Cité fleurie

Cité fleurie is an artist workshop complex located in the 13th arrondissement between Boulevard Arago and Rue Léon-Maurice-Nordmann, housing around 30 studios in two parallel buildings. The studios feature distinctive white wooden frames that define the character of this residential community.

Construction took place between 1878 and 1888, using materials from the food pavilion of the 1878 Paris World's Fair, designed by architect Hunebelle. This repurposing of exhibition materials shaped the buildings that stand today.

The studios attracted painters and sculptors who shaped Paris art during the late 1800s and early 1900s, creating a community where creative exchange happened naturally. This gathering of artists reflected how the city drew talent from across Europe.

The residence remains private and closed to visitors, but its facade can be viewed from Boulevard Arago where it sits at number 65 in the 13th district. You can walk past the gates to see the distinctive white wooden architecture from the street.

From 1934 to 1939, the site hosted the Deutsche Freiheitsbibliothek, a library that preserved books banned by the Nazi regime. This hidden chapter reveals how the studios served as a refuge for censored works during a dark period in European history.