“A grand weekend escape?” mused the architect Pierre Rousseau in the late 1700s, right here at what would become known as Hôtel Rousseau. He envisioned a place where he could retreat from the bustling city. Hôtel Rousseau, located on the slopes of Montmartre, was just outside Paris at the time. It served as his weekend escape, a testament to his architectural prowess.
Hôtel Rousseau wasn’t designed as a grand palace, but as an elegant, square pavilion nestled between a courtyard and a garden. The original design was a three-story structure with only three windows across each facade. It was topped by a belvedere which has since disappeared. The courtyard facade showcases Rousseau’s unique style. Ionic columns frame the ground floor openings. The first floor features balustraded windows flanked by Doric columns supporting a triangular pediment. A simple cornice crowns the facade above a compact second floor. Look closely. You can still distinguish the original structure from later expansions. These expansions added an extra window span to each end of the facade.
In the early 1800s, Hôtel Rousseau transformed into an artists’ haven. First, the neoclassical painter François-Edouard Picot established his studio within these walls. Later, the Romantic painter Eugène Isabey followed suit. Perhaps the most famous resident of Hôtel Rousseau was Victor Hugo. After returning from exile in Guernsey in 1871, he resided here until 1873. During this time, he penned “L’Année Terrible” and “Quatre-Vingt-Treize”. While living at Hôtel Rousseau, his mistress, Juliette Drouet, resided just across the street at 55 rue Pigalle. Imagine the clandestine meetings, the hushed conversations between these lovers.
Today, Hôtel Rousseau stands as a silent witness to the passage of time. Divided into private apartments, the main building, tucked away in the courtyard, is not open to the public. Yet, its story, a blend of architectural elegance and historical significance, continues to resonate within these walls. As we move on, let’s carry with us the echoes of artists, writers, and lovers who once graced Hôtel Rousseau.