Museum of the History of Paris
(Musée Carnavalet)
Musée Carnavalet chronicles the fascinating history of Paris
This very special museum is a must-see if you are going to be spending any time in Paris and really want to know what the city is all about. The Musée Carnavalet is a museum all about the history of Paris itself and it is truly an amazing and extremely educational opportunity to see the artistic, creative and cultural history of one of the world's most iconic and artistic cultures.
The Musée Carnavalet actually chronicles the history of Paris right from its inception and travels forward through time to contemporary Paris today. The entire museum occupies two mansions, one built in the 11th century and one built much later in the 17th century. There is a gallery that was built to connect the two together so that it is now possible to simply cross from one mansion to the other via the convenient gallery. The two mansions were actually both hotels. The one was originally called the Hotel Le Peletier and the other was known as the hotel Carnavalet, this last is where the museum gets its name from.
One of Paris' most famous citizens, the Madame de Sevigne (who wrote a series of famous letters to her daughter), once lived in the Hotel Carnavalet and it is actually now the home of the museum's collection that chronicles the prehistoric all the way through time to the reign of Louis XVI. The other mansion, the former Hotel Le Peletier Saint Fargeau houses the collection that spans from the French revolution to modern present day Paris.
The museum was first opened in 1880. It has since displayed its intriguing collections to tourists from all over the world who come to view the history of this remarkable and beautiful city.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No - Free admission to all permanent collections and themed exhibitions. Charges may apply for temporary exhibitionsMusée Carnavalet Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: 23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003 Paris, France
Phone: 01 44 59 58 58
Official Website: Musée Carnavalet
Musée Carnavalet Reviews
Rated out of 5
Awesome French history museum. Throughout this museum you will experience all the moments in French history through signs, portraits, paintings, furniture, daily objects and so much more. The corridors are also beautifully designed. I spent several hours there and enjoyed it very much. The permanent exhibition which is 3 levels choke full of history is free of charge. You can donate and for special exhibitions there are tickets sold. Definitely a must see for anyone interested in history.
Eva Praskova - 4 months ago
I couldn’t believe how good this free museum was. The first floor has old store front signs from around Paris. The second floor exhibits the palace rooms and furniture, very authentic. The top floor is dedicated to the history of French revolution, and it has some impressive art pieces. Highly recommended, I spent around 2,3 hours here.
Alli T - 2 weeks ago
the museum showcases a good amount of artifact and i recommend staying for 2 hours. can be quite crowded with the tourists but a gem in the area. the sign exhibition on the ground floor was the most impactful on me.
M - a month ago
Went on a week day and had no reservation or anything. Went in no problem the staff were kind and there is a wide range of things to to see from -2000bc to the 1980s depending what floor you are on. It was lovely and beautiful I spent over 2 hours there it was fun and I really enjoyed it.
natasha Rode-Christoffersen - a month ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Saint-Paul | 5 minutes |
| M8 | Chemin Vert | 7 minutes |
How to get to Musée Carnavalet by Metro / RER
By Metro: exit Metro M1 at Saint-Paul station and walk west on Rue de Rivoli and go left (north) on Rue de Sevigne to the entrance or exit line M8 at Chemin Vert station and walk west on Rue St. Giles continuing on Rue du Parc Royal then go left on Rue de Sevigne to the entrance.
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Photo Gallery
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Paintings and exhibits inside the Musée Carnavalet cc licensed photo by OliverN5 -
Intricate scale models help visitors visualize the history of Paris cc licensed photo by NealeA -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: ajleon - cc license via Flickr
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