56Paris Blog

04 September 2026

Paris has adopted a significant increase in the taxation of vacant residential properties from 2027, as part of Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire’s efforts to bring more housing back onto the market.The announcement has understandably caused some concern among property owners — particularly international owners who use their Paris apartment as a second home.But an important distinction has sometimes been lost in the headlines: the measure targets vacant homes, not second homes.

28 August 2026

Every country has its own rhythm. In France, one of the most distinctive is la rentrée. Literally, la rentrée means “the return.” It begins with la rentrée scolaire, when children go back to school in early September, but the expression has a much broader meaning in French life. It is when Paris returns from its summer holidays. Offices fill up again. Restaurants reopen. Meetings are scheduled. New projects begin. Diaries suddenly become crowded. After the slower pace of July and August, there is a palpable sense of renewed energy across the city. And, almost overnight, the countdown towards the end of the year begins. For us at 56Paris, la rentrée also marks something else: the beginning of a new Paris real estate cycle...

20 August 2026

At 56Paris, we spend our days studying the Parisian real estate market on behalf of our clients, and every so often a listing crosses our radar that captures exactly why certain neighborhoods hold such enduring appeal. A renovated two-bedroom apartment currently on the market on Rue de Turenne, in the heart of Le Marais, is one such example. While this particular property is being sold independently and is not one of our own listings, it offers a useful window into what makes this pocket of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements so consistently sought after by both French and international buyers…

13 August 2026

The Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France—the historic birthplace of France's national library, built around the former palace of Cardinal Mazarin—is like France’s Smithsonian. It holds over 40 million documents: illuminated manuscripts, medieval maps, Victor Hugo's handwritten manuscript of Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame), Simone de Beauvoir's famous Le Deuxième Sexe (The Second Sex). For most of the library’s history, you needed scholarly credentials to get past the door. The recent renovation changed that, and the scale of the investment—12 years, a quarter of a billion euros, some of France's finest heritage architects—says something about what Paris considers important...

06 August 2026

Walk down a street in the Marais on a quiet morning and you will notice something that is easy to take for granted: the storefronts look the way they have always looked. The painted woodwork, the brass fittings, the deep-set display windows—none of it is preserved by accident, nor is it purely sentimental. Paris has built an intricate legal framework to safeguard these historic facades, and for anyone considering buying property in Paris, that framework is part of what makes a central Paris address so enduringly valuable...

30 July 2026

When people think of château life near Paris, their minds naturally drift to Versailles, Fontainebleau, or Vaux-le-Vicomte. And yet one of the region's most fascinating historic homes belongs not to a king, queen, or emperor—but to a woman who became one of the most famous artists in the world through her own talent. Tucked away in the village of Thomery, on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau, the Château de Rosa Bonheur remains one of the most extraordinary cultural escapes within easy reach of Paris. Part artist's studio, part time capsule, part country retreat, it offers something increasingly rare: the sensation of stepping directly into another life...

23 July 2026

For decades, August in Paris followed a predictable rhythm. Schools closed for the summer. Families packed their cars and headed toward Brittany, Normandy, the Atlantic coast, or the Mediterranean. Restaurants lowered their shutters. Small businesses disappeared behind handwritten signs announcing "Fermeture Annuelle." Even many apartment buildings seemed unusually quiet. To visitors arriving in Paris for the first time, the city could feel surprisingly empty. The explanation was simple: Paris was built around a population that traditionally left the city during the hottest weeks of the year. Today, however, that picture is becoming increasingly outdated....

16 July 2026

For many international buyers searching for a home in Paris, air conditioning sits high on the wish list. For some, it is as essential as an elevator or a modern kitchen. Then comes the surprise. Finding a Parisian apartment with air conditioning is remarkably difficult. Not because the technology does not exist, but because Paris has long resisted it—culturally, architecturally and practically. Yet after another summer of prolonged heatwaves, with temperatures reaching around 42°C (108°F) for several consecutive days, the conversation is rapidly changing. The question is no longer whether Paris should embrace cooling solutions, but how.

09 July 2026

One of the most rewarding aspects of our work at 56Paris is helping clients find a home that continues to bring them joy years after the purchase. Several years ago, we assisted an American couple in finding their Paris apartment in the 7th arrondissment. Recently, we had the opportunity to revisit their story and photograph the finished result after they completed the final touches to make the property their own.

