Picture yourself in the 12th century, wandering through fields and vineyards instead of the broad urban avenues we're familiar with today. That was the everyday life of residents in Auteuil and Passy, two villages that only became part of Paris in 1860. Back then, what we now call the 16th arrondissement was not paved, nor was it built in Haussmannian style. Instead, it was a peaceful land blanketed with forests and vineyards, supplying Parisians with wine long before Montmartre gained fame for its own.
In the 15th century, the Minims of Passy religious order established themselves on the hilltop. These monks tended to a few vineyards within a walled-in parcel of land nestled between what are now the streets of Vignes and Vineuse—names that still reflect this centuries-old viticultural heritage. Perched above the Seine, these blessed lands may have produced a highly regarded wine—perhaps even enjoyed by King Louis XIII’s court—before rapid urban development in the 19th century brought this long-standing tradition to an end.
It might seem like these vineyards have vanished entirely, but their memory lives on almost exactly as it was: beneath the current Wine Museum, ancient quarries dating back to the 15th century were transformed into storage cellars for the Passy monastery, offering a tangible link to the region’s once-thriving wine-making heritage.
Le M., Musée du Vin in Paris: tastings, restaurant, exhibitions, concerts & parties!
Did you know that Paris has its own wine museum? Located in the capital's 16th arrondissement, this historic institution invites you to stroll through its 15th-century vaulted cellars and discover all the secrets of wine culture. Renovated and renamed M. Musée du Vin, the venue promises a rich program of restaurants, tasting courses, taste experiences, temporary exhibitions, concerts and Parisian soirées. [Read more]
Today, this extraordinary site — home to over 2,000 artifacts related to viticulture and winemaking — invites visitors to descend beneath the hill and imagine what rural life in Paris was like before the industrial age.
And it’s not just a legend! As far back as the Gallo-Roman era, the region surrounding Paris—Île-de-France—was renowned for its extensive vineyards. During the Middle Ages, these vineyards thrived amidst a patchwork of fields, forests, and small villages.
Did you know? Île-de-France: once the world's largest vineyard!
Discover how vines, planted as far back as antiquity, made the Île-de-France the world's leading vineyard in the XVIIIᵉ century (over 40,000 ha), and explore the urban and rural vineyards that are resurrecting this prestigious tradition today. [Read more]
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Le M., Musée du Vin in Paris: tastings, restaurant, exhibitions, concerts & parties!
