Did you know that a sublime and unusual Parisian façade is hidden in Cité Malesherbes?

In the heart of Paris's 9th arrondissement, Cité Malesherbes is a small, peaceful street, accessible on weekdays, overlooking rue des Martyrs and rue Victor Massé. Discover this street and marvel at the architectural richness of its private mansions and picturesque buildings. One of the jewels of this street is, without doubt, the polychrome façade at number 11.

At number 11 Cité Malesherbes, you'll discover an atypical and delightful façade. The house was built by Anatole Jal in 1856 for the painter Pierre-Jules Jollivet. On the exterior wall, various biblical scenes are painted on enameled lava. Originally intended for the church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, these magnificent ceramics were deemed scandalous by Christian morality and removed from the building a few months after installation. It was then that Jollivet decided to use them as inspiration for the façade of his own home.

But rest assured, you'll find that the polychrome panels removed at the time are now back on the front of the church. In fact, it was only a few years ago that a project was launched to replace the original panels on the church façade... In any case, we're delighted to be back in this historic setting.

The three central windows on the first and second floors are richly decorated with neo-Renaissance elements such as pilasters, scrolls, arabesques, frames, vases and candelabras. Beneath each of these six bays is an enameled lava plaque, a reduction of those made for the façade of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.

The second floor features three representations from the Old Testament: The Creation of Eve, Original Sin and Adam and Eve driven from Paradise.

On the second floor are three representations of the New Testament: The Adoration of the Magi, the Baptism of Christ and The Last Supper. The Last Supper, a promise of redemption, balances the vision of Adam and Eve's punishment.

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The Cité Malesherbes, accessible on weekdays, starts at 59 rue des Martyrs and ends at 22 rue Victor Massé. This private road is also famous for being the birthplace, at number 3, of Jean-Philippe Smet, better known as Johnny Hallyday.

When you explore Cité Malesherbes, you'll be immersed in a veritable architectural and historical treasure trove in the heart of the city. Don't miss the opportunity to discover this rare gem on your next visit to Paris's 9th arrondissement.