02 July 2026

This morning, while talking about Bastille Day with my colleague Klara, we discovered that we had both fallen victim to the same Parisian misunderstanding. Klara is Swedish, intelligent, curious, and has been living in Paris long enough to know her way around the city. Yet during a that discussion, she confidently pointed to the famous column rising above Place de la Bastille and informed me: "Well, that's the Bastille, isn't it?" I laughed. Not because she was wrong — although she was — but because I had once made an equally enthusiastic mistake myself...

25 June 2026

There is a building on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré that has not changed hands in 145 years. It sits in the heart of the 8th arrondissement (district), surrounded by some of the most expensive real estate in the world, and it belongs — as it always has — to a single family. That family, the Hermès family, recently did something that would have seemed improbable even a decade ago: their company surpassed the French conglomerate LVMH (owners of Dior, Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon, among others) to become the most valuable business on the Paris CAC40. Not through acquisition, expansion or selling to anyone. But rather by holding firm, staying rooted and refusing to be anything other than what they were originally.

18 June 2026

There is a particular appeal to the stretch of Paris that lies between Village Saint-Paul and the Paris Arsenal Marina. While visitors often gravitate toward the Marais or the bustle of Bastille, this discreet corner of the 4th arrondissement offers something increasingly rare in central Paris: a genuine neighborhood atmosphere combined with excellent connectivity and an unexpected sense of calm. It is here, on a quiet street just moments from the Seine, that 56Paris is delighted to present a charming one-bedroom apartment offering character, volume, and a distinctly Parisian lifestyle.

11 June 2026

If you own property in France, whether you live here full-time or simply enjoy a pied-à-terre during your visits to Paris, you may have received reminders from the French tax authorities regarding the annual property occupancy declaration. Since its introduction in 2023, the obligation has created considerable confusion among both French and international property owners. Many assume they must complete a new declaration every year, while others are unsure how the declaration relates to the taxe foncière or the taxe d'habitation.

04 June 2026

Big things have been happening at Parc de la Villette for years, and yet the pace of renewal feels anything but finished. La Villette in the 19th arrondissement (district) is one of the city's most dynamic neighborhoods — home to world-class concert halls, a new urban farm, and some of the most forward-thinking cultural investment in Europe. That’s why 56Paris is watching it closely.

28 May 2026

Each quarter, the Chambre des Notaires du Grand Paris publishes one of the most rigorous and comprehensive analyses of the France real estate market. The Q1 2026 report, released this morning, confirms the continued — if labored — recovery that began in 2025, while introducing new notes of caution tied to geopolitical and economic developments. At 56Paris, where we work daily with French and international buyers searching for apartments in the heart of the capital, this latest data mirrors what we observe on the ground: a market that is stabilizing rather than surging, measured rather than confident, and more complex to navigate than headline numbers alone suggest.

21 May 2026

At 56Paris, we have always believed that Paris is a city best understood through the stories layered beneath its surface — the history embedded in a street name, the character written into a building's stone, the way a neighborhood holds its identity across centuries. Roland-Garros is precisely that kind of story. Every May and June, the eyes of the world turn to the clay courts of the 16th arrondissement, and yet remarkably few of those watching know who Roland Garros actually was...

14 May 2026

Hidden behind an almost anonymous entrance in the 14th arrondissement, the Villa d’Alésia belongs firmly to the second category. A tiny paved lane shaped like a “Y,” lined with artist studios, ivy-covered façades, small gardens, and discreet houses, it feels less like Paris and more like a village that somehow escaped time...

07 May 2026

At 56Paris, one of the most common conversations we have with international clients is not only about which neighborhood to choose or which apartment ticks the right boxes. It is about something that comes before all of that: whether — and how — to finance the purchase. For many expat buyers, the instinct is to pay cash and keep things simple. But in a significant number of cases, taking out a mortgage is not just possible — it is the smarter financial decision. Here is what you need to know before you start.

30 April 2026

At 56Paris, we often say that a Parisian address is never simply a name — it is a layer of history. Few streets illustrate this more gracefully than rue Madame de Sévigné, in the heart of the Marais, whose name honors one of the most perceptive observers of Parisian life. This spring, the Musée Carnavalet dedicates a major retrospective to her life and correspondence, reminding us that Paris is a city best understood through those who described it...

