Museum of Cinema (Cinémathèque Française)

Map & Directions
Photos & Video

The Cinematheque Francaise houses one of the biggest film archives, film-related records and other items from all around the globe

Impressive design of the Cinémathèque Française cc licensed photo by Meuh !

Cinematic experiences have captivated people for more than a century and continue to be just as, if not more, popular today as they were when cinema was first introduced with the screening of silent films. The Cinematheque Francaise is a Museum of Cinema situated in Paris. A visit to this city of love and lights would be incomplete without a stop at the Cinematheque Francaise in the 12th arrondissement.

The Cinematheque Francaise houses one of the biggest film archives, film-related records and other items from all around the globe. The Cinematheque Francaise was established before World War II and the entire film collection was almost lost when the German soldiers occupied France. Stealthy efforts had to be made in order to sneak the collection, bit by bit, into the unoccupied area of France where it would be safe from the German soldiers who were seeking out and destroying any movie or item of cinematics made prior to 1937.

After World War II, the Cinematheque Francaise was subsidized by the government and this funding allowed them to acquire some employees and a small premises from which to begin screenings of the collection. Daily screenings of movies from all over the world can still be seen at the Cinematheque Francaise. 1992 saw the amalgamation of the Cinematheque Francaise and the Bibliotheque du Film. This resulted in the one of the most comprehensive and extensive of all film libraries in existence today. The Cinematheque Francaise has also recently started preserving and repairing all the films in its archives to ensure the continued appreciation and recollection of cinematic history and classics.

There are quite a few amenities available at the Cinematheque Francaise and visitors can rest assured that a full and fun cultural day out awaits them. The film library, space scientists and image library, bookstore, restaurant, regularly updated exhibitions and screening room will keep even the most discerning of travellers happy and entertained.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Museum of Cinema (Cinémathèque Française)

Fee: Yes. Visit the official website for details.

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

Monday: 12:00 – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM

Address: 51 Rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France

Phone: 01 71 19 33 33

Official Website: Museum of Cinema (Cinémathèque Française)

Reviews

Rated 4.4 out of 5 Cinémathèque Française Star Rating

Wonderful museum to visit. A must for cinephiles.
Jimmy Persson - 2 months ago

Very nice exhibition, we went there one hour before closing, still mangled to see everything. The museum shop sells a wide collection of books about cinema. Theres a very nice cafe too
Jacqueline Inu - 4 years ago

Visited here & saw the Meliês exhibition & enjoyed it, very informative & plenty in English fortunately. Would visit again if in Paris & future exhibitions are to our interest as was good value.
Mr McScotty - 5 months ago

For any cinema enthusiast this is an absolute must. The current museum exhibit on Melies and early cinema is fascinating and informative. There are many exhibits featuring original film equipment from the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as clips of original material by Melies. Other classic films are presented as well, with q & a sessions afterwards. (This evening they were showing King Kong but we couldn't stay. I really would have liked to see it on a big screen).
Kenneth Arroyo - 5 months ago

Really great museum! I'm studying animation, so the content was super interesting to me. The museum tells the story of how cinema came to be, and how they first introduced motion and sound into it. It also has some props from some popular movies. The audio guides are free, you only need to provide an identification (from wherever in the world you're from), and they provide so much extra knowledge, so they're definitely a must-have. The museum doesn't allow photos, so here's a photo from outside. There's also a café if you get hungry.
adrien - 5 years ago

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Directions

Metro / RER Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
M6 or M14	Bercy	6 minutes

How to get to Museum of Cinema (Cinémathèque Française) by Metro / RER

By Metro: Take Metro Line 6 or 14 to Bercy Station. Exit and walk southwest to Rue de Bercy and follow it to your left (southeast). Cinémathèque Française is on the left just past the entrance to Parc de Bercy.

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Photo Gallery

Park and entrance to the Cinémathèque Française cc licensed photo by Nico Paix
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr

Video

Video tour showing off the features and architecture of Cinémathèque Française