by Discover the magnificent Hôtel Matignon at 57 rue de Varennes in Paris’ prestigious 7th arrondissement, the official residence of the French Prime Minister and one of the most significant seats of political power in France. This extraordinary 18th-century mansion combines architectural grandeur with centuries of French political history, making it one of Paris‘ most important yet exclusive landmarks.
Built between 1722 and 1725 by architect Jean Courtonne for Christian-Louis de Montmorency Luxembourg, Prince of Tigny and Marshal of France, the mansion represents one of the period’s most ambitious architectural projects. The Prince had purchased 30,000 square meters of prime land on rue de Varennes in 1717, commissioning Courtonne to create what would become a masterpiece of French classical architecture.
The building’s most fascinating early chapter began when Jacques Goyon, Count of Matignon, purchased the completed mansion in 1725 as a gift for his son, the Duke of Valentinois. Through marriage to Louise-Hippolyte Grimaldi, the Duke became Prince Jacques I of Monaco, making this Parisian palace the official residence of Monaco’s royal family until the French Revolution.
Courtonne’s architectural design was revolutionary for its time. Rising from a broad terrace, the two-story building crowned by an elegant balustrade comprises carefully planned suites of rooms that exemplify French classical proportions and design principles. The mansion’s interior showcases the refined decorative arts of the early 18th century, with period furnishings and artwork that reflect its aristocratic heritage.
The mansion’s gardens are equally remarkable, covering three hectares – larger than the Élysée Palace gardens and considered the largest private garden in Paris. Designed by the legendary landscape architects Claude Desgot (nephew of André Le Nôtre) and later enhanced by Achille Duchêne in 1902, the gardens combine French formal symmetry with English-style naturalistic elements. A remarkable optical illusion, created by narrowing the distance between two alleys planted with 111 linden trees, gives the garden an appearance of greater depth.
After the Revolution, the hôtel passed through illustrious hands including Talleyrand and Napoleon. In 1935, it became the official residence of France’s head of government, first housing Presidents of the Council, then Prime Ministers from the Fifth Republic beginning in 1959. General de Gaulle presided over the first Parisian Council of Ministers of the Provisional Government here on September 9, 1944.
Today, a charming tradition continues in the gardens: since Raymond Barre planted a sugar maple in 1978, each Prime Minister plants a tree of their choice, creating a living timeline of French political leadership. While the mansion remains closed to the public except for rare Heritage Days tours, the magnificent gardens open monthly, offering Parisians a glimpse into this extraordinary seat of power.