Paris: in Montmartre, an original castle is hiding in one of the district's narrow streets! Have you found it yet?

updated on October 25, 2023 at 3:06 pm

You thought you knew everything there was to know about the Butte Montmartre: its winding streets, the famous Place du Tertre and, of course, the emblematic Sacré-Coeur that sits enthroned at the top of the hill. And yet very few people know it, but hidden away in the heart of this district is an incredible monument. The Easyvoyage editorial team is here to let you in on the secret.

Une ruelle typique de la butte Montmartre.

Summary

One monument can hide another
An eccentric property (just like its owner)
Unique, playful architecture
A hidden building

One monument can hide another

The well-known adage "one train can hide another" can be applied to monuments. This is true of the Butte Montmartre, where tourists flock to the Sacré-Coeur. But did you know that there is a more unusual monument nearby?

Le Sacré-Coeur, au sommet de la butte Montmartre

It is a neo-Gothic château dating from the late 19th century. Understandably, it's surprising to find this type of building in this typical 18th arrondissement district, and this particularity makes it just as fascinating.

Le portail en fer forgé d'un manoir à Montmartre.

An eccentric property (just like its owner)

This château is actually a manor house, built at the end of the 19th century, between 1892 and 1897 to be precise. The Maison Eymonaud, which bears the name of its original owner, was the realisation of a far-fetched idea by the latter, who wanted to build a building in which to store his collections of antiques and, at the same time, have a workshop in which to create furniture.

Unique, playful architecture

The surprising neo-classical manor house features a 2-storey circular tower, several gargoyle statues and particularly ostentatious decorative elements, such as sculptures and high wooden reliefs on the window frames. The result of this eccentric mix of genres is a manor house of surprising architecture. It is certainly the most incongruous building on the Butte Montmartre.

A hidden building

Despite its originality in the Montmartre district, the building is hidden from tourists and prying eyes. To find it, you have to wend your way through the winding streets of the 18th arrondissement and not be afraid of getting lost. Only the most inquisitive and regular visitors to the area can claim to know the location of the building. If you're one of the lucky ones to have found this manor house, head for no. 7 Impasse Marie-Blanche.

Practical information

📍 Location: 7 impasse Marie-Blanche, 75018 Paris, or here on Google maps

🚌 Getting there: after getting off at the "Blanche" stop on metro line 2, simply take rue Lepic, then turn left onto rue Constance, after passing the famous Deux Moulins café. At the end of the street is the impasse Marie-Blanche, and the manor house is at no. 7.