hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau

The Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau is an eighteenth-century private mansion on Boulevard Montmartre in Paris's 9th arrondissement, now home to the jewelry school L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.

Where exactly is it located?

Visitors will find the mansion right on the Grands Boulevards, one of the liveliest historic stretches of central Paris, a short walk from the Palais Garnier opera house and the old covered passages of the 9th arrondissement. Two metro stations, Grands Boulevards and Richelieu-Drouot, sit within a few hundred meters of the entrance, making the address easy to combine with a day of sightseeing in the surrounding boulevards.

What is the story behind the building?

Construction dates back to 1778, when architect Firmin Perlin designed the mansion for the banker Jean-Joseph de Laborde. Soon after completion, the property passed to Count Florimond de Mercy-Argenteau, a Lorraine-born diplomat who served as Austria's imperial ambassador to Paris between 1766 and 1790 — the count's name has stuck to the building ever since. Over the following century the residence changed hands several times, and its list of occupants reportedly includes the composers François-Adrien Boieldieu and Gioachino Rossini, tying the address to Paris's rich nineteenth-century musical scene.

Part of the facade and interior received official heritage protection as a monument historique on 11 April 1958, recognizing its architectural significance. Between 2009 and 2012 the whole building underwent a careful restoration led by the architecture firm DTACC, which restored its period character while adapting the interior for modern use.

What happens inside the mansion today?

Since June 2024 the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau has housed L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, an educational institution founded in 2012 with the backing of the jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels. The school runs courses, lectures and hands-on workshops covering the history of jewelry, the craft techniques of goldsmiths, and gemology, the study of precious stones. Classes welcome both curious beginners and industry professionals, and they take place inside rooms that were restored to preserve the mansion's historic decor.

Can visitors go inside without enrolling in a course?

The building is not a museum in the conventional sense, but it regularly opens its doors during the European Heritage Days (Journées Européennes du Patrimoine), held across France every September. That weekend is the easiest way to see the interiors without signing up for a paid class at L'ÉCOLE. At other times of year, access generally depends on attending a school event or session, so checking the school's website for upcoming openings is worthwhile before planning a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau an actual hotel for overnight stays? No. In French, "hôtel" in this context refers to a grand private townhouse rather than a place to sleep — the building has never operated as a hotel for guests.

Where does the building's name come from? It comes from Count Florimond de Mercy-Argenteau, Austria's ambassador to Paris from 1766 to 1790, who acquired the mansion shortly after it was built in 1778.

Is it possible to visit the interior for free? Yes, mainly during the European Heritage Days each September, when the mansion opens to the wider public at no charge or with limited advance booking.

How do you get there by public transport? The nearest metro stops are Grands Boulevards and Richelieu-Drouot, both just a few hundred meters' walk from the entrance on Boulevard Montmartre.