art tours paris

art journey Paris Museums & Monuments Private Tours

Private tours of the louvre.

The Louvre museum is a labyrinth of 9 miles of corridors displaying 35,000 artworks over three wings. Why get lost and join the crowd? With a genuine private tour of the Louvre museum enjoy a tailor-made visit, not a one-size-fits-all commentary. Not a lecture, but a conversation. A journey through five millennia of civilization.

Musée d'Orsay Private Tour

Paris is the city of Impressionism, but at first colorful Sunday afternoon scenes were greeted with a hail of criticism and slander. With our private tour of the musée d'Orsay , we will discuss why and admire the artists' resilience in their years of struggle and their eventual success.

Versailles Castle Private tour

It took fifty years to turn a swamp into a castle amazing enough to dazzle the European nobility. Why rush? Versailles is a lot more than a gilded palace, its gardens, Grand and Petit Trianon, the village of Marie Antoinette are an invitation for a day-long journey through history, with our private guided tour of Versailles castle .

Sainte Chapelle & Notre Dame

If one monument really deserves to be called a jewel, it is the Sainte Chapelle, with its translucent tapestries of color. With our private tour of the Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame cathedral , we will discover why 'gothic' architecture is not about darkness, but light.

Ancient Egypt Private tour

With a private tour of Ancient Egypt in the Louvre , understand how hieroglyphic writing works , and for the 200th anniversary of the decipherment, marvel at the story of Champollion cracking the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic system .

Saint Denis Basilica Private Tour

North of Paris hides an overlooked treasure; a monument where one can almost rub shoulders with Kings, a place with nearly 1500 years of history, the burial place of most French Kings, and the birthplace of "gothic" architecture. With a private tour of Saint Denis Basilica , we open the door to history.

Pompidou Centre Private tour

Understanding modern art still eludes you? Join us on an art journey Pompidou centre to wonder at a century of spectacular creativity! At the Musée Picasso , we will wonder at an artist who managed, every day, for 75 years, to create art.

Musée Rodin Private tour

Have you ever thought that life was hard for the Impressionists at the start of their career ? Rodin had been refused entry to the Fine Arts School not once, but three times ! With our Rodin museum private tour you will discover the life story of a sculptor of great genius.

About Art Journey Paris

Art Journey specialises in private guided tours of Paris museums and monuments, with officially certified guide-lecturers ; and is a member of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau ; the official Tourist Bureau.

Art Journey Stories

Art Journey Stories will transport you through the history of Paris, its artists and museums. For the 200th anniversary of the decipherment, discover how Champollion deciphered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs . The full story of the Venus de Milo , and the most iconic of all works of art, the Mona Lisa . A detailed description of the two sides of the Mona Lisa. First, a description of the theft, and the astonishing failures of the police at the time. Then, why it is a masterpiece.

Private Tour Reviews

"You opened our eyes to the true beauty and history of art" . The best way to get an idea of our private tours is to read the reviews from past visitors, with our testimonials .

Visiting museums in the evening

There is a simple and relaxing way to avoid crowds in museums, to visit in the evening . Several Parisian museums offer visits at night. Enjoy the many treasures hidden inside the Louvre during an evening private tour of the Louvre . Late opening private tours can also be enjoyed with our evening tour of the musée d'Orsay and the Pompidou centre night tour .

Why join the crowd when you can have a private tour of the museums and monuments of Paris?

You can easily get lost in a museum with 9 miles of corridors, the Louvre. Instead of being baffled by the largest museum in the world, discover its hidden treasures with a private guided tour. Photo © Art Journey Paris.

To inquire about a private tour of Paris museums and monuments, please mention the date of the visit as well as the number of participants , using the form below, thank you.

© 2013 - 2024 Art Journey Paris Museums and Monuments Private tours - Louvre museum private tour, Versailles palace tours, Notre Dame & Sainte Chapelle, Musée d'Orsay private tours.

• Louvre: Introduction to the Treasures
• Louvre: Paris Muse Clues: A Family Tour
• Louvre: A Nile Family Voyage
• Louvre: Quest for Families with Teens
• Louvre: History of Paris in Paintings
• Louvre: The ‘Hidden” Masterpieces
• Louvre: The History of the Louvre

Versailles Unlocked

• Families Ages 6-12: Time to Explore Paris
• Families Ages 6-12: Paris Muse Clues at the Louvre
• Families Ages 6-12: Meet the Impressionists at the Orsay
• Families Ages 6-12: A Nile Family Voyage at the Louvre
• Families Ages 12+: The French Revolution: A Murder Mystery Tour
• Families Ages 12+: Louvre Quest for Teens
• Families Ages 12+: Historic Heart Walk for Teens

Contemporary Art at the Bourse

• Orangerie Museum: Monet and More

Current Orsay Exhibition: Inventing Impressionism

• Orsay Museum: Age of Impressionists
• Orsay Museum: Meet the Impressionists Family Tour
• Pompidou Museum: Masterpieces of Modern Art
• Rodin Museum: A Life in Sculpture
• Walk: Time to Explore Paris for Families
• Walk: The French Revolution: A Murder Mystery
• Walk: Historic Heart of Paris
• Walk: Historic Heart for Teens
• Walk: Rebuilding Paris
• Skip to main content

