8 Stunning Examples of Art Nouveau Architecture in Paris

Paris is full of architectural treats, but for me, there is one style that stands out, and that’s Art Nouveau. I love the elegance and long flowing lines, and the little motifs often hidden in the design. It’s pure romance and stunning to look at, and Paris has some wonderful examples if you know where to look.

The 16th arrondissement is the beating heart of the Art Nouveau revival and where you’ll find Castel Béranger, the masterpiece of architect Hector Guimard. Avenue Rapp in the 7th arrondissement is home to the famous Lavirotte Building, and then there’s the Bouillon restaurants dotted throughout the city that are the epitome of Art Nouveau design. 

Like I said, if you know where to look, you’ll find these architectural gems hidden in plain sight. But where do you start? Well, if you’re a fan of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris, this list will help, and I’ve broken it down by arrondissement to make it easy. 

A Brief Stroll Through Paris’s Art Nouveau Story

Art Nouveau first appeared in Paris in the late 1800s and made waves right up until World War I. It was more than just a new look for buildings. Architects, designers, and artists sought to break away from traditional classical styles, creating something inspired by nature and modern life. You’ll spot its influence in the curling shapes of iron balconies, the stylized flowers carved into stonework, and the flowing curves in stained glass windows.

Hector Guimard quickly became the face of Parisian Art Nouveau, thanks to his wild, organic designs for the Métro entrances and his residential projects in the 16th arrondissement. But he wasn’t alone. Jules Lavirotte pushed the style to flamboyant extremes with bold façades like the one on Avenue Rapp, and ceramicist Alexandre Bigot brought the movement to life in glazed tiles and sculptural ornament that still catch the light today.

By the 1910s, tastes had begun to shift toward sleeker, more geometric lines that would lead into Art Deco, but Paris kept its Art Nouveau treasures. Many of them are still standing in their original glory, waiting for anyone curious enough to look up and spot the details.

1st Arrondissement

La Samaritaine

In 1870, Ernest Cognacq opened a small shop by the Pont Neuf, helped by his wife Marie-Louise Jaÿ, who had worked at Le Bon Marché. The shop took its name from a water pump on the bridge that featured a biblical Samaritan figure. What began as a modest venture soon grew into a sprawling department store with modern ideas for its time, like fixed prices and fitting rooms.

Architect Frantz Jourdain was brought in during the 1890s and gave the store a bold Art Nouveau identity. He used an iron frame so the interiors could be open and filled with light, added floral ceramic panels, and crowned it all with a glass roof. Edouard Schenck designed intricate railings, and Jourdain’s son painted colorful frescoes high above the main staircase. In the late 1920s, Henri Sauvage added an Art Deco extension with stone façades and stepped terraces, creating a striking mix of styles.

After decades as one of Paris’s busiest stores, La Samaritaine closed in 2005 for safety reasons. It stood quiet for 16 years until luxury group LVMH poured time and money into restoring it, reopening in 2021. Today, it’s home to high-end shops, restaurants, and the five-star Cheval Blanc Paris hotel. 

The sweeping staircase still has its original oak steps and gilded leaves, the ceramic panels have been carefully reassembled, and the glass roof now adjusts to the light. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s worth a visit just to see how this Paris institution has been brought back to life.

7th Arrondissement

Lavirotte Building (29 Avenue Rapp)

If Art Nouveau ever decided to throw a party, it would probably look like the façade at 29 Avenue Rapp in the 7th arrondissement. Designed by Jules Lavirotte and finished in 1901, this apartment building was his chance to show off every trick in the book. 

It’s covered in sculpted stone, twisting iron balconies, and a riot of glazed ceramics made by Alexandre Bigot. The doorway alone is enough to stop you in your tracks. There’s so much going on in the carving that you could stand there for half an hour and still find new details.

Lavirotte was known for his flamboyant approach, and this building won Paris’s annual façade competition the year it was completed. The theme is often said to be playful and a little risqué, with hidden symbols and shapes tucked into the design. 

