A local’s guide to visiting the beautiful Jardin Monica Vitti in Paris, a Versailles-like garden formerly known as the Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sens near St Paul!
I’ve known the Jardin Monica Vitti for a long time – it’s right near the Marais and the Saint-Paul station in Paris – but until recently, I only knew it by its former name, the Jardin de l’Hôtel de Sens.
The Hôtel de Sens itself is the magnificent historical site where you’ll find the Bibliothèque Forney; it’s a medieval building that is truly one of the best-hidden gems in all of Paris.
As for the Jardin Monica Vitti, with its “mini-Versailles” vibe, classic French style, and very chic atmosphere located right behind the Hôtel de Sens…
Well, it’s definitely a place you need to know about, especially if you love old-world charm and quiet spots.
Jardin Monica Vitti: A Chic Green Sanctuary in Paris
Whether you’re visiting Paris for the first time or you’ve lived here for years, you’ll always find spots that are beautiful, full of history, and perfectly instagrammable – even when you think you know the city inside and out.
That is exactly the case with the Hôtel de Sens.
As for the Jardin Monica Vitti, with its soft, chic, and classic French aesthetic, it’s bound to quickly become one of your favorite magical secret gardens in Paris.
Located on Rue des Nonnains d’Hyères, sitting in this garden feels like being projected back into the past.
It is accessible through a discreet gate on the side of the Hôtel de Sens.
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Once you pass through the gate, you find yourself in an iconic French-style garden – formal and structured.
It is particularly beautiful in the spring with its blooms and in the autumn with its burnt orange hues.
I stopped by just a few days ago in the middle of winter.
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Despite the drizzle and the cold, I found a few minutes of refuge there, surrounded by greenery that was surprisingly lush for the end of January.
The garden features symmetrical boxwood parterres, neatly trimmed hedges, and vibrant seasonal flower beds that contrast beautifully with the rugged, turreted stone walls of the mansion.
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And even though the garden no longer bears the name of the Hôtel de Sens, its new name pays tribute to another icon – this time from the silver screen.
It is named after the “Queen of Italian Cinema,” Monica Vitti, the muse of Michelangelo Antonioni.
She had a very special bond with Paris, having lived in the Marais for years near Place des Vosges and Rue du Foin.
If you look closely at the stone façade of the Hôtel de Sens facing the garden, you can still see a cannonball embedded in the wall.
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It has been stuck there since the “Trois Glorieuses” (the Revolution of July 1830), with an inscription below it marking the date: July 28, 1830.
Jardin Monica Vitti Paris Photo Gallery
Jardin Monica Vitti: A Chic Green Sanctuary in Paris
When you’ve finished enjoying your moment at the Jardin Monica Vitti, you’ll find other beautiful spots and hidden gems nearby.
The Village Saint-Paul is just a few minutes away on foot – one of Paris’s “secret villages” and a labyrinth of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants.
Also close by is the Hôtel de Ville with its grand architecture and esplanade, sitting right next to the BHV department store.
If you’re looking to discover something equally interesting from a historical perspective, I also suggest exploring the colorful alleys of Paris, as well as its covered passages like Passage Verdeau, Galerie Colbert, and Galerie Vivienne, or even the secret former Abbey of Port-Royal!
Jardin Monica Vitti Paris
Address: 7 rue des Nonnains d’Hyères, 75004 Paris
Website: Paris