Curious about Parisian villas? Let’s explore Villa Windsor. Not Villa Gascogne in Chennevières-sur-Marne. Villa Windsor stands in the 16th arrondissement. It’s nestled within the Bois de Boulogne. This historic villa boasts a rich past.
Originally named Château Le Bois it was built in French Neoclassical style. The architect Roger Bouvard completed it in 1929. Henri Lillaz was the first owner. The French government seized the property after Paris’s liberation in 1944. General Charles de Gaulle resided here until 1946.
But Villa Windsor is best known as the home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936. He became the Duke of Windsor in 1937. He married Wallis Simpson. She then became the Duchess of Windsor.
In 1953 the City of Paris leased the villa to the Windsors. They paid a nominal rent. Maison Jansen a Parisian firm refurbished the villa under the Duchess’s direction. The Duke passed away here in 1972. The Duchess continued to live here until her death in 1986.
The Windsors also had a country house called Moulin de la Tuilerie. They spent weekends and summers there. It was located in Gif-sur-Yvette. Before World War II they rented Château de la Croë on the French Riviera.
After the Duchess’s death the villa returned to the City of Paris. In 1986 Mohamed Al-Fayed leased the Villa Windsor. He paid one million francs per year. He also invested thirty million francs in renovations. Al-Fayed’s son Dodi visited the villa with Princess Diana. This was just a day before their tragic deaths in 1997.
Al-Fayed acquired the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s possessions. He purchased them for $4.5 million from the Pasteur Institute. In 1998 Sotheby’s New York auctioned over 40000 items. The proceeds went to charity.
The Mansart Foundation now manages Villa Windsor. They plan to open it to the public in 2025. Restoration costs are estimated at 8.7 million euros. Private sponsorships are helping fund the project. Soon everyone can experience the history of Villa Windsor. A house filled with royal stories and Parisian charm.