Musee Nissim de Camondo (Decorative Arts - House Museum), Paris

The tale of the Camondo family is a tragic and poignant one, recorded with utmost care within the walls of this exceptional museum. Patriarch Moïse de Camondo, born in the bosom of a prosperous banking family in Istanbul, crafted his crowning jewel in 1911, a mansion designed in the style of the Petit Trianon at Versailles. Within its walls, the patriarch curated a collection of the most exquisite furniture, wainscoting, artworks, and bibelots, transporting visitors back in time to the mid-to-late 18th century. However, despite his vast wealth and charm, his wife left him just five years into their marriage. Then, his son Nissim met his untimely demise in World War I. Upon Moïse’s death in 1935, the house and its contents were bequeathed to the state as a museum named after his lost son. Tragically, a few years later, his daughter Béatrice, her husband, and their two children were deported from France and cruelly murdered at Auschwitz. The Camondo name died out with them. Today, the house stands as an impeccable tribute to Moïse’s life.

Recent renovations have unlocked several rooms for public viewing, including some of the family’s private apartments, the kitchen, scullery, and the servant’s dining room. Despite being built in the early 20th century, the mansion was installed with ultra-modern conveniences, such as elevators and a built-in vacuum system. Take a moment to scrutinize the chandeliers, silver dining sets, Beauvais tapestries, Chinese vases, and needlepoint chairs, and then glide through the library, dining room, private apartments, and out to the garden. Lastly, indulge in a spot of refreshment at the chic contemporary café, complete with a charming terrace, nestled within the former garage.