• More Museums

Paris Muse Clues: A Louvre Family Tour

Introduction to the Treasures of the Louvre

The Age of the Impressionists at the Orsay

Meet the Impressionists: Orsay for Families

The French Revolution: A Murder Mystery Tour

Teen Historic Heart Walk

Time to Explore Paris: A Family Walk

Montmartre: Mount of Marvels

A Nile Family Voyage at the Louvre

Louvre Quest: For Families with Teens

The Louvre’s “Hidden” Masterpieces

The History of the Louvre

Rodin: A Life in Sculpture

Historic Heart of Paris Walk

Monet and More at the Orangerie

Masterpieces of Modern Art at the Pompidou Center

The Marais: From Marsh to Magnificence

History of Paris in Paintings at the Louvre

Medieval Masterpieces At The Cluny Museum

Rebuilding Paris

• All Tours Families Louvre More Museums Versailles Walks

Meet Our Guides

Paméla petitot, marta-volga de minteguiaga-guezala, amanda herold-marme, cécile lecan, asja nastasijevic, barbara montefalcone, beate von der seipen, gabriele langosco, caroline bokobza, belen roncoroni, charlotte king, charlotte wilkins, lauren jimerson, christina von koehler, claire cooper, florian genzken, giulia del fabbro, hannah hamill, julien savadoux, jessica davies, jessica pinnock garrett, john macklam, karen ralph, karine friedberger, katie hornstein, kotryna strelciunaite, laure nermel, madeline díaz, margaux mandel, marie illes, marijke michielin, victor branthome, nathalie layani, orane mazelier, randa akhras, stephanie nadalo, tetiana lebouille, yonit aronowicz.

Deluxe Private Paris Art Tour | Musee d’Orsay & Louvre

What to expect

LivTours Deluxe Private Paris Art Tour covers some of the world’s most important art in two of Paris’ most important museums – Louvre Museum and Musee d’Orsay. A comprehensive itinerary for any art lover, let LivTours’ expert private guide accompany you to the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay to maximize your visits and gain an understanding of some of the most impressive masterpieces.

With over 35,000 works on display, Paris’ Louvre is the largest, most influential, and most visited art museum in the world. Although it is impossible to do the Louvre justice in one day, LivTours’ will grant you intimate access to all of the highlights in just one visit.  From stunning Greek sculptures like Venus de Milo to dramatic Delacroix paintings, your expert guide will take you to all of the Louvre’s most inspiring masterpieces. One of the highlights of this Louvre Tour is the ability to spend a few moments directly in front of the world’s most famous portrait – Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

After enjoying the Louvre museum with your private guide, it’s time to head to Musee d’Orsay, housed in the majestic Orsay railway station. It was not only the Eiffel Tower that was built for the 1899 Universal Exposition but also this station. As the Orsay Station was going to be just next to two very beautiful buildings and the trains stopping at this station were electric, its metal structure was covered in limestone, complete with a glass roof. Sadly its heyday as a viable train station was short-lived and it very quickly became obsolete. By the 1970s many ideas were circulating about its future use, including a hotel, but for mainly aesthetic reasons, a museum of impressionistic art won the hearts of Parisians. Inside you’ll discover incredible works of art by Renoir, Gustave Courbet and of course, Monet.

This tour is perfect for experts and novices alike, so come experience an artistic day to remember with LivTours!

Why book this tour

• Discover LivTours priority access entrance to the most famous museums in Paris
• Learn about the priceless works at the Louvre with an expert private guide
• Admire the world's most popular portrait, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa up close
• Be inspired by the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art at Musee d’Orsay

Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Tour gallery

Read more about your deluxe private Paris art tour

Your LivTours Deluxe Private Paris Art Tour covers some of the world’s most important in two of Paris’ most important museums – Louvre Museum and Musee d’Orsay. This is one of the most comprehensive itineraries for any art lover.

Your LivTours’ Private Paris Museums Tour will begin at the Louvre which holds a collection of over 35,000 works on display, Paris’ Louvre is the largest, most influential, and most visited art museum in the world. Although it’s impossible to do the Louvre justice in just one day, LivTours’ Louvre Tour will grant you intimate access to all of the highlights. From marvelous Greek sculptures like Venus de Milo to dramatic Delacroix paintings, your guide will take you to all of the Louvre’s most inspiring masterpieces. One of the highlights of this Louvre Tour is the ability to spend a few moments directly in front of the world’s most famous portrait – Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Your LivTours’ Louvre Museum Tour will take you to all of the most iconic paintings and sculptures housed in two of this massive museum’s three wings. To help you make the most out of your visit, your guide will highlight the most influential works from a wide range of periods including Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, Neoclassicism and Romanticism. In addition to learning about the different artists and artworks, you will also hear how this 12th-century fortress and palace eventually became France’s greatest museum.

In the Ancient Egypt collections, take a close look at the sleek granite Great Sphinx of Tanis. Discovered in an Egyptian temple in the 1800s, this sphinx is considered to be the biggest and best-preserved in any Western museum.

Once you are through visiting the Egypt collections, it’s time to explore two of Ancient Greece’s globally recognizable sculptures – the armless Venus de Milo and the headless Winged Victory of Samothrace. Although both of the goddesses are missing a few parts, they are universally considered some of the best surviving original Hellenistic sculptures. Just a short walk from Venus de Milo you will get a chance to see some impressive Italian sculptures including Michelangelo’s powerful Rebellious Slave & Dying Slave as well as Canova’s passionate Cupid & Psyche.

