Hôtel d'Espeyran

The Hôtel d'Espeyran on the Rue de l'Elysée stands apart with its stately facade, a rare surviving example of the private mansions built during the final years of the Second Empire. It was commissioned by the Comte d'Espeyran, a wealthy landowner who wanted a residence befitting his status near the presidential palace. During the First World War, the countess turned the mansion into a military hospital, tending to wounded soldiers in the very rooms once meant for high-society balls and quiet contemplation.