The great casts hall
Chartres and Amiens portals and their statuary at full scale in one solemn rank — France's Gothic centuries in a single corridor walked in astonishment.
Moonik — CC BY-SA 3.0 · AlfvanBeem — CC0 · Another one of my pictures: This photograph was taken by Medium69 (William Crochot) and released under the license stated below. You are free to use it for any purpose as long as you credit the author — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France — CC BY 2.0
The two curved wings embracing the Trocadéro plaza are the Palais de Chaillot, built for the 1937 Fair on an older palace's footings — and from its terrace the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed in 1948, when it hosted the infant United Nations. Millions stand on its esplanade for the Eiffel photo and leave never knowing what's inside. The inside deserves knowing: in the east wing, the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine — the most usefully clever trick in Paris: a hall of full-scale casts of France's cathedral portals, statues and murals, letting you walk among the doorways of Chartres, Amiens and Vézelay in a single hour — "all medieval France without a train." In the west wing, the Musée de l'Homme, the naval museum, and the national dance theatre of Chaillot. Make it your smart stop after the Trocadéro photo: an hour in the casts hall or the Musée de l'Homme, both with interior Tower views ranking among Paris's finest windows — and the Cité's terrace café is an architectural secret in itself.
Chartres and Amiens portals and their statuary at full scale in one solemn rank — France's Gothic centuries in a single corridor walked in astonishment.
From the Cité's and Musée de l'Homme's galleries the Eiffel Tower fills whole windows — indoor-seat views calmer than the entire esplanade outside.
Where the new world stood and proclaimed human rights — an esplanade plaque preserving the moment everyone walks over unaware.
Place du Trocadéro, 75116 Paris
Musée de l'HommeA museum about **humanity itself**, in a wing of the Palais de Chaillot at **Tro1 minute walk4.3
Musée National de la MarineIt occupies the wing facing the Musée de l'Homme in the **Palais de Chaillot** a1 minute walk4.5
Cité de l'Architecture et du PatrimoineThe third museum in the **Palais de Chaillot** at Trocadéro, and the strangest i1 minute walk4.3
jardins du TrocadéroIf Paris has an official balcony for receiving guests, it is the Trocadéro garde2 minutes walk4.7
Guimet MuseumOne of the greatest Asian-arts museums on earth stands quietly on Place d'Iéna b7 minutes walk4.5Looking for halal food near Chaillot Palace? There are several options nearby, from Moroccan and Indian kitchens to quick casual spots and places with a view. Confirm the halal status and opening hours before you go — these can change.
New JawadHalalNew Jawad is an Indo-Pakistani restaurant on Avenue Rapp, a short walk from the 12 minutes walk · $$$4.4Quai NedyHalalHalal international cooking with a view of the Eiffel Tower, which is what sets 18 minutes walk · $$$
Berkeley GardenHalalHalal Indian cooking that suits families and group dinners, about eight minutes'13 minutes walk · $$$
Snack&RushHalalHalal fast food at budget prices, about five minutes' walk from the tower. The m13 minutes walk · $
NouraHalalNoura is not a discovery; it is the institution every Arab visitor to Paris has 15 minutes walk · $$$4.5
Novotel Paris Centre Tour EiffelThe Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel is a large hotel on Quai de Grenelle, direc16 minutes walk · $$4.3
Pullman Paris Tour EiffelThe Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel is genuinely the closest of the large Paris hotels10 minutes walk · $$$4.7
Four Seasons George VThe George V is the benchmark the rest of luxury Paris is measured against. It o15 minutes walk · $$$$4.9
The Peninsula ParisThe Peninsula Paris is a modern hotel inside an old building: the house dates to13 minutes walk · $$$$4.8
Prince de GallesThe Prince de Galles is a direct neighbour of the George V on the same avenue, b15 minutes walk · $$$$4.4For architecture and history lovers: the Cité, unhesitatingly; for families and the curious: the Musée de l'Homme's interactive human story; for the nautical: the renewed naval museum — all sharing the Tower windows.
Swim against the crowd current: the Trocadéro photo early, a Chaillot museum until noon, then the descent through the gardens to an afternoon Tower slot — your day completes with the crowds always behind you.