rue Fortuny Paris
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Last Updated: 27 April 2021

Rue Fortuny in the 17th arrondissement is little known by many tourist guides in Paris. I recently read a history book about the former commune of Batignolles-Monceau. I learnt about this chic street and decided to head to rue Fortuny just a step away from Parc Monceau. Follow me to this stunning ‘open-air museum’ street.

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Rue Fortuny: a bit of history

The street takes its name from Marià Fortuny i Marsal (1838-1874), simply known as Mariano Fortuny. Born in Catalonia, he was a leading painter of his day. He stayed in Paris in 1868 and in 1870.

The street was created in 1876 on lands that belonged to French painter Louis Godefroy Jardin (1805-1892). Towards the end of the 19th century, rue Fortuny was a street sought by artists and the upper bourgeois class for its calm and proximity to Parc Monceau. This explains the many beautiful and sometimes surprising façades. The different architectural styles reflect this prosperous period that was eclectic and historically based.

Today the street is home to lawyer, insurance and fiducial firms, and the residence of the ambassador of Iran. Former French Prime minister Dominique de Villepin has bought a mansion there and former President Nicolas Sarkozy resided in the street in his childhood.


Some mansions of rue Fortuny

The façades of the mansions match each other in beauty and prestigious residents. Here are a few mansions whose façades are worth noticing:

Number 2

Edmond Rostand (1868-1918), a French poet and dramatist lived at number 2 from 1891 to 1897 where he wrote his famous play Cyrano de Bergerac. A commemorative plaque is fixed onto the wall.

Number 8

8 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
At number 8 © French Moments

What a strange house to find in central Paris! The mansion was built in 1882 by architect Alfred Boland in Troubadour-Gothic style. Notice the architectural details: the fake half-timbered façade, sculpted friezes, niches housing little statues, mouldings on door and window frames…

Number 9

9 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments

Between 1889 and 1890, Paul-Adrien Gouney built the Neo-Renaissance mansion at number 9 for Benjamin Morel. It consists of two squared levels surmounted by a third one with sloping ceilings (mansardé in French). The architect played with the polychromy of the materials used. Notice the first floor: the balustrade is made in stone and the walls consist of coloured bricks. Above it is a large frieze in faience (or earthenware) forms a turquoise and red line. The second floor features a loggia. Stone pilasters support a cornice decorated with terracotta flowerets and sheet-metal birds. 

Number 13

13 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
The street att number 13 © French Moments

The house at number 13 (1879-1880) is a creation of architect Paul-Casimir Fouquiau for Paul Vayson. French writer Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974) lived there between 1933 and 1950.

Number 17

The mansion at number 17 was built in 1884 by Charles-Edouard Weyland (1830-1892) for Louis Herbette, Prefect of the Loire-Inférieure département (now Loire-Atlantique). Its architecture is a mix of Renaissance and Louis XIV styles.

Number 19

19-21, rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
At numbers 19-21 © French Moments

The house at number 19, rue Fortuny was built by Jean Brisson (1848-1903) in 1891 for Arsène Picard. The cut stone building was built in Neo-Renaissance style. Notice the bow-window on the first floor.

Number 27

27 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
The street at number 27 © French Moments

Known as the Hôtel Englebert, the mansion at number 27 was built in 1878 by architect Adolphe Viel. The façade is patterned with three window bays and three square levels. The decoration includes turquoise earthenware tiles. There resided Carolina « La Belle » Otero (1868-1965), a famous dancer, actress and courtesan of Spanish origin.

Number 35

35 rue Fortuny © French Moments
At number 35 © French Moments

Towards the junction with avenue de Villiers, the number 35 was built in 1876 by architect (and painter) Nicolas-Félix Escalier (1843-1920). The building is a mix of different styles: Gothic and Renaissance. Notice the gargoyles on the cornice and the beautiful railings. The mansion once belonged to Sarah Bernhardt. Bankrupted, the actress had to sell it in 1885. In 2012 it was bought by former French Prime minister, Dominique de Villepin. One last thing: have you noticed the two playing rats that were fixed onto the façade?

Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
The rats at number 35 © French Moments

How to get to rue Fortuny?

rue Fortuny Paris
The street in the 17th arrondissement of Paris © French Moments
  • The street stretches between rue de Prony and avenue de Villiers in the 17th arrondissement, not far from Parc Monceau. Check out google map for the exact location of the rue Fortuny. 
  • Closest métro stations: Monceau (line 2) or Malesherbes (line 3).
  • Other sites of interest in the neighbourhood: the Swedish church of Paris (9 rue Médéric), the Henner Museum (43 avenue de Villiers) and Parc Monceau.

More photos of the street

9 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments
9 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments
27 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
The street at number 27 © French Moments
9 rue Fortuny, Paris © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
Street façades © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
Street façades © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
The street at number 8 © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
At number 9 © French Moments
Street façades, 17th arrondissement © French Moments
Street façades © French Moments

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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.

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