Get a Behind the Scenes Tour Inside the Cultural Services of the French Embassy

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy is one of those storied Gilded Age Fifth Avenue mansions, built originally as the Payne-Whitney mansion by architect Stanford White. The home was a wedding gift from Colonel Oliver Hazard Perry for his nephew. For many years, it was only accessible for special events and in 2014, parts of the first and second floor were converted into the French bookstore, Albertine. On May 11th from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, members of Untapped Cities Insiders will get to go beyond the public spaces of the French Embassy on a behind the scenes tour.

On a tour led by Bénédicte de Montlaur, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy, guests will enter the mansion to discover a marble rotunda featuring a statue by Michelangelo. Guests will also see the Albertine Bookstore on the first floor, a marble room reception room, glimpse the Rococo Venetian room, and a ballroom. Guests will also get access to the usually-closed offices of the Cultural Counselor on the third floor. The staff will also pull out a dress from Marilyn Monroe that was found within the embassy and let you know about the story around it!

The tour is FREE for Untapped Cities Insiders! The tour capacity is 20 spots, allocated on a first come first serve basis.

CAPACITY: 20 guests. Spots allocated on a first come, first served basis with registration opening Friday at 12 PM EST.

Photo courtesy the Cultural Services of the French Embassy

Photo by Jess Nash courtesy the Cultural Services of the French Embassy

See our full list of Untapped Cities Insiders Tours and our upcoming Public Tours.