Musée du Vin

Wine Museum of Paris


Useful Information

Location: 5 Sq. Charles Dickens, 75016 Paris.
Métro: Passy. RER: Tour Eiffel-Champs de Mars. Bus: 72.
(48.85758502942672, 2.2845980779081643)
Open: All year Tue-Sun 10-18.
Closed 24-DEC, 31-DEC.
[2023]
Fee: Adults EUR 8.90, Children (0-14) free, Seniors EUR 7.50, Students EUR 7.
Groups (15+): Adults EUR 7, Seniors EUR 6.50, Students EUR 6.
[2007]
Classification: SubterraneaUnderground Museum SubterraneaCellar SubterraneaRock Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:
Address: Musee Du Vin Paris, Rue des Eaux, 5, square Charles Dickens, 75016 Paris, Tel: +33-1-45256326, Fax: +33-1-40509122. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

13th century start of limestone quarrying.
18th century end of mining.
1950 refurbished and served as the wine cellar for the Eiffel Tour's restaurant.
1984 wine museum founded.

Description

The Musée du Vin is advertised as a wine museum, this seems to be primarily a way to sell French vine to foreign visitors. Nevertheless, the underground location is of great interest. The museum is owned by the Conseil des Echansons, an association founded in 1954 to protect and promote the best appellations of French terroir. They offer archaeological, historical, wine related, and art exhibitions, wine tasting, wine seminars, receptions, and dinners. The 2007 exhibition was The Wine in the Ancient Egypt. The permanent exhibition shows viticulture, wine-making, and finishing the wine.

These are originally medieval limestone quarries, where Calcaire Grossier (coarse limestone) was mined. As a result the quarries which provided stones for the construction of the French capital were underground.

In the 19th century the abandoned mines were converted into cellars by the new owners, the Passy Monastery. The Minime brothers were hired for the work, and erected cement and brick walls to bring the tunnels together.

This part of Paris has various springs, which were discovered during Between the 17th and mid 18th century. The name rue des Eaux (street of the waters) is a result of this richness. One of those springs still exists at the entrance to the museum. As a result we suppose the limestone is covered by impermeable chert layers, otherwise the cellars would soon fill with groundwater.

A nice anecdote about the place is told of a trap door in the ceiling of the cellar. Balzac's house was right above, and he used this trap door to escape from his creditors.