Hôtel du Plessis-Guénégaud

The Hotel du Plessis-Guénégaud stands out for its high, weathered stone facade and the deep, recessed archway that cuts into its street-facing wall. Built in the mid-seventeenth century for the counselor of state Henri du Plessis-Guénégaud, this townhouse was constructed to display wealth and influence near the center of Parisian power. Its stone walls kept the noise of the city at a distance while providing a private residence for a man who managed the king's own private funds and diplomatic correspondence.