Guided walk from the Jardin des Plantes to the Place du Panthéon
A walk through nature, science and history in the heart of Paris This guided walk invites you to discover one of the…
Guided walk from the Musée d’Orsay to the Hôtel des Invalides
The private mansion circuit
1 day
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Transport
We organize your transport by coach, train or plane
Visite découverte
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Price upon request
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All-inclusive prices for small and large groups
With guide
You won't miss a single detail - they know their subject inside out.
French
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English
Our guides are fluent in the language(s) indicated
Accessible to all, this easy-going walk is an ideal experience for groups wishing to discover Paris in a different way, far from the usual tourist circuits.
A discovery of the 7ᵉ arrondissement of Paris and its private mansions
The 7ᵉ arrondissement of Paris, often associated with nobility and aristocracy, is one of the capital’s most prestigious districts. Located on the left bank of the Seine, it is distinguished by the elegance of its avenues, the richness of its architectural heritage and the presence of numerous political and diplomatic institutions.
Between the esplanade des Invalides and the Champ-de-Mars, this district is home to numerous mansions, embassies, ministries and historic buildings that bear witness to the capital’s evolution over the centuries.
Of course, the 7ᵉ arrondissement is world-famous thanks to the Eiffel Tower, an emblematic monument of Paris and one of the most visited sites in the world. Yet this district conceals many other, sometimes little-known treasures.
The walk we’re proposing invites you to discover these architectural and historical treasures during an original cultural escapade in Paris, ideal for sharing with family, friends or groups.
The Musée d’Orsay: from the Gare d’Orsay to the temple of Impressionism
The walk begins at the Musée d’Orsay, housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, one of the most remarkable buildings on the Left Bank.
Built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the Gare d’Orsay was inaugurated in 1900. It replaced a former palace built under Napoleon I in 1810. This vast railway edifice, designed in a spectacular Beaux-Arts style, was a technical and architectural feat.
Over time, the station became unsuited to modern rail traffic and gradually ceased operations. In 1977, President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing decided to convert the building into a museum, to house the national collections devoted to the artistic period between 1848 and 1914.
The museum finally opened its doors in 1986 and quickly became one of the most important museums in the world.
Today, the Musée d’Orsay houses an exceptional collection devoted to the major artistic movements of the XIXᵉ and early XXᵉ centuries. Visitors can admire major works by :
- Claude Monet
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Paul Cézanne
- Edgar Degas
- Gustave Courbet…
The museum also features important collections of architecture, sculpture, decorative arts and objects testifying to the artistic richness of this period.
Lovers of the arts and civilizations will also be able to extend their discovery thanks to more in-depth tours devoted to the arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, which complement the European collections.
If you would like to visit the Musée d’Orsay, this is of course possible.
The townhouses of Faubourg Saint-Germain
As you stroll along, your state-qualified Parisian guide will lead you through the streets of the prestigious Faubourg Saint-Germain, one of Paris’s most aristocratic districts since the XVIIᵉ century.
This area is home to an exceptional concentration ofprivate mansions, built for the nobility or for wealthy families.
The facades you can admire illustrate different architectural styles:
- rocaille
- Louis XVI style
- neoclassical architecture
Among the remarkable buildings mentioned during the walk are :
- Hôtel de Matignon, the Prime Minister’s official residence
- Hôtel de Lassay, residence of the President of the French National Assembly
- Hôtel de Galliffet, a former aristocratic hotel now a cultural center
- Hôtel de Seignelay
- the Hôtel de Bésenval…
These residences bear witness to the power of the great families who once occupied this district, and illustrate the evolution of architectural taste between the XVIIᵉ and XVIIIᵉ centuries.
Les Invalides: a major monument in French history
The walk then leads to one of Paris’s most impressive monumental ensembles: the Hôtel national des Invalides.
This immense architectural complex was built in the XVIIᵉ century at the request of Louis XIV to house wounded or disabled soldiers of the royal army.
Even today, the facility retains some of its original vocation: it still houses an institution for wounded veterans.
