The 7th arrondissement runs from Rue du Bac to the Eiffel Tower. The area around rue de Grenelle and rue St-Dominique was the aristrocratic Faubourg Saint Germain where the aristocracy moved from the Marais in the 18th century. They built grand 'hotels' which today are the home of embassies and ministries. The Hotel Matignon, at No. 57 rue de Varenne, is the residence of the Prime Minister and The Hotel de Biron at No. 77 is now the Musee Rodin, which has a lovely garden and is open to the public.

More about the 7th arrondissement

Hotel Malar

Hotel Bac Saint Germain
Tryp De Saxe
Minotel La Bourdonnais
Hôtel Jardins d'Eiffel
Best Western Premier Eiffel Park Hôtel
Alma Hotel
Hôtel du Cadran
Best Western Tour Eiffel Invalides

Hotel Tourville
Bridgestreet Invalides/Saint Francois Appartements
Hôtel le Walt
Hôtel Pont Royal
K+K Hôtel Cayre

Invalides
Napoleon's Tomb
Eiffel Tower
Bon Marche
Musée Rodin
Musee d'Orsay
Musee Maillol

Musee d'Orsay

Across the river from the Louvre, was originally a Beaux-Arts train station but by the 1950's its platforms became too short and it was up for demolition. An innovative restoration transformed the train station into a museum spanning art from 1830 to 1914. Its sky-lit Impressionist Gallery holds the jewels of Impressionist Art with masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissaro and Van Gogh. Next to the gallery there is a cafe built to incorporate one of the two original giant clocks of the station, with a balcony (open in the summer) and lovely view over the Seine. The other restaurant is the more formal Restaurant du Musee d'Orsay , which was the dining room of the old hotel in the station and is an ornately gilded period piece. Its buffet brunch or prix-fixe menu is good value. Museum closed on Mondays. National Museums as the ‘Louvre’ are closed on Tuesdays and Paris Museums as the ‘d’Orsay’ are closed on Mondays.

Musee Rodin
Musee Rodin housed in the magnificent Hotel Biron. August Rodin originally rented rooms in the Hotel for living and as a studio. There were plans to destroy the house but in 1916 the French government agreed to convert it into a museum for him. The museum now houses his sculptures, academic paintings and sketches. There are also several works by Camille Claudel, the talented sculptor who became Rodin’s muse, model, and lover at the age of 17. He was nearly 50. The lovely garden is a setting for some of Rodin’s best known works including ‘The Thinker’, ‘The Burghers of Calais, and ‘The Gates of Hell’.