Private Guided Tour of the Hôtel de la Païva in Paris
Discover one of the most secret and fascinating private mansions in Paris through an
exclusive guided tour of the Hôtel de la Païva, located at 25 Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
A masterpiece of Second Empire architecture, this luxurious Parisian mansion, built between
1855 and 1866, is considered one of the most extravagant decorative achievements of the
19th century. Behind its discreet façade lies a world of refinement, theatricality and mystery,
once reserved for aristocrats, artists and elite travelers.
Designed by architect Pierre Manguin for the famous Marquise de la Païva, the hôtel
particulier required more than ten years of construction and brought together some of the
finest artists and craftsmen of the period, including Paul Baudry, Albert-Ernest
Carrier-Belleuse and Jules Dalou.
The Marquise de la Païva: an extraordinary destiny
The history of the Hôtel de la Païva is inseparable from the remarkable life of its owner,
Esther Lachmann, later known as the Marquise de la Païva, one of the most famous social
figures of 19th-century Paris.
Born in Moscow in 1819 into a modest Polish Jewish family, she experienced an
extraordinary social rise across Europe before becoming a central figure of Parisian high
society during the Second Empire.
Ambitious, cultivated and passionate about the arts, she commissioned what would become
one of the most luxurious private residences in Paris — a true symbol of elegance, power
and social ambition.
Nicknamed the “Louvre of sensuality” by some of her contemporaries, the Hôtel de la Païva
still fascinates visitors today through its artistic richness, lavish interiors and unique
atmosphere.
Since 1903, the building has housed the Travellers Club of Paris, helping preserve the
exclusivity and mystery of this extraordinary place.
An exclusive guided tour into the world of the Second Empire
This private guided tour includes:
- the sumptuous reception salons,
- the monumental staircase carved from Algerian onyx,
- the famous Moorish-style bathroom,
- painted and sculpted decorations,
- artistic symbols and hidden references imagined by the marquise herself.
Throughout the visit, historical anecdotes, decorative analysis and stories of Parisian high
society bring to life the fascinating world of the Païva and the elegance of the Second
Empire.
Rarely open to the public, the Hôtel de la Païva remains one of the most mysterious and
iconic hidden treasures of the Champs-Élysées.
Practical information
- Private tours by reservation only
- Tours available on Saturday and Sunday mornings, subject to availability
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Maximum group size: 25 people
- Tours available in French, English, Russian and Armenian
Meeting point:
25 Avenue des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris
Franklin D. Roosevelt Metro Station (subway lines : 1, 9)
Bookings: reservation@visite-guidee.com
