Hôtel Matignon

Palace Official Paris residence of the French Prime Minister

An 18th-century hôtel particulier on Rue de Varenne, Hôtel Matignon serves as the French prime minister’s official residence and office. Sightseers note the façade and gardens from the street and during occasional public openings such as European Heritage Days.

Main image

Hôtel Matignon is an 18th-century hôtel particulier in Paris’s 7th arrondissement that serves as the official residence and working address of the French Prime Minister. It is a government property with formal state and private rooms and a substantial private garden.

From the outside the building and its formal garden are points of interest for visitors exploring Paris’s diplomatic and government quarter. The garden and façades are sometimes shown during annual heritage events, but the interior is not open to ordinary tourists. Photographs from the surrounding public streets are the normal way to view the site.

Originally built as a private aristocratic mansion in the 18th century, the hôtel passed through private ownership before becoming state property in the 20th century and since then has been used to house the head of the French government. The building’s architecture and layout retain features of an urban mansion adapted for official use.

It stands in the 7th arrondissement of Paris on Rue de Varenne, in the government district of the left bank close to other official residences and ministries.

  • Public access: Public access is restricted; the building is not normally open for tours but is visible from the surrounding streets and garden perimeter.
  • Garden openings: The estate's gardens are occasionally opened to the public during special heritage events in Paris.
Hôtel Matignon
57 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
48.8544, 2.3208
Not open to public except special events (European Heritage Days)
Not open to the public except during special events (European Heritage Days in September - free guided visits historically)

How to Get to Hôtel Matignon #

Take Métro Line 8 to Invalides or Line 13 to Varenne; Matignon is a short walk (5-10 minutes) from either station. From the River Seine/Les Invalides area it’s a 10-12 minute walk up Rue de l’Université and Rue de Varenne.

Tips for Visiting Hôtel Matignon #

  • Stand on the far side of the iron gates on Rue de Varenne for the best unintrusive view - security is strict and photos through the grille photograph better than from the pavement.
  • If visiting during Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (mid-September), reserve well in advance; visits fill quickly and groups are small.
  • Combine the stop with the Hôtel de la Marine and Musée Rodin for a compact afternoon in the 7th arrondissement.

Best Time to Visit Hôtel Matignon #

Because Hôtel Matignon is the official Paris residence of the Prime Minister, it is normally closed to the public; the only reliable public access is during official heritage events.

Late summer (September)
Mid-September · 15-22°C
European Heritage Days open the residence to the public; one of the rare chances to walk the private gardens and see the salons.
Spring
April-June · 10-20°C
Pleasant weather for photographing the façade and the private gardens from outside; guards are less hurried than in winter.

Weather & Climate near Hôtel Matignon #

Climate

Hôtel Matignon's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (645 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 51 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
AugustJuneJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
40°
Warmest Month
-12°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
92%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

53 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.6h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
87%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

46 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
10.0h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

60 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
82%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

51 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.5
UV Index
Low
11.7h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

62 Good

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
15°
77%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

53 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
13.5h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 63 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
10° 19°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

63 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
15.0h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

80 Excellent

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
13° 22°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

55 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.5
UV Index
High
15.8h daylight

July

July is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

78 Very Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° 25°
72%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

61 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.5
UV Index
High
15.5h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° 25°
72%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

43 mm
Rainfall
3.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
14.1h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
12° 21°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

53 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
12.4h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
16°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

58 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
10.7h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
11°
91%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

52 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
9.1h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
93%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

57 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.2h daylight

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