High above the cobbled streets of Montmartre, Villa Junot rises like a fantasy made real — a château-like hôtel particulier reborn as one of Paris’s most intriguing private villas. Built in the 1920s and recently reimagined for a new century, it captures the glamour of Art Deco while speaking fluently to the surrealist spirit of Montmartre.
A House with History
Originally commissioned by the operetta composer André Mauprey, Villa Junot was conceived in the exuberance of the Roaring Twenties. Its exterior hinted at grandeur — wrought-iron balconies, intricate reliefs, elegant proportions — while inside it offered a stage for modern life in the city’s most artistic arrondissement. Nearly a century later, it has been restored and reinterpreted, its bones preserved but its spirit revitalized.
The Resurrection
The Milan-based studio Claves Architecture (Laure Gravier and Soizic Fougeront) has led the villa’s transformation. Their approach amplifies the building’s theatricality: frescoed walls, surrealist flourishes, trompe-l’œil staircases, and stained glass filtered in jewel tones. Yet alongside the whimsy are luxurious essentials — an indoor pool, private spa, sauna, hammam, gym, wine cellar, and elevator. The result is a house that feels at once playful and indulgent, rooted in history yet entirely contemporary.
Rooms with Personality
Villa Junot accommodates up to twelve guests across five bedrooms, including four doubles and one family suite. Communal spaces include a soaring double-height salon, a wood-panelled library, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of Paris. Each room has its own identity, yet all share a sense of curated atmosphere, balancing grandeur with intimacy.
Montmartre, Reimagined
What distinguishes Villa Junot is how it reflects its neighborhood. Montmartre has long been a crucible of art and experiment — home to Picasso, Modigliani, Cocteau, Breton. The villa nods to that surrealist and bohemian heritage without cliché, weaving history into interiors that feel alive. To stay here is not just to rent a luxury property, but to inhabit a piece of Montmartre’s ongoing myth.
Practicalities
- Address: 18 Avenue Junot, 18ᵉ arrondissement, Paris
- Capacity: Up to 12 guests, 5 bedrooms
- Amenities: Indoor pool, spa, sauna, hammam, gym, rooftop terrace, wine cellar, concierge service
- Booking: Available through Iconic House and luxury villa specialists such as Weeks Off and Bailey Robinson
TL;DR
In a city where five-star hotels abound, Villa Junot offers something different: privacy, personality, and a sense of narrative. Its interiors invite lingering, its rooftop frames Paris in cinematic light, and its surrealist details whisper of Montmartre’s past. More than accommodation, it is an experience — a Parisian dream staged in stone, glass, and imagination.
https://www.iconic.house/villa-junot
My World of Interiors 