We instinctively associate Marcel Pagnol with the hills of Aubagne, hunting trips with his father, and the sun-scorched landscapes of Provence. Yet it was in a Parisian townhouse, just a few steps from Avenue Foch, that he wrote *La Gloire de mon père* and *Le Château de ma mère*. A home he moved into in 1956 and never left until his death on April 18, 1974.
In January 2026, this house reappeared on the real estate market with a rather staggering price tag: 48 million euros. This is not just a Parisian apartment, but a 672-square-meter townhouse spread over five levels, with four bedrooms and a 150-square-meter private garden. All of this is located on the square off Avenue Foch, a private cul-de-sac in the 16th arrondissement, away from traffic.
It was here that Marcel Pagnol wrote *My Father’s Glory* and *My Mother’s Castle*
Marcel Pagnol already had a remarkable career behind him when he moved into this house. His plays *Marius* and *Fanny* had been successful, his films had become classics, and he had been elected to the Académie française in 1946. But another part of his body of work would take shape within the walls of this Parisian residence.
In 1957, he published *La Gloire de mon père* (My Father’s Glory), followed by *Le Château de ma mère* (My Mother’s Castle), two stories in which he reflects on his childhood memories. It’s a curious contrast: it is in Paris, in one of the capital’s most exclusive neighborhoods, that he recounts family vacations in the hills of Provence, his discovery of nature, and the adventures of little Marcel.
The house has long been part of the family’s history. After the writer’s death, his wife Jacqueline continued to live there until her own passing in 2016. She had thus maintained this address for sixty years, long after her husband’s death.
Since then, the mansion has changed hands—and, more importantly, its appearance. After its acquisition by businessman Emad Khashoggi, the property underwent an extensive renovation project entrusted to Cogemad, a company specializing in ultra-luxury residences. The neo-Gothic façade was preserved, but the interior was redesigned to meet the expectations of a wealthy clientele.
The house, renamed Villa Lumière, now features an elevator serving its five levels, spacious reception rooms, a professional kitchen, and four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. A fitness area and a massage room round out the property. The 150-square-meter garden has also been redesigned.
At 48 million euros, the asking price when it went on the market in January 2026 amounts to more than 71,000 euros per square meter of living space—and that’s not even counting the garden. A figure that places this house in a very special category of real estate. However, this is a listed price, not a confirmed sale price.
A commemorative plaque still marks Marcel Pagnol’s time at number 16 on the square off Avenue Foch. The writer’s name thus remains linked to this Parisian home, even though the living rooms where he used to work bear little resemblance today to the ones he knew.