Place de Mexico, Paris © French Moments
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Place de Mexico, Paris and its Eiffel Tower View

Last Updated: 22 June 2022

Few tourists know about the existence of the Place de Mexico. And yet, it offers one of the most beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower. Let’s discover this gem in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.

Place de Mexico by Google Earth
Place de Mexico by Google Earth

 

The origins of Place de Mexico

This square pays tribute to Mexico, whose embassy is nearby, at 9, rue de Longchamp.

It is an old crossroads of the Passy plain, where paths once joined. 

Its layout was rectified in 1825. 

At that time, only modest gardeners’ and market gardeners’ houses were built around it. 

The district, which was not integrated into Paris until 1860, still retained a rural character. 

The urbanisation of western Paris came late and the square only began to be developed and take on its current appearance from 1905 onwards.

The square was formerly called “rond-point de Longchamp” and was renamed in 1957.

Place de Mexico, Paris © French Moments
Walking towards the square © French Moments

 

The old Magu farm

A plaque at number 9 mentions that in the 17th century there was an agricultural establishment, the Magu farm, where Boileau and La Fontaine used to come to drink fresh milk. 

Magu Farm at 9 Place de Mexico, Paris © Wikimedia Commons / Mu - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Plaque showing the site of the old Magu Farm © Wikimedia Commons / Mu – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The estate was destroyed in 1904.

 

The statue at the centre of the square

In its centre is a sculpture by Agueda Lozano, Terre du Mexique en terre de France, donated by Mexico in 2006.

Place de Mexico, Paris © French Moments
The statue at the centre of the square © French Moments

 

Beyond Place de Mexico

Following the direction of the Eiffel Tower, you will discover some beautiful and interesting sites.

 

Avenue d’Eylau

I recommend that you go to the Place du Trocadero via Avenue d’Eylau.

Avenue d'Eylau, Paris © French Moments
The beautiful perspective leading to the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

This street takes its name from the battle of Eylau won by Napoleon I in 1807.

The facades of the avenue are magnificent.

Avenue d'Eylau, Paris © French Moments
Avenue d’Eylau and its beautiful façades © French Moments
Avenue d'Eylau, Paris © French Moments
Beautiful façade on Avenue d’Eylau © French Moments
Avenue d'Eylau, Paris © French Moments
The façades on Avenue d’Eylau, Paris © French Moments
Avenue d'Eylau, Paris © French Moments
At the corner of Avenue d’Eylau and Avenue Georges Mandel © French Moments
Place de Mexico and Avenue d'Eylau © French Moments
The Eiffel Tower and Avenue d’Eylau from Place de Mexico © French Moments

 

If you look at a map of Paris, you will see that the Avenue d’Eylau is part of a large perspective running from the Tour Montparnasse in the south-east to the Place de Mexico in the north-west, passing by the Ecole Militaire, the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower, the Palais de Chaillot and the Place du Trocadéro.

In 1866, it was planned that this route would go as far as the Porte Dauphine near the Bois de Boulogne. However, this major urban project was never realised.

Perspective Eiffel Tower by Google Earth
The perspective of the Eiffel Tower (map by Google Earth)

 

This is the perspective from the Eiffel Tower. You can see the Trocadero and the avenue d’Eylau which ends abruptly at the Place de Mexico.

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The Trocadéro gardens seen from the top of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

 

Place du Trocadéro-et-du-11-novembre

The Place du Trocadéro-et-du-11-Novembre is one of the first tourist spots in Paris.

The square is located at the crossroads of Avenue du Président-Wilson, Avenue Kléber, Avenue Raymond-Poincaré, Avenue d’Eylau, Avenue Georges-Mandel and Avenue Paul-Doumer.

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro © French Moments

 

It opens onto the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme and the Palais de Chaillot.

The Trocadero occupies the top of the hill of Chaillot, and the diameter of the square is 164 metres.

The square is planted with trees and decorated in its centre with an equestrian statue of Marshal Foch. To the south-east, the square opens onto the Palais de Chaillot and its square overlooking the Seine and offering a clear view of the Eiffel Tower. To the northwest, it is lined with cafés and brasseries.

 

Passy cemetery

Once you arrive at the Trocadero, you can visit the Passy cemetery.

Passy cemetery © French Moments
The Eiffel Tower dominates the Passy cemetery © French Moments

Dominated by the Eiffel Tower, the cemetery houses the graves of many French personalities including Hubert de Givenchy, Jacques Guerlain, Edouard Manet, Fernandel and Haroun Tazieff.

Passy cemetery © French Moments
The tomb of painter Edouard Manet, Passy cemetery © French Moments
Passy cemetery © French Moments
A view of Passy cemetery © French Moments

 

Find out more!

 

Pin it on Pinterest

Place de Mexico Pinterest copyright French Moments

 

 

Last anecdote about Place de Mexico

Note the round window at the top of the building at Number 10 Place de Mexico. It is ideally placed on the axis of the Eiffel Tower and offers one of the most beautiful views of Paris. It is often photographed by famous Instagrammers!

Place de Mexico, Paris © French Moments
The round window at the top of number 10, place de Mexico © French Moments

In fact, this view can be yours during your stay in Paris! Indeed, it appears that number 10 is a hotel: the Metropolitan, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel. You can book your rooms by clicking here.

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Hello Pierre,

    My name is Wendy, I live in Detroit, Michigan.

    I subscribed to your page sometime ago and I really do enjoy reading it! I’m wondering, Is Metropolitan the hotel that Carrie from “Sex and the City” stayed when she moved to Paris in season six? This view seems very familiar to me from being a massage fan of the series and my fascination with France!

    Á bientôt

    Wendy J.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

Escape to France with every email! Get insider insights, travel guides, cultural gems delivered and exclusive offers to your inbox twice a week. Your journey to Paris and France begins when you sign up!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover