Paris 16: Gardens, Art and Special Collections

The different places offer you specific points of interest—from distinctive trees and garden architecture to Monet’s works, Balzac’s study and a large jellyfish collection.

Gardens and trees

Parc de Passy slopes down the hill of Passy to the Seine. Its central lawn is framed by remarkable trees, notable for their shapes, colours and blossoms. Alongside this open space, an avenue offers a different perspective: it passes flowering arches and trellises covered with climbing plants. A belvedere stands at the end of the avenue.

Jardin du Ranelagh is home to three Turkish hazels, measuring 19, 21 and 28 metres tall. The difference in height between the shortest and tallest trees is therefore nine metres. Their varying heights make the three specimens a useful point of comparison within the garden. Guignol puppet shows offer another seasonal attraction: they take place from March to November on Wednesdays, Sundays and public holidays. Check the current programme before your visit.

Parc de Passy also offers more than garden areas. It has a 200 m² children’s playground with play equipment for children under 14, as well as six fitness machines. If you are interested in these facilities, bear in mind that individual pieces of equipment may change, and check the latest information before your visit.

Art, literature and architecture

Musée Marmottan Monet houses the world’s largest collection of works by Claude Monet. The museum is located in a preserved Empire-style hôtel particulier built by Paul Marmottan. The collection and historic building give your visit two distinct focal points: Monet’s art and the architecture of the house.

You can reach Musée Marmottan Monet on Métro line 9, getting off at La Muette or Ranelagh, or on RER line C, getting off at Boulainvilliers. Check connections before travelling so you can plan your journey using the current timetable.

Maison de Balzac offers a different perspective on literary history. In Balzac’s study, he revised his entire work La Comédie humaine from 1840 to 1847. These dates define the period of this work and make clear the connection between the room and his literary output. For travellers more interested in a place of work and a specific period in literary history than in an art collection, this site offers a distinct point of interest.

Jardins du Trocadéro combine a promenade with views of the Eiffel Tower and numerous sculptures around the fountains. Here, the view shares the spotlight with the garden’s artworks. At Jardin du Ranelagh, meanwhile, the three Turkish hazels and seasonal Guignol puppet shows offer different reasons to plan a visit.

Aquarium de Paris

Aquarium de Paris presents the largest jellyfish collection outside Japan. It is spread across 24 tanks, where 50 species are displayed in rotation. The number of tanks and the rotation of species make clear that all 50 species are not on view at the same time. Aquarium de Paris was built for the 1878 World’s Fair and is also historically known as Aquarium du Trocadéro.

The programme includes temporary exhibitions, conferences and educational activities, all of which are included in the admission price. As the programme may change, it is worth checking the latest dates before your visit. This way, you can plan your visit around the activities that interest you most.

Gardens, art collections, literature and the aquarium appeal to very different travel interests. If you are looking for a hotel in Paris 16, this distinction can be a useful starting point. For your specific choice, check the location of each hotel and plan your journeys using up-to-date information.

Discover more destinations: Paris 11, 6th arrondissement, 19th arrondissement, Paris, 5th arrondissement, L'entrepot, 15th arrondissement, Ménilmontant

Back to the main travel overview: Paris.