It’s still a private residential building, so you can’t go inside, but the exterior is the showstopper. Stand across the street for the best view, then wander around the corner into Square Rapp for another Lavirotte creation and a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower framed by the buildings. 

12 Rue Sédillot

Before Jules Lavirotte made headlines with the showpiece on Avenue Rapp, he was already testing out his signature style at 12 Rue Sédillot. Built in 1899, this private residence feels like a more restrained version of what he would later unleash. You can still see the hallmarks, flowing stonework, ornamental iron, and a hint of playfulness in the details, but it’s all a little more contained.

The building was commissioned by a wealthy client who wanted something fashionable yet livable, and Lavirotte delivered a design that stood out without overwhelming the street. Alexandre Bigot’s ceramic work makes an appearance here too, adding color and texture that catch the light in certain weather.

It is now home to the Leonardo da Vinci Italian High School, so your visit will be limited to admiring the façade from the street. If you’re already in the neighborhood for Avenue Rapp, it’s worth a short detour to see how Lavirotte’s earlier work set the stage for his more flamboyant projects.

3 Square Rapp

Tucked just off Avenue Rapp, this elegant corner building was where Jules Lavirotte lived and worked. Completed in 1899, it’s less extravagant than his later façades, but it still carries his unmistakable touch. Curved balconies, ornate iron railings, and subtle ceramic details give it a sense of movement without overpowering the quiet square.

Living here must have been the perfect advertisement for Lavirotte’s talents. From his own windows, he could see the Eiffel Tower, perfectly framed at the end of the street. It’s a view that remains one of the most photogenic in Paris. The building also sits in one of the city’s prettiest residential enclaves, which feels a world away from the busy Champ de Mars just beyond.

It’s private, so you’ll have to admire it from outside, but the square is open to the public. Stand in the center and take in the mix of architecture, then follow the line of sight toward the Eiffel Tower for that postcard-perfect shot Lavirotte must have enjoyed every day.

16th Arrondissement

Castel Béranger (14 Rue de la Fontaine)

Castel Béranger was the building that put Hector Guimard on the map. Completed in 1898, it was his first major commission and a chance to show Paris what Art Nouveau could be. The apartment block replaced a plain old structure with something completely different, twisting wrought iron, colorful glazed tiles, and stonework that seems to ripple across the façade. Even the gates and door handles are original Guimard designs, turning everyday fixtures into works of art.

Guimard lived here for a time and used the project to experiment with everything from layout to decoration. He designed the furniture, light fixtures, and even the letterboxes, making the building a complete Art Nouveau environment. It won the city’s façade competition the year it was finished, and the attention it brought helped cement Guimard’s reputation.

Today, it’s still a private residence, so you can’t step inside, but rue Jean de La Fontaine has several Guimard buildings that are worth a look. Stand across the street to take in the full façade; it’s like a mini open-air museum of Paris’s Art Nouveau era.

Hôtel Guimard (122 Avenue Mozart)

By the time Hector Guimard built his own home at 122 Avenue Mozart between 1909 and 1912, he was already the best-known Art Nouveau architect in Paris. The townhouse served as both his residence and studio, giving him the perfect canvas to refine his style. The façade is elegant and flowing, with pale stone, curved windows, and gorgeous ironwork.

Inside, Guimard designed everything, from the layout to the furniture, creating a space that reflected his vision down to the smallest hinge or handle. He lived here with his American-born wife, Adeline Oppenheim Guimard, an artist in her own right. The couple filled the home with their own work, and it became both a living space and a showcase for potential clients.

The house is still privately owned, so it’s best viewed from across Avenue Mozart, where you can see how the building fits into its quieter, leafy corner of the 16th. For Art Nouveau fans, it gives a sense of standing where Guimard poured his creative energy into the place he called home.

Hôtel Mezzara (60 Rue de la Fontaine)

Hector Guimard also built Hôtel Mezzara between 1910 and 1911 for textile manufacturer Paul Mezzara, who was a collector and supporter of the decorative arts. It’s one of Guimard’s later works, where the bold curves of his earlier buildings give way to a more refined style, but the Art Nouveau spirit is still there in the flowing lines, the ornamental ironwork, and the soft integration of glass and stone.

