Hôtel de Sens visitor guide

Visit Hôtel de Sens, Paris

The Hotel de Sens is a 15th century palace in the centre of Paris, at the eastern end of the Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, in the 4th arrondissement, so in the Marais region of Paris.

Discover the Hotel de Sens

France This Way review: the Hotel de Sens is not a major destination in Paris, but both the palace and the associated garden are interesting to see as you explore the Marais district

Courtyard of the Hotel de Sens

Hotel de Sens: history and architecture

From the 13th century, Paris did not have its own archbishop, but fell under the control of the Archbishops of Sens, in Burgundy. It was therefore the Archbishop of Sens, Tristan de Salazar, that had the Hotel de Sens rebuilt in the flamboyant gothic style that we see today from 1475 to 1519. Clearly, the palace has taken its name from this history.

The building retained its use by the bishops controlled by Sens until 1622, at which time Paris gained its own archbishop, and the building was no longer required for its original purpose.

From this time onwards, the building had many uses, and until the Revolution it was rented to various wealthy individuals. Seized during the Revolution, it was then used by transport companies and then later as a jam factory, a glass factory and various other uses.

It was in 1911 that Paris town bought the property, restored it over the following fifty years, and in 1961 it started its current use as the Forney Library.

The building is now an unusual chance to admire the civil architecture from 15th century Paris, although many of these elements have been substantially renovated - the building that the city acquired in 1911 had been very neglected since the revolution, and major works were required to restore the beautiful building we see today.

If the library is open when you visit you can enter to admire the architecture of the interior courtyard, which is the best place to appreciate the building, although architectural purists will realise that all the decorative stonework that gives the building its charm was really part of the 20th century renovation project.

Exhibitions are held in the library quite often, but the only way to visit the entirety of the inside of the Hotel de Sens is to book a visit on the Heritage Days (Journées de Patrimoine), the two days of the year when the building is open to the public (these are typically a weekend close the to the 20th September).

Garden of the Hotel de Sens

Behind the Hotel de Sens (a few metres along Rue du Figuier) there is a flight of stairs that leads to the garden of the building. Access to the garden is free, although is closed in the evening (17.00 in winter, 20.30 in summer, and various other times between the two in spring and autumn).

The garden is a very typical example of French style formal gardens, with the square garden divided in four in a symmetrical pattern and with flower beds surrounded by box bushes in each section.

There are a few benches in the garden where you can sit and read, or simply admire the garden and the architecture of the rear of the Hotel de Sens all along the east side of the garden. When we have been here it has always been very quiet, I think many people pass close by without realising that the garden is here.

Garden of the Hotel de Sens

Attractions nearby

You are in the heart of the Marais district here and you will probably discover the Hotel de Sens as you explore the many cafes, shops and buildings in this area, one of the most popular with visitors to Paris.

A short distance from the front of the Hotel de Sens, the Village Saint-Paul is a small area of cobbled streets and courtyards with restaurants and art shops, that is interesting to visit while you are here, if not perhaps worth travelling far to see.

To the north of the Hotel de Sens, on Rue de Rivoli, the main road through the centre of the Marais, you can visit the Church Saint-Peter Saint-Louis.

You can find more travel ideas in the Paris region guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Hôtel de Sens see HERE