Before beholding Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, you will take a tour of some of the Louvre’s other eye-catching canvasses. This portion of the tour will include stops by Paolo Veronese’s Wedding Feast of Cana, Jacques-Louis David’s Coronation of Napoleon, and icons of French Romanticism like Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People and Théodore Géricault’s Raft of Medusa.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa

Of all the thousands of paintings housed in the Louvre, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa remains the most popular and enigmatic work. Supposedly the portrait of a 16th-century Italian noblewoman, this painting has bewitched billions over the years and inspired countless songs, films, and novels. Since the Mona Lisa only measures only 30 x 21 inches, it’s worth getting a lookup close to truly see the details which have rendered this a masterpiece. Your LivTour guide will shed light on how this painting became one of the most well-known works of art in the world, one worth experiencing first hand.

After a pleasant stroll through Tuileries Garden, you’ll arrive at the final stop of your tour, the incredible Musee d’Orsay museum. Quieter than the Louvre, once entering with your guide, you’ll have the space and time to not only enjoy the unique architecture of the building, but soak up some of the very best art housed inside it’s walls. Your guide will help you understand the hype behind impressionism, spend time sharing the background behind Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Bal du Moulin de al Galette by Renoir, Edouard Manets’ Olympia, and witness the birth of modern art.

With so many artistic highlights seen, it will likely be difficult to name a single favorite after this Deluxe Private Paris Art Tour.

This Tour Includes

• Entrance tickets to Louvre museum
• Ancient Egypt collections
• Great Sphinx of Tanis
• Ancient Greece collection
• Venus de Milo
• Winged Victory of Samothrace
• Michelangelo's Slave sculptures
• Canova's Cupid & Psyche
• Da Vinci's Mona Lisa
• Veronese's Wedding Feast of Cana
• Jacques-Louis David's Coronation of Napoleon
• Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People
• Théodore Géricault's Raft of Medusa
• Entrance tickets to Musee d'Orsay
• Van Gogh’s Starry Night
• Artwork by Manet, and Monet
• Artwork by Renoir, Cezanne, School of Barbizon
• Views of the Sacre Coeur and the Seine River
• Fully guided experience

Know before you go

Our sustainable tourism promise.

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.   LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Private tours

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience , you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people* . Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable.  *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Additional options

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Paris Art Tour

Everyone told us we needed to make sure to see the Musee D'Orsay along with the Louvre while in Paris. The tour we booked with LivTours was a chance to see both museums with a expert guide and the experience ended up to be one of the highlights of our trip. We saw the most important pieces in both museums in a relaxed and very enjoyable setting. Our guide was not only an excellent guide but also a very lovely person and we enjoyed talking with her about all sorts of things -- not just art! We have given this tour 5 stars but would give it more if it were possible!

Excellent tour in all ways

We really enjoyed this Art Tour offered by LivParis. There is so much to see at the Louvre that having a guide is absolutely necessary but by doing this more complette "art" tour, our guide (US born, art historian, resident in Paris for 10 years) brought ALL the masterpieces that we saw in both the Louvre and the d'Orsay to life! We were able to appreciate the various artistic styles, the influences they had on each other and heard interesting insights on each of the artists' lives - in other words, things that we wouldn't have learned about had we not taken this tour. There wasn't a moment when we weren't totally enthralled! Great tour!!

Beautiful day in Paris

You can't go to Paris and not visit the Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre. But there is just SO much to see, the whole experience can be overwhelming. That's why we were so pleased with the Art Tour we took with LivTours. Our guide, Josi, was exceptionally prepared and passionate about the masterpieces we were seeing. Her enthusiasm was definitely contagious! We had a great time and highly recommend this tour to anyone coming to Paris.

5 star tour

Great tour! Super guide! Awesome art!!! Definitely 5 stars!

Best way to see the art in Paris

The list of famous artwork that we wanted to make sure to see when in Paris was very long. LivTours art tour was just perfect. It allowed us to see all that we wanted with a friendly and knowledgeable guide to help us navigate the various museums. We went home with memories we will cherish forever. Thanks LivTours!

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

Book your tour

Privacy overview.

Lauren's Paris

Painting her pleasure.

Three Women Artists and the Nude in Avant-Garde Paris

While sexuality and the nude were prime subjects for male artists in the early twentieth century, for female artists, revealing sexual desire on canvas was deemed unacceptable. Painting Her Pleasure examines three remarkable women who defied this convention.

If you've arrived here via a QR code in the book, please be informed that there has been a publishe r's error in the QR code linking. For information and insights related to Painting Her Pleasure , please visit www.LaurenJimerson.com .  

Thank you for your understanding.

tours curated by an art historian

Lauren jimerson, phd, art historian and licensed guide in paris.

My passion for teaching began during a transformative experience at the Vatican in 2009, where I led my first tour. Since then, I have guided over a thousand tours, bringing art history to life for audiences from around the world. As a licensed guide in Paris with a doctorate in art history, I offer my expertise in a way that is engaging and relatable to visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

I am an art historian and a French National Guide specializing in luxury art experiences. My research focuses on modern art in France and the U.S., particularly in the realm of gender studies, women artists, and visual culture. I completed my doctorate at Rutgers University, having previously pursued an MA at the Courtauld Institute, and a BA at Cornell University. A Fulbright fellowship brought me to Paris in 2015, and I have called this enchanting city home ever since.

Wishing to share my scholarship on women artists with the world, I launched an online art history platform in 2020, educating audiences on issues of gender and race in art while spotlighting underrepresented artists throughout history. I contribute to exhibitions on women artists at museums such as the Barnes Foundation, Musée de Montmartre, Musée du Luxembourg/Grand Palais, and Centre Pompidou Metz, and my book, Painting Her Pleasure: Three Women Artists in Avant-Garde Paris, is forthcoming in 2023. As an art history commentator, I have appeared on NBC's The Today Show and France 24.

