Nicolas Flamel's House

★ 4.8 (29)Free

Built around 1407, this is considered the oldest surviving stone house in Paris, commissioned by Nicolas Flamel — a scribe and manuscript seller whose posthumous reputation as an alchemist who discovered the philosopher's stone later inspired references in modern popular culture, including Harry Potter. Flamel built the house to shelter the poor in exchange for prayers, and its inscribed facade can still be seen on Rue de Montmorency today.

✨ Reasons to go

1Built around 1407, it's considered the oldest surviving stone house in Paris, a title officially recognized since 1979.
2Nicolas Flamel, a real scribe and manuscript seller, built it to shelter the poor in exchange for their prayers.
3His posthumous legend as an alchemist who found the philosopher's stone later inspired references in Harry Potter.

💡 Good to know

1Viewed from the street, it now houses a restaurant on the ground floor
2look for the inscribed facade above, still legible after six centuries
3a quick, easy stop while exploring the Marais.

⏱️ Typical visit

10 min

🕰️ Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

🚶 Walking intensity

Easy pace

📍

Address

51 Rue de Montmorency, 75003 Paris, France · Le MaraisGoogle Apple

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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"Who hasn’t heard of Nicolas flamel ? Even Harry Potter has. Here is the house he built for the poors centuries ago after he became rich for obscure reasons. Since no one knew his fortune origins, rumors started circulating about the famous philosopher stone !"

— Guillaume Lancrenon