Secrets Inside the Apartment That Hadn’t Been Lived In Since the 1940s

In 2010, a boujee apartment in Paris came under investigation after rent was left unpaid due to the death of the owner.

When investigators entered the unit for an inspection, they found all the contents left untouched and realized the apartment hadn’t been lived in since World War II…

Who Owned the Apartment?

Marthe de Florian was a French courtesan born in 1864 who belonged to a class of women on the fringe of respectable society, and the owner of the untouched apartment.

She lived a lavish, untraditional lifestyle and was the definition of an elite escort.

She Lived There Until 1939

In the 19th century, French demimondaines (elite prostitutes) were associated with their fancy apartments, high-end couture, gambling and wealthy lovers.

De Florian’s apartment was situated close to the infamous Pigalle Red Light District area, a popular address for the Belle Époque (Beautiful Age) demimondaines. The high-profiled owner of the apartment lived there until her death in 1939.

Her Granddaughter Was the Last to Live in the Apartment

After de Florian’s death, the apartment was occupied by her granddaughter, known as Madame de Florian, a playwright who used the pseudonym “Solange Beldo.” However, when the Nazis invaded France in 1940, Madame de Florian fled to the South of France.

She Left Behind All of Her Belongings

Madame de Florian fled her city of Paris to escape the Nazi occupation. She hastily left behind all of her personal belongings inside the apartment just as they were, only to be revisited again 70 years later…