Hôtel de Sagonne

Hôtel de Sagonne is a historic private mansion in Paris, standing where the Marais district meets the Quartier de l'Arsenal, at 28 rue des Tournelles and 23 boulevard Beaumarchais in the 4th arrondissement.

Who built the Hôtel de Sagonne?

Construction dates to 1667–1668, making this the earliest documented project of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect who would later serve Louis XIV as premier architecte du roi. He built it together with his brother Michel, a building contractor, to mark his own wedding to Anne Bodin in February 1668. At that point Mansart was still a young architect at the start of his career, decades before his reputation was fully made.

Why does the mansion carry the name "Sagonne"?

Mansart's career accelerated after 1681, when he became the king's chief architect and superintendent of the Royal Buildings. In 1699, following his ennoblement and the purchase of the Sagonne estate in Berry, he was granted the title of Count of Sagonne — the source of the building's present name. Starting in 1686, riding this new prestige, he undertook an ambitious and costly renovation of his own residence so that it would match his elevated standing at court.

What is hidden inside?

For the interior decoration, Mansart hired leading painters from the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture: Michel Corneille the Younger and his brother Jean-Baptiste Corneille, Charles de La Fosse, and Étienne Allegrain, with sculptural work entrusted to Martin Desjardins. The result was a rich set of allegorical paintings that stayed hidden under false ceilings for roughly two centuries. They were only rediscovered and uncovered in 1924, saving one of the more remarkable painted ensembles from late-17th-century Paris.

How did ownership change hands over the centuries?

After Jules Hardouin-Mansart died in 1708, the mansion passed to his son Jacques, Count of Sagonne (1677–1762), under a marriage settlement drawn up in 1701 for his union with Madeleine Bernard, daughter of the celebrated banker Samuel Bernard. The property later came to the Count and Countess of Noailles upon the death of the Marquise d'Arpajon in 1767. In August 1777, they sold it for 100,000 livres to Marie-Anne Meschin, wife of Alexis Mallet de Largillière, Count of Graville.

Can visitors go inside the Hôtel de Sagonne?

This is a private building, not a museum, so there is no regular public tour of the interior. Visitors typically admire it from the outside while walking through the Marais and along boulevard Beaumarchais, where the street-facing facade still evokes the feel of late-17th-century Parisian architecture. The building has been listed as a monument historique since 1943, a status that protects its historic character from alteration.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Hôtel de Sagonne located? In the 4th arrondissement of Paris, right where the Marais meets the Quartier de l'Arsenal, at 28 rue des Tournelles and 23 boulevard Beaumarchais.

Who designed the building? Jules Hardouin-Mansart, together with his brother Michel — it was his first documented architectural project, built for his own use.

Where does the name "Sagonne" come from? From the title of Count of Sagonne, awarded to Mansart in 1699 after he bought the Sagonne estate and was ennobled.

Is the interior open to visitors? Not on a regular basis — it remains a private residence. Visitors can still appreciate the facade from the street while exploring the surrounding Marais.