Today, Les Invalides is a vast complex comprising :
- the Musée de l’Armée, one of the most important military museums in the world
- Musée des Plans-Reliefs
- the Ordre de la Libération museum
The site also includes two remarkable churches:
- the Saint-Louis des Invalides church for soldiers
- the Eglise du Dôme, famous for its golden dome visible from all over Paris
Beneath this monumental dome lies the tomb of Napoleon I, housed in an impressive circular crypt.
The Rodin Museum: a jewel of architecture and sculpture
Near the Invalides is another exceptional venue: the Rodin Museum, housed in the former Hôtel Biron, a magnificent mansion built in the early XVIIIᵉ century by architect Jean Aubert for financier Abraham Peyrenc de Moras.
This elegant aristocratic residence changed owners several times before being occupied by various artists in the XIXᵉ century.
They include :
- Jean Cocteau
- Henri Matisse
- Auguste Rodin…
When the State bought the hotel at the beginning of the XXᵉ century, the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin offered to bequeath all his collections on condition that a museum be dedicated to his work.
The museum finally opened in 1919, two years after the artist’s death.
Today, the Rodin Museum exhibits some of the world’s most famous sculptures, including :
- The Thinker
- The Kiss
- The Burghers of Calais…
The museum is also surrounded by a magnificent seven-hectare garden, a veritable showcase for monumental sculptures.
The Palais Bourbon and the district’s political institutions
The walk also takes in the history of the Palais Bourbon, home of the French National Assembly and a major landmark in French parliamentary life.
Built in the XVIIIᵉ century for the Duchess of Bourbon, legitimated daughter of Louis XIV, the palace became the seat of the Chamber of Deputies in the XIXᵉ century.
Facing the Seine, it forms a remarkable architectural ensemble with the Quai d’Orsay and the Hôtel de Lassay, symbolizing France’s legislative power.
Not far away is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, built between 1844 and 1856. This imposing administrative building is distinguished by its monumental architecture inspired by Antiquity.
Unlike the private mansions of the Faubourg Saint-Germain, which are generally turned towards their interior gardens, this building presents a particular configuration: its gardens and courtyard open onto the Seine.
Its architecture is characterized by :
- a central body flanked by two pavilions
- Doric and Corinthian columns
- an elegant central rotunda
An architectural walk through the history of Paris
This guided walk through Paris’s 7ᵉ arrondissement offers a fascinating immersion in the capital’s political, artistic and architectural history.
Along the way, visitors discover :
- the Republic’s major institutions
- private mansions in Faubourg Saint-Germain
- prestigious museums on the left bank
- the monumental perspectives of the Invalides
This cultural escapade is an ideal introduction to the history of Paris and the evolution of French architecture between the XVIIᵉ and XIXᵉ centuries.
Whether you’re a history buff, an architecture enthusiast or simply curious, you’ll enjoy this original stroll through one of Paris’s most elegant districts.
Why choose this Parisian getaway
This guided tour allows you to :
- discover a prestigious Left Bank district
- admire numerous mansions and historic monuments
- understanding the history of Paris’s major institutions
- linking art, architecture and national history.
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Questions fréquentes (FAQ)
What do you discover on this guided walk through Paris's 7ᵉ arrondissement?
This cultural walk takes in several major sites in the 7ᵉ arrondissement of Paris, between the left bank of the Seine and the Faubourg Saint-Germain district. The route evokes, in particular, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin, the Palais Bourbon - home to the French National Assembly - as well as numerous historic townhouses and the monumental perspectives of the Hôtel des Invalides.
Who is this guided tour between the Musée d'Orsay and the Invalides designed for?
This Parisian escapade is for everyone, including those wishing to discover the history and architecture of the 7ᵉ arrondissement of Paris. It is particularly suited to groups, associations, companies or visitors curious to understand the evolution of the district, from the aristocracy of Faubourg Saint-Germain to the capital's major political institutions. A walking tour of this district presents no walking difficulties.
Can we complement this walk with a visit to a local museum?
Yes, this stroll can easily be complemented by a visit to one of the neighborhood's great museums, such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin or the Musée de l'Armée at Les Invalides. These visits deepen the artistic and historical discovery of the 7ᵉ arrondissement and enrich this cultural getaway in Paris.
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