Passy and the Art Nouveau of the 16th, a Self-Guided Paris Walk
2h. 1.6 miles. From Métro Passy to Maison de Balzac / Trocadéro.
The genteel west of Paris, where Hector Guimard and the Art Nouveau architects left their finest buildings. A walk for lovers of design and quiet streets: curving facades, a village-like market street, and Balzac's hidden house.
The local move
Look up and look at doorways. The treasures here are the buildings themselves, Guimard's whiplash iron balconies and carved stone. Bring the addresses; these are private homes on ordinary streets, not signposted sights.
Best time to go
Daytime, in good light to see the facades. Rue de Passy shops keep normal hours.
When to avoid it
Sundays, when the market street and shops are quietest.
The stops
Jardins du Trocadéro
The terraced gardens sloping to the Seine, with fountains and the Eiffel Tower across the river.
Tip: End with the tower view from the terrace above the fountains, the classic head-on shot.
Rue de Passy
The old high street of what was once a separate village, now a smart shopping street.
Tip: A pleasant start with cafes and shops. The covered Passy market is just off it for a food stop.
Maison de Balzac
The novelist's modest house, now a museum, hidden in a garden on the hillside.
Tip: Free to visit, with a lovely garden and a cafe. This is where Balzac hid from his creditors and wrote.
Castel Béranger
Hector Guimard's 1898 apartment building, the manifesto of French Art Nouveau, at 14 rue La Fontaine.
Tip: Admire the extraordinary green iron entrance from the street; it's a private building, so enjoy the facade.
Rue La Fontaine
A street lined with more Guimard and Art Nouveau buildings, an open-air museum of the style.
Tip: Walk it slowly, looking up at the balconies and bay windows. Number 60 is another Guimard.
About these walks
This is one of the free self-guided Paris walks written by the Chic Trip team, locals who plan and book full Paris trips for American travelers. Get our free insider Paris guide at chic-trip.com/free-paris-guide, or have us plan your whole trip at chic-trip.com/paris-travel-planner.
