How to Visit Avenue de Camoëns, 16th Arrondissement
Last Updated on 23rd April 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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One of the most picturesque roads in Paris, which lends itself to particularly gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower at sunrise is that of Avenue de Camoëns in the 16th arrondissement. The road is actually only 116 metres long and is a dead-end, making it likely the shortest avenue in Paris.
The road begins at begins at 4, boulevard Delessert and ends at 14, rue Benjamin-Franklin. It is a dead-end for cars, because while one end begins on a street, the other side ends on an ornate pedestrian-only staircase (that also doubles up as a great spot to take photos).
A history of Avenue de Camoëns
The first attestation of the street dates back to 1904 when it was created on lands which were once owned by Count Armand and Count de La Rochefoucauld-Bayers. The name Camoëns derives from the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões (who is sometimes referred to as Camoëns).
In celebration of the poet, the Society of Portuguese Studies inaugurated the staircase with a statue of the poet. However, many were left bewildered when the statue had seemingly disappeared into thin air less than a year later.
As with many such mysteries the answer came a short while later and was not all too unsurprising: a neighbourhood councillor had deemed the statue ‘too ugly for the staircase and neighbourhood’ and so had simply taken the liberty to remove it!
Today, there is a new statue of de Camões on the staircase which can be enjoyed once more by the public. The pink marble statue of Lusitano poet Luís de Camões which was carved by Clara Menerès in the 1980s.
How to visit Avenue de Camoëns
You can access Avenue de Camoëns 24/7 and the road is free to access. The nearest métro station is Trocadéro (metro lines 6 and 9), which is just a few minutes walk away.
The best time to check out Avenue de Camoëns in the 16th arrondissement is undoubtedly at sunrise when you can see candy colours dance across the sky and illuminate the Eiffel Tower with a golden glow.
While you’re in the area, be sure to head to the Esplanade du Trocadéro as well as this is yet another gorgeous spot to enjoy the sunrise in Paris for free. Another great time to see Avenue de Camoëns is at night, when the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour from sunset to late evening.
One of the most important things to note is that, unfortunately, the street definitely isn’t as much of a hidden gem as it was even just a few years ago. It used to be that, when you visited early in the morning, you would have the place completely to yourself.
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case now. Even if you go for sunrise during a weekday, you’ll likely find a few other content creators and photographers also shooting.
Nevertheless, this remains one of the best places to see the early morning light in the French capital and I do still recommend going! For more Eiffel Tower inspiration, check out our guide to the best Eiffel Tower views in Paris. Otherwise, for other gorgeous places to check out, here are the best streets in Paris.
