If you belonged to the cream of Parisian society in the late 19th century, chances are you would have been invited to one of the dazzling soirées held at this mansion. The home of art collectors Nélie Jacquemart and Édouard André, this opulent residence was designed in the then-fashionable eclectic style, which combined elements from different eras – seen here in the presence of Greek and Roman antiquities, Egyptian artefacts, period furnishings and portraits by Dutch masters.
A wander through the 16 rooms offers an absorbing glimpse of the lifestyle and tastes of Parisian high society: from the library, hung with canvases by Rembrandt and Van Dyck, to the marvelous Jardin d’Hiver – a glass-paned garden room backed by a magnificent double-helix staircase. Upstairs is more art – an impressive collection of Italian Renaissance works by Botticelli, Donatello and Titian, among others.
After the tour, stop in at the salon de thé (11.45am to 5.30pm), which serves pastries as extravagant as the decor.
