Part One: Hôtel De La Païva – The Intriguing Story Behind The Most Sumptuous Mansion on The Champs-Elysées

Part One: Hôtel De La Païva – The Intriguing Story Behind The Most Sumptuous Mansion on The Champs-Elysées

While I was flipping through a book about historic palaces in Paris, especially those rarely accessible to the public, a particular and quite unusual story caught my eye and sparked my interest. The fascinating story I am about to describe narrates the life of the mastermind behind one of the most emblematic monuments on the Champs-Elysées (Hôtel Particulier in French): Hôtel de La Païva, the only example left of the magnificent palaces that once lined the iconic avenue...