23 April 2026

At 56Paris, we are always searching for properties that offer something beyond the sum of their specifications — spaces where architecture, neighbourhood, and potential come together in a way that feels genuinely rare. This one-bedroom apartment in the 3rd arrondissement is precisely that kind of find. Situated in the very heart of the Upper Marais, this is an opportunity that will appeal equally to investors, first-time buyers, and those seeking a refined pied-à-terre with real scope to make it their own.

16 April 2026

At 56Paris, we spend our days immersed in the real estate fabric of Paris — its hidden courtyards, its storied street names, its buildings that carry decades of life within their walls. So when a property makes headlines not because of its architecture or its address alone, but because of the story it has come to represent in the global imagination, we pay close attention. The building at 1 Place de l'Estrapade, in the 5th arrondissement, is one such property. Three apartments there are currently for sale — and the world has noticed.

09 April 2026

This spring, Paris once again reminds us why it remains unmatched. A major exhibition dedicated to Henri Matisse has just opened at the Grand Palais, bringing together over 200 works from the artist’s final years. It is the kind of cultural moment that doesn’t simply attract visitors—it reshapes the rhythm of the city itself. And it’s a perfect illustration of something we see every day at 56Paris: in Paris, culture is not separate from daily life—it defines it.

02 April 2026

At 56Paris, most property searches begin with a thoughtful, structured approach—refining criteria, organizing visits, and allowing time for reflection. This was precisely how Anne and her clients expected their search to unfold. Introduced through a trusted recommendation, they arrived with an open mind. While certain aspects remained undefined—location, size, layout—they were drawn to the idea of something atypical: perhaps an artist’s loft, something with volume, character, and a departure from the classic Parisian apartment. The plan was clear: take the time to explore, compare, and gradually refine. But sometimes, Paris has other ideas...

26 March 2026

There are moments in Paris when the city reminds you—quite clearly—that it is not a museum. Rather, those who live in the city get to see it as a stage. A testing ground. A place where artists are still allowed to dream at scale, and where those dreams can quite literally reshape the urban landscape. One of those moments is coming in June 2026, when the Pont Neuf, Paris’s oldest bridge and one of its most beloved landmarks, will undergo a daring transformation...

19 March 2026

Spring in Paris brings a gentle sense of renewal. Gardens begin to bloom, terraces fill once again, and the city moves into one of its most refined seasonal moments: Easter. In Paris, this celebration goes far beyond chocolate. It is an expression of craftsmanship, creativity, and attention to detail — values deeply rooted in the Parisian art de vivre. At 56Paris, these are also the qualities we look for every day. Whether in a beautifully renovated apartment or a discreet historic building, it is often the detail — the quiet elegance — that defines a property.

12 March 2026

From the marble queens of the Luxembourg Garden to the golden pioneers of the 2024 Olympic Games, discover the monuments across Paris honoring remarkable women who shaped the city’s history. Every March, International Women’s Day offers a moment to look again at the world around us. In Paris, that invitation extends far beyond museums and history books — it reaches into the city’s gardens, squares, and quiet corners where statues stand watch over everyday life.

05 March 2026

Located in the lively Bastille neighborhood, on the edge of the Marais and just a short walk from the historic Place des Vosges, this three-bedroom apartment offers a comfortable and well-organized living space in the very center of Paris. Set within a modern building dating from the late 1990s, the property combines the convenience of contemporary construction with a location surrounded by some of the capital’s most vibrant streets, markets, and cultural landmarks.

26 February 2026

The results for Q4 2025, combined with early 2026 indicators, confirm what many buyers and sellers have begun to sense on the ground: the Paris apartment market has entered a new phase — more balanced, more selective, and quietly stabilizing. At 56Paris, where our daily activity focuses primarily on apartments in the historic heart of the capital, these trends are particularly visible...

19 February 2026

In December, Paris quietly inaugurated something rather extraordinary: its first urban aerial cable car. For a city so often associated with 19th-century boulevards and historic métro lines, the launch of an aerial gondola might sound surprising. Yet at 56Paris, we’re consistently struck by how Paris — and the wider Île-de-France region — continues to modernise, adapt and experiment, often in thoughtful, human-scaled ways. This new cable car is a perfect example.

12 February 2026

In the heart of the Left Bank, this one-bedroom apartment offers far more than a sought-after address. It is a quietly remarkable example of how Parisian architectural logic — when preserved and respected — continues to shape long-term desirability and resilience in value.