With over a decade of experience leading scholarly tours in Paris and Rome, I am dedicated to creating lasting memories by turning history into a compelling story, catering to your unique interests, and sparking engaging discussions. Join me for an unforgettable art experience, and together, we will embark on a seamless and enriching journey through the Parisian world of art!

I believe that art history can be accessible, comprehensible and meaningful for all. Through storytelling, I bring art history to life.

Media Appearances

Interviews on the international TV channel France 24 and the Today Show on NBC. 

Art with Friends

Learn and connect through online art history experiences. Join an intimate community for live discussions on art and more!

Sisterhood of Sculptors

Study American women who came to Rome in the 19th century and achieved fame on both sides of the Atlantic

Art of Ukraine

Discover the significant artistic contributions of Ukrainian artists in the 20th and 21st centuries. 10% of Proceeds donated to the Museum Crisis Center, protecting Ukrainian heritage.

Tropical Flair

Discover Modern artists who captured tropical paradise in their work.

Paris Fashion Odyssey

Discuss the history of fashion, shopping and haute couture in France!

Black Heroes of Art

Uncover black models from art history and the ingenuity of black artists past and present.

Modern Women Artists

Groundbreaking, Fulbright-funded research on Modern women artists and their representations of the nude.

My current research centers on women artists, gender studies, and visual culture. I recently completed a book entitled Painting Her Pleasure: Three Modern Artists and the Nude in Avant-Garde Paris , forthcoming from Manchester University Press in 2023. Examining nudes by Suzanne Valadon, Émilie Charmy and Marie Vassilieff, I reveal how these artists contravened gender norms to express female subjectivity and sexuality in paint.

Renaissance & Baroque Women Artists

"I will show Your Illustrious Lordship what a woman can do" - Artemisia Gentileschi

Customized Experiences

Customize a private experience or series for your friends or family.

Voyage to Paris and beyond with a small circle of friends for unique artistic, cultural and culinary experiences.

Testimonials

“Your courses have added great value to my life. Since we started a couple of years during the pandemic, I’ve noticed a difference now when I go to museums. Your courses have contributed to a richer, more wholesome experience. And in a day and age where people don’t want to tackle hard subjects, you offer a safe space to discuss and deal with them head on. Well done. I’ll never go into a museum by myself or with others and not have a different frame and not look at art from new angles.” Michel Ishakian, VA

"Having studied art history with you for two years, this newly gained knowledge made the trip to France even more meaningful. This was  clear to me when I recognized works of art in the Louvre that we had discussed together in class. I have gone from knowing very little about art to being  knowledgeable. You have brought out my creativity." Judy Greenberg, VA

"Our tour with Lauren was absolutely a highlight of our trip. Afterward, we kept talking about how we never would have known ...what to see, or the story behind the things we saw if we had roamed the museum ourselves... She made sure we got to see the pieces and artifacts that were of importance to us. She then sent us a follow up email with links to the pieces we saw, which is going to be tremendously helpful when  going back over photos.Lauren is warm, kind, and profoundly knowledgeable. The whole trip was amazing, and Lauren was absolutely a part of making it so. I don’t recommend visiting without her." Kristen Floyd, Baltimore MD

"Lauren’s breadth of knowledge is vast and she makes the tours interesting for both the adults and especially the kids. My kids adore her and the last time we went to Paris the first thing they asked was if we were seeing Lauren. It seems there isn’t a single fact about the City Of Lights that she does not know. We cannot wait to go back and see more of that fabulous city with her!" Erika White, Miami, FL

"I can honestly say that Lauren made our trip to Paris spectacular...Lauren's knowledge, her passion, her energy, her recommendations, her time management-everything about Lauren introducing us to Paris was perfect. Lauren showed us where the locals hung out and gave us recommendations of where to go on our free time. Our time with Lauren did not feel like we were with a tour guide. We felt like we were with a Parisian Family member who had lived and studied in Paris her entire life." Candace Chazen, Gaithersburg, MD 

Vous utilisez un navigateur obsolète Pour une meilleure expérience sur ce site, utilisez un navigateur web moderne.

• Internet Explorer 11

Visit Paris & the French regions with your personal licensed guide ENRICHING PRIVATE EXPERIENCES AND A SAFER WAY TO TRAVEL!

Your search

Destination Destination All Alp Mountains Alsace Aquitaine Auvers-sur-Oise Berry Burgundy Brittany Bruges Chantilly Chartres The Loire Castles Dordogne Ecouen Fontainebleau Giverny Ile-de-France Malmaison Mont-Saint-Michel Multiregional Normandy Occitane Paris Provence Reims - Champagne Saint-Denis Senlis Somme & Pas-de-Calais Vaux-le-Vicomte Versailles

Duration Duration All Half day 2 hours Full Day 2 days - 1 night 2h30 3 days - 2 nights 3 Days and 3 Nights 4 days - 3 nights 5 days - 4 nights 6 days - 5 nights 7 days - 6 nights 8 days - 7 nights 10 days - 9 nights

France private tours & France custom tours

Welcome to Artventures France

If you are looking for personally guided day tours in and around Paris, extended tours of France and excellent tour guides, you have come to the right place!

Artventures France is an incoming travel agency based in the Paris region specialized in high end custom private tours around France

Exclusive guided tours of Paris and the French Regions with minivans deluxe driven by official Guides

Classic tours & Special interest

Since 1998, we have been providing travelers with high expectations from all over the world, with the best possible travel experiences in France, thanks to our team of expert and fun licensed guides and drivers and our own fleet of deluxe vehicles.

