The Penthemont building complex is located at 37 and 39, rue de Bellechasse and 104, rue de
Grenelle in the VIIth district, one of the most prestigious in Paris.
This exceptional property covers a vast parcel with a total area of 6,906 m², listed in the land
registry as section AM n°39.
With a total floor area of 12,438 m2, it includes 3 interconnected sub-assemblies, with three
independent entrances: the “Abbaye de Penthemont”, the “Hôtel du Génie” and the “Pavillon
de Penthemont”, the outlines of which are shown in the following aerial view.
Building D
“Abbaye de
Penthemont”
37, rue de
Bellechasse
Building B
Building A
“Pavillon de
Penthemont”
104, rue de
Grenelle
“Hôtel du
Génie”
39, rue de
Bellechasse
These imposing buildings and their remarkable architecture are a testimonial to this location’s
singular history, the headquarters of an old abbey that was rebuilt in the middle of the XVIIIth
century, then redeveloped at the start of the XIXth century in order to suit its new military
usage, the role with which we are still familiar to this very day.
1. At 37, rue de Bellechasse, “Abbaye de Penthemont”:
Floor area: 8,404.70 m².
Main entrance flanked by two pavilions built in 1857.
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Around the main courtyard: three buildings A, B and D used as offices.
Building A (on the right when entering): former XVIIIth century convent made of dressed
stone, zinc and slate roof break.
Façades and roofs facing the courtyard registered as historical monuments (order of 21 March
1983).
Basement: cellar storage, archives, CPCU stand-alone stations, former bunker.
Ground floor: considerable inside height. Foyer, elevator, grand staircase, large meeting room
(former refectory), central main salon listed in the supplementary inventory of historical
monuments (order of 24 December 1992), dining room.
Between the ground floor and the 1st floor: secret room (see draft deed of sale 7-2)
1st floor: luxury offices listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments (order
of 24 December 1992), except for the central grand salon with its décor listed as a historical
monument (order of 21 March 1983).
2nd and 3rd floors: offices, technical and IT rooms.
4th floor set back: usable roof spaces. Offices.
Buildings B (at the end of the courtyard) and D (on the left upon entering): old stables built in
1818 and added to in 1856.
Ground floor, respectively two and three floors, the last one consisting of usable roof spaces.
Façades and roofs facing the courtyard listed in the supplementary inventory of historical
monuments (order of 21 March 1983).
2. At 39, rue de Bellechasse, “Hôtel du Génie”:
Floor area: 2,863.40 m².
Entrance via a porte cochère (carriage gateway) with a caretaker, into the paved courtyard
running along the rear façade of the building A of the Abbaye de Penthemont.
On this rear façade, very beautiful sculptured door, the abbey’s former main entrance.
At the corner of the rue de Bellechasse and the rue de Grenelle, two buildings connected with
one another, elevators.
First building (rue de Bellechasse side): built in 1846-1847 for the fortifications department.
Added to in 1931. Basement, ground floor, four floors, fifth floor under the eaves.
Second building (rue de Grenelle side): basement, ground floor, three floors, unused attic.
3. At 104, rue de Grenelle, “Pavillon de Penthemont”:
Floor area: 1,170 m².
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Former outbuildings of the abbey.
Beautiful carriage gateway opening onto a small paved courtyard surrounded by three
interconnected buildings that form a T.
First building (neighbouring on 106, rue de Grenelle): basement, ground floor, two floors and
unused attic.
Second building (neighbouring on 102, rue de Grenelle): basement, ground floor, three floors
and unused attic.
Third building (connected with the abbey): ground floor, four floors, the last one consisting of
usable roof spaces.
Note: in accordance with the law of 5 August 1844, the former church at the Penthemont
abbey was handed over to the City of Paris for use for Protestant church services. It is now the
Reformed Church of Pentemont-Luxembourg, that occupies the neighbouring parcel AM 40
(see draft deed of sale).
In 1851, an easement was laid out alongside the Temple for the benefit of its users by means
of the construction of a wall creating a separation with the courtyard of 39, rue de
Bellechasse, and by the opening of a carriage gateway at 106, rue de Grenelle. Still to this
day, this is the main entrance used by people visiting the Temple (a study is currently in
progress with the City, which owns parcel AM 40, relative to the sale of this passageway or
the establishment of easements; the draft deed of sale will take these particularities into
account).
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