A day in historic Paris, revisited by Lupin

• Your day in Paris in Lupin's footsteps starts on rue de Monceau in the 8th arrondissement, with a visit to the impressive Pellegrini mansion. Or rather, the splendid Musée Nissim de Camondo. This private mansion, inspired by the aristocratic residences of the 18th century, was designed in 1911 by the famous architect René Sergent at the request of Moïse de Camondo. His aim was to find a space in which to store and bring to life his collection of objects and works of art from this period: paintings, tapestries, furniture, silverware, porcelain, carpets... all of a rare quality and finesse. 
   
• Over several floors, the building offers a fascinating journey back in time to the 18th-century bourgeoisie. From the kitchen, with its imposing rotisserie and central stove, to the library with its natural oak panelling, nothing is left to chance. Don't miss the creations of cabinetmaker Weisweiler and the La Brioche tapestry in the dining room, or the precious porcelain from the Manufacture de Sèvres in the cabinet dedicated to them. In the large study, several Aubusson tapestries recount the Fables of La Fontaine, and in Moïse de Camondo's bathroom, the blue and white tiles are surprisingly modern. 
   
• Before leaving, don't forget to return to the hallway to admire the shell-shaped fountain in royal red marble and its gilded lead dolphin. This exceptional piece shows that the Musée Nissim de Camondo is one of the most beautiful and unforgettable in Paris.

Please be patient: the museum has temporarily closed its doors for major works and will not reopen until 2026. But don't worry: Parc Monceau, just a few steps away, is a must-see and a great introduction to the world of Lupin. That's because Assane loves meeting up in parks, but also because the Parc Monceau in particular offers a striking glimpse of all the Parisian elegance of the series' settings: wrought-iron gates embellished with gold, statues, gigantic trees, a large pool, and even a Renaissance arcade from the old Paris Town Hall. It's all there for you to follow in Lupin's footsteps. The Musée Cernuschi, dedicated to Asian art and located at the eastern end of the park, is also well worth a visit.

Musée Nissim de Camondo

• After the 8th arrondissement, your day in Paris in the footsteps of Lupin continues in the centre of Paris to discover another exceptional place: the Bibliothèque Nationale de France on the Richelieu site. It was here that Assane Diop's son, Raoul, set off to investigate in the footsteps of Arsène Lupin. And it's easy to understand why: the Oval Room, inaugurated in 1936 after more than thirty years' work, is immediately impressive thanks to its 18-metre-high glass roof and its sixteen glass oculi with mosaics. In this room alone, visitors can consult over 20,000 volumes, devoted in particular to the performing arts, maps and plans, prints and photography, manuscripts, coins and even music. In the museum section, you can admire Dagobert's throne, prints by Picasso, Charlemagne's chessboard and Victor Hugo's manuscript of Notre-Dame de Paris. Regular tours are also organised to help you make the most of all the site has to offer.

Note: the Library reopened in 2022 after twelve years of renovation. There's now no excuse not to make the most of it!

National Library of France

Close to the BnF, you can also enjoy the splendid Galerie Colbert, where Assane's ex-wife Claire is trying to pilfer a book from the library's collections. Located next to the Galerie Vivienne, which is also well worth a visit, it was built in the early 19th century and named after one of Louis XIV's best-known ministers. Visitors love to linger long in its rotunda to admire its 17-metre-high glass dome. At its centre used to be a bronze candelabra on which sat a crown of seven crystal globes. Lit by gas, it was known as the ‘cocottier lumineux’. Today, it has been replaced by a statue of Eurydice. The gallery also closed in 1975, before being bought by the Bibliothèque Nationale and renovated in 1986. It now houses the Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art (INHA) and the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP). Although there are fewer dealers than in the past, the Brasserie Colbert with its Art Nouveau decor is still a place not to be missed, ideal for having a coffee while reading an Arsène Lupin adventure, for example. 

• Time for a well-deserved lunch break! We recommend l'Appartement Saint-Martin, where Assane meets Claire, and we understand: as well as offering brunch, this brasserie offers a wide selection of salads, tasting boards, burgers and even tatakis. No one is forgotten! On your way out, take the time to admire a famous door that bears the same name as this restaurant. The Porte Saint-Martin, located on the border between the 3rd and 10th arrondissements, at the junction of four different streets and boulevards, is a landmark in the capital. Built in 1674 on the former enclosure of Charles V and standing 18 metres high, this arch was designed by Pierre Bullet, and was part of the work on the boulevards carried out at the time by... Colbert. Everything is linked on this tour! 
   
• We recommend that you pay particular attention to the bas-reliefs depicting Louis XIV, notably as a half-naked Hercules with his club. The arch was built to celebrate the King's victories in Franche-Comté during the Dutch wars. 
   
• A final anecdote, which is unexpected to say the least, is that the Gate holds a secret, a hidden entrance to a ‘ghost’ metro station, closed in 1939 because it was too close to République and Strasbourg Saint-Denis stations. 
   
• What's more, you'll pass right by the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin, a legendary theatre where some of the most famous plays have been staged since it was built (in just two months) in 1781. Don't hesitate to ask about its programme if you feel like it!

• Your day in Paris in the footsteps of Lupin continues. After a visit to the Place de la République and a stroll along the Boulevard Richard Lenoir, you'll arrive at Bastille and its famous Bassin de l'Arsenal, which opens onto the Seine. It is here, on the Passerelle de Mornay, that Assane reunites with his family in a moving final scene in the first part of the series. Built in 1825, the Passerelle Mornay enables Parisians to cross the Canal Saint-Martin, linking the 4th and 12th arrondissements. 
   
• As well as admiring the boats moored in the arsenal, you can take a look at the Opera House, keep an eye out for the Place de la Bastille, and why not make a slight diversions to rue Crémieux, famous for its cobbled streets and colourful houses.

• From the Passerelle de Mornay, take the Pont d'Austerlitz, cross the splendid Jardin des Plantes, walk alongside the Arènes de Lutèce and the Panthéon, and then head for a very special garden. Not the Jardin du Luxembourg, although that is well worth a visit, but the Jardin des Grands-Explorateurs. It was here, and more precisely next to the Fontaine des Quatre-Parties-du-Monde, that a young Assane was seen playing with his father. 
   
• The building, constructed between 1867 and 1874, immediately stands out thanks to its central sculpture: four women carrying a sphere. The symbolism is important. Each woman represents one of the parts of the world known in the second half of the 19th century. Of particular note is a broken chain at the foot of the woman representing the African continent. But it's a chain on which America still has one foot, echoing the movement to abolish slavery that was still underway around the world at the time. The installation is completed by representations of eight sea horses, waving among dolphins and turtles. 
   
• The work is so striking that it was listed as a historic monument in 1926. We can't recommend enough that you take a seat in the garden and admire this unique fountain, while reflecting on the discoveries you made during your day in Paris following in Lupin's footsteps.

Read also:

• Where can you find the cult locations from the series Emily in Paris?
• 8 emblematic French locations seen in the Lupin series

Find out more:

• Preparing your trip to Paris