The building was designed as both a residence and a space to entertain, with a large central hall lit by a glass roof and rooms arranged for exhibitions and social gatherings. Mezzara used it to display textiles and host events for Paris’s creative circles, making it as much a cultural hub as a private home.

For years, it served as a school building, but it’s now in the process of becoming the Musée Guimard, dedicated entirely to the architect’s work. While it’s not yet fully open to the public, its location on Rue Jean de La Fontaine means you can easily admire it from the street as part of a walk that takes in several of Guimard’s masterpieces in the 16th.

15th Arrondissement

24 Place Étienne Pernet

This apartment building by architect Alfred Wagon is a burst of Art Nouveau energy in the quieter streets of the 15th arrondissement. Completed in 1905, it’s impossible to miss thanks to its façade covered in sculpted vegetation, twisting vines, oversized flowers, and curling leaves that climb across the stone like they’re alive. The effect is theatrical but still balanced, making the building stand out without overwhelming the square.

The sculptural work is so detailed that you’ll need to spend a bit of time to really see everything. From across the street, you see the overall pattern, but up close, the craftsmanship really comes through, petals layered with precision, stems curling in different directions, and even subtle shading in the stone. It’s the kind of façade that must have been a conversation piece for the neighbors when it first went up.

The Art Nouveau Métro Entrances

Hector Guimard’s Métro entrances are as much a part of Paris’s identity as the Eiffel Tower. Installed in the early 1900s when the metro was brand new, they turned something purely practical into a work of art. Guimard used cast iron to create plant-like forms, with stems that curl into lamp posts and lettering that feels handwritten. Some entrances are open-air with decorative railings, while others have the famous glass “dragonfly” canopies.

The best example of the canopy style is at Porte Dauphine on Line 2, which still has its original glass and iron structure. It’s the last of its kind in its original location, and its sweeping curves make it worth the short trip.

Abbesses, in Montmartre, has another canopy, though it was moved there in the 1970s. Both give a glimpse of how the network must have looked in its early years. Not every Guimard entrance has survived, but you can still find them scattered across the city in places like Châtelet, Palais Royal, and École Militaire. 

Bouillon Restaurants with Art Nouveau Décor

Bouillons began as working-class dining halls in the late 1800s, serving simple, affordable meals at speed. The name comes from the broth that was a staple of their menu, but the idea caught on fast, and soon bouillons were popping up all over Paris.

By the Belle Époque, some owners wanted more than just a functional space. They embraced the Art Nouveau style that was sweeping the city, turning these everyday restaurants into showcases of craftsmanship.

A few of these original dining rooms have survived, and you’ll find some of the cheapest meals in Paris here with some of the most stunning decor.

Bouillon Julien in the 10th arrondissement is one of the most spectacular. Built in 1903, it’s filled with floral tilework, peacock motifs, and stained-glass panels inspired by the art of Alfons Mucha. The mahogany bar was made by Louis Majorelle, one of the great names in French furniture design, and the floor is a mosaic garden of daisies and wildflowers. A recent restoration brought back its original soft green tones, revealing details that had been dulled for decades.

Bouillon Racine in the Latin Quarter opened in 1906 and is a quieter, more intimate space, with carved wood panels, mirrored walls, and delicate stained glass. For years, it served as the Sorbonne’s staff canteen before being restored in the 1990s. The work was so faithful to the original design that stepping inside feels like the restaurant never left the Belle Époque.

Over in Montparnasse, Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse continues the tradition with heritage-listed tiled walls and mirrors. It’s a little less ornate than Julien or Racine, but still firmly in the Art Nouveau spirit.

The beauty of these bouillons is that you can walk in, order a traditional French dish at a price that hasn’t strayed far from their original mission, and enjoy a dining room that has been part of Paris life for over a century. The food might be what brings you through the door, but the surroundings are what you’ll remember.