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Origin and history

The Maison de Balzac is a pavilion converted into a museum dedicated to the writer Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850), located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. This place, where Balzac lived from 1840 to 1847 under the pseudonym "Mister Breugnol" to escape his creditors, is the only one of his Parisian residences still existing. The house, with two discreet entrances (Rue Raynouard and Rue Berton), allowed him to work in isolation, often from midnight to 6 p.m., lit candlelights and stimulated by black coffee. Here he corrected The Human Comedy and wrote novels like A Dark Case.

The museum was created in 1910 by Louis Baudier de Royaumont, who rented the Balzac apartment in 1908 and transformed it into an exhibition space with the help of Léon Maillard. Ranked a historic monument in 1913, the pavilion and its garden (registered in 1944) now house manuscripts, rare editions, personal objects of the writer (such as his famous turquoise cane and coffee maker), as well as a specialized library. An extension planned for 2002 was abandoned, but work in 2019 modernized reception, garden and accessibility.

The collections also include works by Balzac's friend Théophile Gautier and busts by the writer, including one by Auguste Rodin. The museum, free and labeled Musée de France, offers temporary exhibitions (such as the one on the film Illusions lost in 2021) and a garden of 650 m2 with views of the Eiffel Tower. Since 2021, a Balzac prize has been awarded for contemporary works inspired by his style, with Pierre Assouline as jury president.

The site, managed by Paris Museums, preserves the intimate atmosphere of the 18th century 'madness' where Balzac lived. Its steep staircase, modest rooms and creditor-related history make it a unique testimony of Parisian literary life under the July monarchy. The museum also organizes theatre performances and children's animations, perpetuating the memory of one of the greatest French novelists.

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