Sully Hotel, the grand townhouse of Henri IV's right-hand man

Hôtel de Sully, 62 rue Saint-Antoine
Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, Grand Master of Artillery (of the Arsenal) and Superintendent of Finances under Henry IV, purchased in 1634 a private mansion built ten years earlier and had it splendidly decorated. With its staircase placement and abundant ornamentation, the design of the mansion remains typical of the Renaissance. The bas-reliefs on the façades depict the Elements and the Seasons. Converted into commercial use in the late 18th century, the mansion was disfigured by additions that were only recently removed. The restoration was carried out using engravings and old plans. The National Monuments and Historic Sites Commission has established its headquarters here and organizes exhibitions (www). The bookshop offers a rich selection of guides on heritage and historic monuments. At the back of the garden, a passage leads to Place des Vosges (at No. 7): this is the former orangery built by Sully (see Le Marais).