This private 4-hour tour offers an exclusive exploration of Paris’s finest Art Nouveau treasures in the elegant 16th and 7th districts. Your guide will focus on the works of Hector Guimard and Jules Lavirotte, two Lyon-born architects who shaped the city’s architectural identity during the Belle Époque.
The tour begins in the 16th district, formerly a village away from the city which made it a haven for architectural innovation at the turn of the 20th century. Stroll through streets adorned with intricate façades and admire masterpieces like Guimard’s Castel Béranger, his first major project. Although privately owned and inaccessible inside, the building’s exterior showcases Guimard’s ability to blend organic forms and innovative materials. Your guide will share insights into his pioneering approach to multiple housing design, emphasizing natural light and harmonious compositions.
Hector Guimard was rediscovered in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that he was celebrated with his own dedicated exhibition. Renowned for redefining architecture, Guimard revolutionized multi-unit housing by designing interiors that maximized natural light and crafting façades that seamlessly blended innovative materials with organic, flowing forms. His vision brought a distinctive elegance and functionality to urban living, cementing his legacy as a pioneer of Art Nouveau. During the tour, you’ll admire numerous other buildings, each with its unique story, expertly explained by your knowledgeable guide.
Next, you’ll take a brief ride on the Métro, itself a part of the Art Nouveau experience. Designed by Guimard for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, the iconic station entrances are a testament to his genius, with their flowing lines and decorative elegance.
Arriving in the 7th district, you’ll marvel at Jules Lavirotte’s flamboyant Immeuble Lavirotte on Avenue Rapp. This exuberant, seven-story structure epitomizes the ornamental creativity that made Paris a hub of Art Nouveau innovation.
These neighborhoods, known for their wealth and refinement, provided fertile ground for Hector Guimard and Jules Lavirotte, the two most renowned Art Nouveau figures in Paris, to find patrons and leave their artistic legacies. Today, their works remain remarkably preserved, offering a glimpse into the golden age of Parisian modernism. This private tour ensures an intimate and stylish way to discover the Art Nouveau wonders of Paris, a city at the heart of this extraordinary architectural movement.
Your expert guide in Art Nouveau will delve into the intricate details of these buildings, sharing insights into why Paris, during the 1889 and 1900 World’s Fairs, established itself as the global epicenter of technological and artistic innovation. At the time, Art Nouveau reigned as the leading architectural style, embraced by the affluent as a symbol of opulence, sophistication, and refined beauty.