Credit: Lee Hubert

Paris by Arrondissement: the 16th

The 16th, a chic Parisian arrondissement today, was long a bucolic retreat from the hustle and bustle of central Paris. The slopes down to the river were covered with vineyards, monasteries, country estates and there were large tracts of forest where you could hunt. In fact it is comprised of several villages whose names live on as today’s neighborhoods: Passy, Auteuil, and Chaillot. Annexation to Paris in the 1860s and better transportation resulted in the gradual urbanization of the area, and it has some splendid examples of art nouveau, art deco, early reinforced concrete buildings, and modern complexes. Come and explore this arrondissement and see, among other things, the location of a spa, the house where Balzac escaped his creditors, and where Benjamin Franklin carried out his experiments with the lightning rod.

Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather. Those who wish may join us for lunch after the tour.

Instructor: Lee Hubert, B.A. Boston University, French and English, is a longtime resident of Paris.