The fifteenth arrondissement is the great forgotten one when it comes to visiting Paris. However, as residential, family-friendly and quiet as it may seem, the district hides its share of cultural surprises. In fact, it’s home to a remarkable cultural and architectural heritage, a wealth of theaters, museums and other vibrant cultural venues, and parks for a breath of fresh air!
The Bourdelle Museum
Dedicated to sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, contemporary of Auguste Rodin and master of Alberto Giacometti, a major artist of the early 20ᵉ century, this museum is little known to tourists in Paris. Between the artists’ studio, the plaster hall, the street garden, the interior garden, the painting studio, the promenade, the Potzamparc aid… The Musée Bourdelle in the 15th arrondissement is a veritable architectural mille-feuille! Take the opportunity to stroll through the various spaces, eat at the café-restaurant Le Rhodia, and complete your visit with a visit to Rhodia and Dufet’s former apartment. Find out more here.
📍Address: 18, rue Antoine-Bourdelle 75015 Paris
Galeries Montparnasse
The former Galeries Lafayette has been converted into a vibrant cultural venue. In this atypical space, featuring an immense 10,000 square meters now dedicated to leisure and culture, you’ll find all kinds of cultural activities and festive events.
📍Address: 22 rue du Départ, 75015 Paris
Serial Killer: The Exhibition
Currently on display is the astonishing Serial Killer exhibition, which allows visitors to enter the limbo of history’s most notorious criminal minds, such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy and the Zodiac Killer, thanks to over 1,000 original artifacts and reconstructions of mythical crime scenes.
Napoleon: The Immersive Epic
As the Galleries are full of surprises, they are also home to a sensational immersive experience dedicated to Napoleon where, equipped with a virtual reality headset, participants are invited to take part in the most memorable moments of the Napoleonic era, such as the staff meeting before the battle of Austerlitz, the charge of the cuirassiers, the rise of the Vendôme column, or the Berezina. Something for everyone!
Georges Brassens Park
Georges Brassens was a fervent supporter of the 15th arrondissement. Did you know that? The proof is in the pudding: the French singer gave his name to this park. Covering almost 9 hectares, on the site of the former Vaugirard abattoirs, it’s the green lung of the district. Very popular with families, it offers a wide range of activities. Stroll between the animal statues, play ping-pong, watch a puppet show, ride a merry-go-round, run… You can also learn about beekeeping in educational workshops at the Clos des Morillons apiary, which boasts a large number of Pinot Noir vines.
📍Address: 2 Pl. Jacques Marette, 75015 Paris
The Book Market (15th arrondissement)
Every Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: the Marché du livre ancien et d’occasion. Held every weekend since 1987 in the halles along the Parc Brassens. A must for bibliophiles and lovers of fine objects, its range now extends to other retro items such as comics, vinyl, silver photos, posters and other curiosities.
The House of Japanese Culture in Paris
Fancy taking a dip in Japanese culture right in the heart of Paris? Head for the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris! Since 1997, the MCJP has been promoting traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Through a wide range of activities (exhibitions, live shows, cinema, conferences, library), it offers a broad public the chance to learn about Japanese culture in all its forms. You’ll also find workshops in tea ceremony, calligraphy, ikebana (floral art), origami, manga… Enough to make you lose your Latin!
📍Address: 101 bis Quai Jacques Chirac, 75015 Paris
A flan bar
Pistachio, black sesame, hazelnut praline, matcha, coconut, crème brûlée… There’s something for every taste and every color! At Paris & Co, a farandole of creamy flans awaits you. Grab a slice to go, and keep the party going!
📍Address: 4 Rue de la Convention 75015 Paris
Rue Villa Santos-Dumont in the 15th arrondissement
One of the most unusual streets in Paris. “It looks like the South! Rue Villa Santos-Dumont is a little Mediterranean alley. With its flowering balconies, plant walls and climbing ivy… The bucolic atmosphere of this street takes us on a journey beyond the walls. A feast for the eyes!
La Ruche, the artists’ city of the 15th arrondissement
Another hidden treasure in the 15th arrondissement: La Ruche, Cité d’artistes. Located on the Passage Dantzig, in the historic Saint-Lambert district, this is one of the capital’s best-known artists’ housing estates. Its reputation dates back to its foundation in the early 20ᵉ century. Intended to help young emerging artists, its studios have welcomed renowned artists, painters and sculptors from all over the world. Amedeo Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, Constantin Brâncuşi, Fernand Léger, Marie Laurencin, Ossip Zadkine, and Marc Chagall. Still active today, it is home to some sixty studios. Its facades and roofs are listed as historic monuments.
📍Address: 2 Pass. de Dantzig, 75015 Paris