Museum of Cinema (Cinémathèque Française)

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
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

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 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Wonderful museum to visit. A must for cinephiles.
Jimmy Persson - 5 months ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating 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

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating viva varda exhibition was so great, such a brilliant tribute!
Sarah - a month ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating 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

Show More
Show Less

4 Star Rating Always good contemporary exhibitions .. around 30/45min to visit it
Cédric - 4 years ago

Show More
Show Less

Directions

Metro / RER Line Nearest Station Walking Time
M6 or M14Bercy6 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.

Map & Instant Route Finder

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

Finding Your Route - Please Wait

Accommodations near Museum of Cinema (Cinémathèque Française):

Photo Gallery

Video

Please provide consent and/or disable ad blocker to view the video.


Paris Hotel Deals

Book Now, Pay Later
Price Matching
2,563,000+ Properties Worldwide
24/7 Support
booking.com logo
Booking.com sale banner link

Visiting Paris?
Here's why we use Booking.com for our hotel bookings.
Best Selection
Daily Deals
Price Matching
Pay at the Hotel
24/7 Support
Share on Pinterest
Share on Pinterest
Help us grow! Please Share
Thanks for Visiting!