Hôtel de Massa

Hôtel de Massa, an eighteenth-century townhouse in Paris, now sits within a small park bordering the gardens of the Paris Observatory, in the city's 14th arrondissement.

Where exactly is it located?

You'll find the building at 38 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, south of central Paris in the 14th arrondissement. The plot borders the green space around the Paris Observatory, giving the setting an unexpectedly quiet, park-like feel for such a densely built part of the city. Because it backs onto the observatory grounds, the mansion is somewhat shielded from street noise despite sitting close to busy roads in this part of Paris.

Why does this address have such an unusual backstory?

The mansion dates back to the eighteenth century, though it wasn't always in this spot. It was originally built on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, one of the most prestigious streets in Paris. In 1929, the entire building was moved to its present location beside the Observatory gardens. That relocation across the city is what makes Hôtel de Massa such a distinctive case among Paris's surviving grand townhouses.

What makes the building architecturally significant?

Moving an eighteenth-century mansion intact, in a condition that allowed it to keep functioning, says a lot about how highly it was already valued nearly a century ago. Today the building holds protected status as a monument historique, the formal designation given to France's most significant heritage buildings. That status is not handed out lightly, and it usually comes with tightly controlled rules on how a building can be used and altered.

Who occupies the building today?

Hôtel de Massa has long served as the headquarters of the Société des gens de lettres, a French association of writers. That organization runs the building and oversees its day-to-day use, which sets Hôtel de Massa apart from the many Parisian townhouses that have instead become museums or public venues.

Can visitors go inside?

Because the building functions as a working headquarters rather than a museum, its interior is not routinely open to the public in the way a palace-museum would be. It's worth keeping that in mind when planning a visit to this part of Paris: treat Hôtel de Massa as a stop on a walk through the observatory neighborhood rather than a site with regular visitor access.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Sitting right beside the Paris Observatory gardens, this stretch of the 14th arrondissement has a calm, green character that's unusual to find so close to the city center. It suits travelers looking for a quieter, lesser-known corner of Paris, away from the busiest tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Hôtel de Massa? It dates from the eighteenth century, built as a grand hôtel particulier, or private townhouse.

Where did the building originally stand? It originally stood on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, before being moved to its current site in 1929.

Where is it located now? At 38 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, next to the Paris Observatory gardens.

Who uses the building today, and is it protected as a heritage site? It houses the Société des gens de lettres, a French writers' association, and the building is classified as a monument historique.