Place de Mexico, Paris and its Eiffel Tower View

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

The facades of the avenue are magnificent.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Find out more!

• Closes métro station: Trocadéro (Lines 6 and 9)
• Link to Google Map
• Read our guide to the Sixteenth Arrondissement of Paris
• Find out more about the Place de Mexico on Wikipedia

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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!

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.