Rue Jean Varenne

“Rue Jean Varenne”, a name that whispers of Parisian history, stands before us, a testament to the city’s enduring past. This street is best known for No. 57, the Matignon Palace, home to the French Prime Ministers. Though its history goes back much further, it gained notoriety when Louis the XIV decided to build a road to connect Saint-Germain-des-Près to the marshy terrain where he planned the Hu00f4tel des Invalides. This was the 17th century, long before shiny new high-speed railways so they settled for a new road – Rue de Varenne. The “Noble Faubourg” was alive again, so close to Versailles, irresistible for the French aristocracy. Rue de Varenne quickly became the most sought-after address in Paris, the wealthy elite flocked to buy land and build their opulent homes.
The Matignon Palace, designed by architect Jean Courtonne, changed hands several times before it was purchased in 1725 by the Count of Matignon. This mansion has a fascinating history. It was owned by the Prince of Tigny but he could not afford to finish his dream home, forcing him to sell the masterpiece to the Matignon family. The Count de Matignon’s son, Jacques, went on to marry the daughter of Antonio I of Monaco. Upon the death of the father, Louise Hippolyte became head of state before she died in 1731; her husband Jacques de Matignon became Jacques I of Monaco. He was not a successful ruler and fled the principality in 1732 preferring to return to his mistresses in Versailles.
His son Honoré became the next ruler, and did a much better job until the French Revolution came along. He was imprisoned in 1793 and was released a year later, ruined. His family was forced to sell the Hôtel de Matignon in 1802. The house was eventually used as the French Embassy for Austria, but things got awkward during the First World War, when the two countries found themselves on opposite sides.
The mansion was confiscated in 1919 and France eventually assumed ownership. It was decided that the Hôtel de Matignon be used as the residence for the Prime Ministers of France. Pierre Étienne Flandin was the first Prime Minister to move into the palace in 1935. The story of Rue Jean Varenne is filled with aristocracy, scandal, and political intrigues. Look closely, walk along its cobblestone streets and you’ll hear the echoes of a turbulent and rich history.