We provide the classics ‘must-sees’ and ‘highlights’ tours : Paris, the Louvre, Versailles, Normandy, the Loire valley, Champagne… with a great quality of service, as well as themed tour focused on Art (painting and sculpture in the major French fine Art museums), Wine & Food (exclusive cellar visits at wine producers in Burgundy, Bordeaux the Loire valley, Alsace and Champagne, gourmet dinners), History (from the Middle Ages to WWI & WWII).

Our expertise covers custom tour designing, deluxe and charm hotels booking, all tickets and guided tours arrangements.

Off the beaten tracks

Wine & Gastronomy

Paris by night

History (WWI & WWII)

Our commitments

• Professional Licensed Guides Professional Licensed Guides for your paris excursions and France tours Professional licensed guides
• Customize Your Tour Customize Your Tour for your Paris Private Tour Customize your tour
• Personalized Service Personalized Service depending of your needs Personalized service
• Private Car or Minivan Deluxe For your Paris or France Tour you've Private Car or Minivan Deluxe Private car or minivan deluxe

Need more information? Contact us

Art walks in Paris.

Paris Art Walks

Take a walk around Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, visiting, exploring and discovering the incredible art in its museums and galleries. Paris Art Walks connects you with industry insiders who are excited to share with you their passion for Paris’ infamous works of art along with all the lesser-known treasures. Discover or just rediscover the city, on a small or private art tour with a local who can show you the little-known galleries, or tell you about the secrets hidden throughout the Louvre. On a Paris Art Walk tour, you’ll talk with artists, curators and other Parisian art enthusiasts to get a richer, deeper understanding of the history of art in the city, but also what’s happening today.

Marais gallery walk

Belleville gallery walk

• Travel destinations
• Architecture
• Digital nomad jobs
• Business ideas
• Digital nomad interviews

© 2024 Bright Nomad

Art Nouveau architecture in Paris: self-guided walks

• Post date December 6, 2022
• Post categories In Cultural Travel , France , Paris

Where are the best places to see Art Nouveau architecture in Paris ?

Get fresh travel ideas each month –  join my mailing list

On my last trip to Paris , I got a chance to explore some of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture in the city.

Paris has a great collection of flamboyant and whimsical Art Nouveau buildings.

These Art Nouveau buildings are quite unique in the general landscape of Parisian architecture.

In this guide you’ll find:

• The history of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris
• The most famous Art Nouveau buildings in Paris
• The most celebrated Art Nouveau architects
• Two easy self-guided walks in the districts of Paris where you can see plenty of Art Nouveau gems. Get a map of the self-guided walks .

A brief history of 19th-century parisian architecture

As you walk around Paris you will notice that most buildings are designed in a uniform style, also known as the Haussmannian style.

Georges-Eugène Haussmann was the urban planner who, back in the 19th century, redesigned the city of Paris and is very much responsible for the way many parts of the city look to this day.

Paris used to have narrow streets with little light or air. Haussmann’s vision for the city was of wide streets and boulevards, parks, squares and large and elegant modern buildings.

The beige stone facades with wrought iron balconies and chimneys on every rooftop you can see all around in Paris are the trademarks of the Haussmannian style.

Strict regulations were put in place to ensure the uniformity of these exteriors.

However, around 1880 there was a need for change, and the local government encouraged that change through competition for the most beautiful facade and by relaxing the uniformity rules.

That was when new designs started to appear. Thischange coincided with the emergence of Art Nouveau in Europe, and architects experienced a burst of creativity, resulting in hundreds of buildings in the Art Nouveau style.

The two most notable Art Nouveau architects in Paris were Hector Guimard and Jules Lavirotte. Many of the city’s best Art Nouveau examples carry their signatures.

What is Art Nouveau architecture?

At the turn of the 20th century, the movement known as Art Nouveau was born in various places in Europe and soon spread across the ocean as well.

The most typical elements of the Art Nouveau style are fluid, whiplash curves, creative ironwork and elaborate decorations inspired by nature.

Some Art Nouveau buildings also feature stucco decorations, stained glass windows and intentional asymmetry.

Here’s a great video about the history of Art Nouveau:

Famous art nouveau buildings in paris

Before we start our self-guided walks, here are some of the most famous Art Nouveau buildings in Paris worth seeing while you’re visiting the city.

Galeries lafayette haussmann

This upmarket department store has the most magnificent dome.

Walk inside the Coupole building of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann to see it in the great hall and climb up to the upper floors for even more stunning views.

This ceiling dates back to 1912. It was designed and decorated in the Art Nouveau style of that era by Édouard Schenck, Jacques Grüber and Louis Majorelle.

It is worth a visit, even if you’re not planning to go shopping. It’s also right next to the opera house (Palais Garnier), which I also recommend you visit while you’re in Paris.

Address: 40 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris

La samaritaine

Another very impressive department store in Paris that’s worth a visit is La Samaritaine.

The magical glass roof, the gorgeous staircase and the delightful wall painting on the top floor, all make it a true architectural gem.

You want to climb up to the 5th floor for the best view. When I took the elevator going up, everyone else in the elevator was holding a camera too…

La Samaritaine was designed by architect Frantz Jourdain and is listed as a historical monument.

It is in a very central location, by the Seine river, close to Pont Neuf and Rue de Rivoli.

Address: 9 rue de la Monnaie 75001 Paris

Hotel elysees ceramic

The Ceramic Hotel close to the Arc de Triomphe is another unique Art Nouveau building in Paris.

