Hotel Mongelas

The Hôtel de Mongelas is a historic townhouse in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, located on the Rue des Archives. Originally built in the early 18th century, it has housed an extension of the Museum of Hunting and Nature since 2007. The complex dates back to a plot of land purchased in 1606, with the first construction work taking place in 1639. After passing through the hands of several owners, the property was sold in 1703 to Romain Dru, Sieur de Montgelas. Beginning in 1705, he had the building extensively modernized and remodeled, with the street front, the side wings, and the courtyard side all completely redesigned. The original garden facade of brick and stone was preserved, though the brickwork was later plastered over to create a uniform appearance.

The history of the house is shaped by a series of prominent residents. After the renovations were completed in 1707, it was home to various families, including the Marquis de Vallière, whose wife was executed during the French Revolution. Later, the property belonged to the lawyer Nicolas François Bellart, who was appointed to the Council of State during the Restoration and took part in important trials. In the 19th century, the building was used mainly for commercial purposes, including as the seat of a fan maker and later a jeweler. It was not until the 1990s that the building was earmarked for preservation and restoration as part of a redevelopment plan for the Marais district.

Today, the Hôtel de Mongelas belongs to the François Sommer Foundation for Hunting and Nature, which acquired it in 2002. After extensive restoration work, which included removing later additions and restoring the original floor plans, the building opened in February 2007 as part of the Museum of Hunting and Nature. It is now connected to the neighboring Hôtel de Guénégaud, where the museum was originally housed. Here you can admire the architectural features of the house, including the stately Louis XIV portal, the service wing with its wrought-iron balustrade, and the imposing courtyard facade. The architecture combines the surviving historic fabric of the 17th and 18th centuries with a modern museum use focused on the culture of hunting and nature.