleury.

Why is the building legally protected? Because of its architectural and decorative value: the façades, roofs, entrance hall, both staircases, the gallery, and the three salons were listed as historic monuments by a decree of 30 December 1983.

Who owns the building today? A private company owns it and uses it as office space. Between 1965 and 1974 it had previously housed an administrative unit of the French ministries of social affairs.