This is a building by architect Jules Lavirotte from 1904 and it features the typical Art Nouveau characteristics we’ll see in the self-guided tours below.

It also features a pretty extraordinary use of ceramics throughout the facade, which gave the building its name.

Address: 34 Avenue de Wagram, Paris

Self-guided walks of art nouveau architecture in paris

Below are two short self-guided tours exploring Art Nouveau in Paris.

If you prefer a guided tour, this tour covers more locations with a professional guide.

These self-guided walks take you to two of the main hubs of Art Nouveau in Paris.

The buildings in each of these are all within walking distance of each other.

You can easily take both walks on the same day. The first part is in the 7th arrondissement (not far from the Eiffel Tower) and the second part is in the 16th arrondissement.

Lavirotte building – paris art nouveau gem and nearby buildings

The 7th arrondissement has some wonderful Parisian Art Nouveau architecture.

Lavirotte building (immeuble lavirotte)

The Lavirotte Building on 29 Av. Rapp is a richly decorated house and is a prime example of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris.

It’s asymmetrical, like many Art Nouveau buildings, and has faces, flowers, animals and various shapes creatively decorating its magnificent facade.

I took my time examining this facade and taking as many pictures as I could. While I was there at least 5 or 6 other people came by to do the same.

Art nouveau on rue sedillot

Sedillot street is a very short walk from Lavirotte Building. The entire street is full of beautiful buildings, but the one at number 12 Rue Sedillot stands out.

It is another building designed by Lavirotte, built in 1899. Today it is home to an Italian college called Leonardo Da Vinci.

It has all the trademark Art Nouveau characteristics that make it a great work of art: You’ll notice the asymmetrical design, the elegant curves and the use of iron railings. The decorations around the windows are especially exuberant.

Art nouveau on rue de grenelle

A short walk from Rue Sedillot is another Art Nouveau building worth exploring.

When you reach 151 Rue de Grenelle, you’ll see a beautifully elegant facade from 1898.

This house is slightly more modest compared to the other two we’ve seen so far. That’s probably because it was the first building by Lavirotte in Paris. However, his style became more elaborate fairly soon after that.

Art Nouveau is often described as whimsical and if you walk up to the wooden and wrought iron front door of this building, you’ll see it is decorated with two lizards on the door handles.

La maison des arums

The next stop on this part of the tour is at 33 Rue du Champ de Mars.

Architect Octave Raquin designed this gorgeous building in or around the year 1900.

Thanks to its elaborate carved stone floral decorations, it has been nicknamed the House of Lilies (La Maison des Arums)

Take your time appreciating all the graceful details of this facade.

Paris art nouveau architecture walk around rue jean de la fontaine

The second part of this Paris Art Nouveau tour takes place in the 16th arrondissement.

To reach the first stop, you can use public transport ( planner ) or walk for about 30 minutes from 33 Rue du Champ de Mars to 14 Rue Jean de la Fontaine.

Castel béranger

The first stop in this part of the tour is an iconic Parisian Art Nouveau building called Castel Béranger, on 14 Rue Jean de la Fontaine.

This is a creation by Hector Guimard, the architect also famous for designing the classic Paris metro station.

Completed in 1898, this building won a competition for the most beautiful facade in Paris and is now classified as a Historical Monument in France.

The Castel Béranger is probably its most prominent feature, but the entire facade has plenty of ornaments and details to observe.

Rue agar and café antoine

As you continue along you’ll reach Café Antoine on the corner of Rue Agar.

Rue Agar has a beautiful residential complex designed by architect Hector Guimard.

In 1911 it was named “Modern Street”, as the Art Nouveau design represented the spirit of the time.

You’ll notice some of the typical Art Nouveau features, like the iron balconies, the use of curves and elegantly decorated doors and windows all along this little street.

Café Antoine on the street corner is another authentic Art Nouveau gem designed by Guimard.

Immeuble trémois

Continue walking on rue Jean de la Fontaine till you reach Rue François Millet.

There at number 11, you’ll find the lovely curved facade of the Trémois building, another Art Nouveau residential house by Guimard.

Hôtel mezzara

Our next stop is another Guimard creation, at 60 Rue Jean de la Fontaine. You will easily recognise the Guimard style we saw on the previous stops on this tour.

Hôtel Mezzara dates back to 1910-1911 and was originally built as a family home for French textile industrialist Paul Mezzara.

The interior is also very beautiful, but unfortunately, it was closed when I visited. I later found out that the place is normally closed to the public. You can still see pictures of the interior online.

Hôtel jassedé

The last stop in this part of the tour is a bit farther away on 41 Rue Chardon Lagache.

Hôtel Jassedé is also a Guimard building, but you may not notice that right away.

This residential home from 1893 was one of his first works.

It is not a typical Art Nouveau building, though it already has some of the characteristics indicative of the architect’s future style, like the asymmetrical facade.

One of the remarkable things about this building is the liberty that the architect had in playing with various materials, including carved stone, ceramics and bricks.

This freedom is a sign of the post-Haussmann era, when Parisian facades no longer had to maintain a uniform appearance.

Right next to Hôtel Jassedé, you can see Villa de la Reunion, a private home with a more typical Art Nouveau design, also by Guimard.

Paris art nouveau guided tours

To see more Parisian Art Nouveau, you can take a guided tour with a professional guide. Here are some options:

Art Nouveau and Art Deco tour – This small group tour covers the 8th and 9th arrondissements near the opera.

Paris Art Nouveau Walking Tour – This is a good option if your prefer a private tour.

