Maison de Balzac

The home of one of France’s hardest-working writers
- 47 Rue Raynouard ,
- 75016 Paris
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When you first pass through the beautiful and imposing porte at Nº47 Rue Raynouard and enter the small garden in front of Honoré de Balzac’s former home, the first thing that strikes you is the incredible view of the Eiffel Tower looming over the cottage.
Until, that is, you remember that when the realist writer lived and worked here (1840–1847), the iconic tower had not yet been built.
At the time, the cottage was located outside of Paris in the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle—and from Balzac’s creditors. He lived here secretly, making his housekeeper sign the lease, so that he could keep a low profile and work without interruptions.

And work he did. At one point, the author himself stated, “Yesterday, I worked 19 hours, and today I shall have to work 20 or 22.” At a tiny desk in the tiny office at the back of the house, of which he rented five rooms, he produced an incredible number of masterpieces. In the seven years he lived here, Balzac wrote Cousin Betty, Cousin Pons, Ursula Mirouet, La Rabouilleuse, The Splendors and Miseries of Courtesans, and others. As if that weren’t enough, he also edited and selected images for his 91-volume opus La Comédie Humaine.
Among the original pages of manuscripts, the writer’s home museum also displays an impressive collection of wood and copper print blocks, including one with a superb panther and an entire room filled with the depictions of les personnages from The Human Comedy, which has some 2,500 characters.

The museum is an incredible showcase of an artist at work, with some of his possessions, many examples of his work, and even a room dedicated to quotes about the author himself. For any reader or writer, lover of words, or even simply as someone who appreciates hard work, the Maison de Balzac is a must-see in Paris.
And, entry to the museum is free, except during temporary exhibitions.
Looking for more literary landmarks in Paris? Visit the Maison de Victor Hugo, Gertrude Stein’s Salon, or read Arthur Rimbaud’s Le Bateau Ivre while strolling down the street!
Maison de Balzac
Poinçon
The Hardware Société
Le Saint-Régis
Pantagruel
Brasserie La Lorraine
Du Pain et Des Idées
Brasserie Dubillot
Granite
Giorgio
Bouillon Julien
FIEF
Fluctuat
Le Four du 12
Café A
Aux Petits Oignons
Le Coupe-Chou
Les Vins des Dames
Bouillon Chartier
Lapérouse
Monsieur Bleu
Chez Gladines
Le Voltaire
Misso
Bambou
Septime
Il Cottage
Le Chalet de Neuilly
Georges
Le Pantruche
Le Radis Beurre
La Felicità, Station F
Le Comptoir du Relais Saint Germain
Vaudeville
Le Troquet
Le Grand Bain
Ralph’s
Terra
Can Alegria
Bisou.
Paname Brewing Company
Mezcaleria
Berthillon
Willi’s Wine Bar
Dose – Dealer du Café (Batignolles)
Rosa Bonheur – Buttes Chaumont
Mr Culbuto
Boca Dos
Le Comptoir Général
Anticafé
Dragon
Candelarìa
La Péniche Antipode
Castor Club
La Belle Hortense
Le Mary Celeste
Fitzgerald
Café de Flore
Le Syndicat
Night Flight
Tiger
Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
Le Bar Dix
Le Bouclier de Bacchus
CloudM
Strada Café
Le Perchoir de l’Est
Divine
Le Renard Bar
Wild & the Moon
Le Peloton
Le Pavillon des Canaux
Dose – Dealer de Café (Mouffetard)
Café Kitsuné – Palais Royal
Angelina
L’Abribus Café
Le Perchoir Marais
La Samaritaine
Eataly
Antique & Used Book Market, Marché du Livre
La Cure Gourmande
Marché Belgrand
Bercy Village
Les Puces de Vanves
Liquides
Passy Covered Market
Le Bon Marché
Printemps
Le Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville
Koshka Mashka
Galeries Lafayette
Librairie Galignani
Buly 1803
Androuet
The Frankie Shop
Shakespeare and Company
Assouline – Saint Germain
Fromagerie Quatrehomme
Legrand Filles et Fils
Empreintes
The Abbey Bookshop
Aujourd’hui Demain
Artazart
CityPharma
Verbreuil
TWINS Concept Store
Merci
L’Eau et Les Rêves
Alix D. Reynis
Marché Saint-Pierre
L’Eclair de Génie
Matières à Réflexion
Erotokritos
L’Appartement Sézane
Musée Carnavalet
Square Marcel Bleustein Blanchet
Bourse de Commerce
Square Édouard VII
Musée de Montmartre
Rue Denoyez
Le Village Saint Paul
Square des Batignolles
Wall of ‘I Love You’
Les Champs-Elysées
Galerie Perrotin
Fluctuart
Galerie Kamel Mennour
Atelier des Lumières
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Institut du Monde Arabe
59 Rivoli
Parc de Belleville
Square Barye
Rue des Eaux
Parc Monceau
Arènes de Lutèce
Musée Nissim de Camondo
Musée Jacquemart-André
L’Hôtel de Sully
Centre Pompidou
La Sainte-Chapelle
Cimetière du Montparnasse
Galerie Vivienne
Maison de Balzac
La Conciergerie
Gertrude Stein’s Apartment
Musée de l’Homme
Place Dauphine
Notre Dame Cathedral
Maison de Victor Hugo
Rue Cler
Musée Marmottan Monet
Rue Daguerre
Musée des Arts Forains
La Seine Musicale
Aquaboulevard
Supersonic
BAM Karaoke Box
Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione
Moulin Rouge
Crazy Horse Paris
Folies Bergère
Le Grand Rex
Théâtre Michel
Gossima Ping-Pong Bar
Playground Duperré
‘Oh My God, She’s Parisian’ Comedy Show
Les Petites Flèches
Le Louxor
La Gare
Théâtre du Châtelet
Café Oz – Denfert
Bus Palladium
Open-Air Cinema at La Villette
Les Bains du Marais
Aux Bains Montorgueil
Hammam Les Cent Ciels
Free Persephone
Spa My Blend by Clarins
Peninsula Spa
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Paris
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47 Rue Raynouard
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75016 Paris
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