Hôtel de Sens

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The Hôtel de Sens /otɛl də sɑ̃/ is one of only a handful of buildings from the Middle Ages still standing in Paris. It was build around 1500 for the archbishop of Paris, and it is really well built; in fact, even though it is 500 years old, it looks as if it could have been constructed yesterday—the only thing that gives away its age is the architectural style. Ever since its construction, it has been considered one of the most beautiful mansions in Paris, and justifiably so (note: in French, hôtel in this context means a stately mansion, not a hotel in the English sense).

The mansion passed through several owners and occupants over the centuries: Nostradamus lived here for a time, as did one of Henri IV‘s wives, Marguerite de Navarre. It eventually came into the hands of the city, and it now houses a public library, the Bibliothèque Forney.

The photo looks kind of crooked because it was taken with a very wide-angle lens and the streets on either side of the building are on a slight incline. You are looking northwest in this photo, which was taken in the late afternoon.

I also have a photo of the charming courtyard of the mansion, if you are interested, as well as a photo of the beautifully tended garden behind the mansion.

Photographed on October 28, 2001.