Other great places to see Art Nouveau in Europe

More paris travel guides and tours.

• Free tours in Paris
• Street art in Belleville
• The most popular attractions in Paris

Save this guide to Art Nouveau architecture in Paris on pinterest

• Tags Architecture , Art Nouveau , Self Guided

Awesome info in this blog. Thanks for sharing this.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Related Posts

Brighton for design lovers – self guided tour

Brighton is a perfect day trip from London, especially for design lovers. Share

Visiting Eltham Palace: Art Deco London gem

Eltham Palace is a luxurious Art Deco home inside a medieval palace, a mix of styles making it one of the most fascinating buildings in London. Share

ART PARIS 2025

Tickets for Art Paris 2025 will be available for sale on our online ticket office in February 2025. You will be able to purchase student rate tickets at the ticket counter, on site, at the entrance of the fair, upon presentation of proof. They are not sold online.

Premium Ticket

Your Premium Ticket

Your Premium ticket, valid for 2, grants you unlimited access to the fair from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 April during the VIP daily previews from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and to the public opening hours. It also gives you access to the Ruinart VIP lounge.

Your ticket for Thursday or Friday

30€ - Your ticket for Art Paris 2024, Thursday 4 or Friday 5 April

Your ticket for Saturday or Sunday

35€ - Your ticket for Art Paris 2024, Saturday 6 or Sunday 7 April

Guided Tours

Enjoy a curated tour of Art Paris 2024: a 45-minute visit highlighted by an expert of the Observatoire de l'art contemporain (Contemporary Art Observatory).

Guided Tour on Saturday afternoon

55€ - 3 slots available : Saturday 6 April at 15:15, 16:15 and 17:15

Guided Tour on Sunday afternoon

55€ - 3 slots available: Sunday 7 April at 15:15, 16:15 and 17:15

Ticket + Guided Tour

Ticket + Guided Tour on Saturday

90€ - 3 slots available : Saturday 6 April at 15:15, 16:15 and 17:15

Ticket + Guided Tour on Sunday

90€ - 3 slots available : Sunday 7 April at 15:15, 16:15 and 17:15

Sign up to the newsletter of the fair

Businesses, buy your work through a lease-purchase agreement.

Spread the payment of your artwork over 13 to 60 months and reduce your corporation tax by deducting leasing from your taxable income.

Simulate your leasing :

Calculate and adjust your monthly payments and estimate the tax exemption gains generated by art leasing.

*This simulation is offered to you for information only, and does not constitute a contractual proposal, which can only be communicated to you after study and validation of your financial documents by our partner.

Street Art Paris Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Street Art Paris Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Here are all art tours we are organizing. We hope you will find one for yourself!

Murals XXL – Open air museum

Montmartre – street art and art history

Belleville – Alternative Neighborhood

Le Marais – Space Invaders

Feminist Street Art

Canal de l’Ourcq – Graffiti culture*

Visit of Art Galleries – The best exhibitions*

Masterpieces of the Louvre – Visit to the museum*

From the Louvre to Street Art – Visit to the museum*

Vitry sur Seine – Capital of Street Art in France*

Arcueil and Gentilly*

Trompe-l’oeil*

*Tours available on demand only

• Share full article

The Saturday Profile

Even Before the Olympics, a Victory Lap for a Fast-Moving French Mayor

Karim Bouamrane, the Socialist mayor of St.-Ouen, a Paris suburb that will host the athletes’ village for the 2024 Games, is leading a rapid transformation of the long-struggling city.

Karim Bouamrane in his office in St.-Ouen, France. “I’m using the Olympic Games as a political weapon,” he said. Credit... Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times

Supported by

By Catherine Porter

Reporting from St.-Ouen, France

• April 12, 2024

The mayor grew up in a building so decrepit — filthy hallways, no private toilets, no showers — that his friends in nearby concrete towers pitied him.

Five decades later, that building — in St.-Ouen, a Paris suburb — is a distant memory, and in its place rises France’s Olympic pride: the athletes’ village, with its architectural-showcase buildings that are outfitted with solar panels, deep-sinking pipes for cooling and heating, and graceful balconies from which to look down on the forest planted below. One-quarter will become public housing after the Games.

“All of a sudden, we have the same feeling of pride as people living in the hypercenter,” said the mayor of St.-Ouen, Karim Bouamrane, 51, using his personal shorthand for the glamorous downtown playgrounds of the elites . “There was Los Angeles, Barcelona, Beijing, London, Sydney and, now, there is St.-Ouen.”

Even before the Olympic Committee choose to invest in this economically depressed northern suburb, St.-Ouen was changing. But since then, and since Mr. Bouamrane’s election as mayor in 2020, the transformation seems turbocharged.

Dump trucks rumble throughout the small city, including in front of the 160-year-old City Hall, where jackhammers and excavators claw at the pavement, following plans to green the adjacent plaza with trees and benches.

At the center of the activity is Mr. Bouamrane, a member of the Socialist Party, who is in the news a lot these days as St.-Ouen prepares to welcome the Olympic athletes.

He’s announcing contracts with universities and colleges, signing partnerships with foreign governments and bringing the American ambassador into a local elementary school to meet students, who scream and wave in excitement during their arrival.

“Self-esteem, self-confidence,” Mr. Bouamrane said. “That’s what’s kids are getting through the Olympics.”

The middle child of an illiterate Moroccan immigrant who came to Paris to work on construction sites to support his siblings back home, Mr. Bouamrane is acutely aware of the power his image offers on classroom visits. But inspiration is not enough — he’s channeling the international spotlight of the Olympic Games to lure new programs, infrastructure and opportunities into his city, so kids, he said, can “become the architects, and not the passive victims, of their lives.”

“I’m using the Olympic Games as a political weapon, in a noble way, to raise awareness and empower a whole generation,” said Mr. Bouamrane, sitting beside Tony Estanguet, the head of the Paris Olympic Committee, at a recent lunch.

Interviewing Mr. Bouamrane feels a bit like racing through a fun house after devouring two cones of cotton candy. He starts stories in English, switches to French, suddenly launches into an impassioned Portuguese — the latest language he’s learning, his fifth. He peppers his breathless paragraphs with citations from Marx, Plato, Sartre, Spike Lee and Pink Floyd. He breaks into the chorus of Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” and then, without warning, starts singing “A Question of Time,” by Depeche Mode.

In the heat of all his talking, he takes off the jacket of the blue three-piece suit he wears like a uniform, along with the beaded bracelets his daughter made him. He pounds one word repeatedly as he speaks: equality.

“He was born with character and confidence,” confided one of his childhood friends, Ahcen Goulmane, an actor.

Mr. Bouamrane enters his office at City Hall, pointing to myriad framed photos and posters crowding the walls. There’s Tommie Smith atop the 1968 Olympic podium in Mexico City raising up his gloved fist , and Sócrates, the Brazilian doctor and star soccer player who opposed the military dictatorship.

“He used football like a weapon, with the same philosophy behind it — equality,” said Mr. Bouamrane, who was the host of a large celebration last month to name a street in the Olympic Village after Sócrates, a stone’s throw from where the mayor’s dilapidated childhood home once sat. Sócrates became one of his inspirations back then and has stuck with him ever since.

“I put that photo first on the wall first day when I was mayor,” Mr. Bouamrane said. By chance, the Brazilian Olympic delegation came to visit and saw the photo. A connection was made, and soon not only was St.-Ouen the host village for the Brazilian team and fans during this summer’s Games, but Mr. Bouamrane also signed a twin-city agreement with Rio de Janeiro.

He has signed a flurry of other partnerships, including one to send young climate activists from St.-Ouen to Belém, Brazil, for next year’s COP30 conference on climate change.

One of the industrial suburbs built on the edge of the city to feed the country’s growth, St.-Ouen had factories that began to close in the 1970s, leaving behind poverty, unemployment and crime. If Parisians ventured there, it was usually for the sprawling flea market that was started by rag pickers chased out of Paris in the 1870s.

Growing up, Mr. Bouamrane and his friend Mr. Goulmane were part of a tight circle, all children of immigrant laborers, who spent their Saturdays together in the library, devouring classic books, newspapers, films and music. They have remained close.

“One thing that Karim taught us is that no one will determine our futures. It will be us,” said Madjid Aggar, 51, another member of their group, who is now an elementary school teacher. “To get there, you need culture and a base. That’s why he was always a good student. It was important for us — not just to succeed academically but to understand the world.”

They all expressed a sense of exclusion that came from living on the least glamorous side of the periphérique — the ring highway that encircles Paris, like the medieval walls that protected the elegant palaces, flowering gardens and prestigious universities. Instead of direct racism, they felt a vague social ostracism, they said, and with it, low societal expectations.

Correcting that sense is at the core of Mr. Bouamrane’s political program, which he calls “democratizing excellence.”

“Today in France, people who can evolve and choose their life are in the hypercenters,” said Mr. Bouamrane, who is married with three children. “You have the best schools, the best teachers, the best hospitals, the best connections. If you don’t, you need to work 10 times as hard, and justify yourself all the time.”

After graduating from university with a master’s degree in economics and European law, Mr. Bouamrane landed a management job in a cybersecurity company just as the internet was taking off. The profession offered years of travel, particularly to the United States, where he practiced his English and broadened his worldview, deepening his love for the generous French social security system. It was also, he said, “the first country where I felt respected for my qualities.”

Around the same time in 1995, he was first elected to the local council of St.-Ouen. Later, he joined the Socialist Party, and he would eventually become its spokesman.

Since becoming mayor, Mr. Bouamrane has lured companies, including Tesla, to open offices in St.-Ouen, which, through the additional taxes paid, have helped finance new elementary schools.

A few French colleges have been persuaded to open campuses here, including the respected business school Audencia, with special enrollment programs for local residents. The French American basketball superstar Tony Parker has come on board, agreeing to open an elite sports school in an abandoned sports complex that’s in the midst of a 14 million euro renovation ($15 million) for the Games. It was a social dinner with Mr. Bouamrane that clinched the deal, he said.

“I had a ‘coup de coeur’ — love at first sight — for his vision, his passion and what he wants to accomplish in his city,” said Mr. Parker, a former San Antonio Spurs point guard.

Mr. Bouamrane’s energy and vision have also caught the attention of the country’s Socialist power brokers, like Matthieu Pigasse.

“I want him to be the future of the French left, the social democrats,” said Mr. Pigasse, an investment banker once nicknamed the “Che Guevara of finance.”

Mr. Bouamrane doesn’t hide his national ambitions. He considers it a responsibility to fight against the increasing strength of far-right ideas and politics in his country.

But, for the moment, he’s focused on local people, who lean into his car window to congratulate him on the changes they see.

“This is the France we need to build together,” he said.

Ségolène Le Stradic contributed reporting from Paris.

Catherine Porter is an international reporter for The Times, covering France. She is based in Paris. More about Catherine Porter

Advertisement