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
Official Website: Musée Carnavalet
Fee: No - Free admission to all permanent collections and themed exhibitions. Charges may apply for temporary exhibitionsClosed Now
Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.
- 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
Category: Museums
Address:
16 rue des Francs-Bourgeois
75003 Paris
France
Phone: +33 1 44 59 58 58
Reviews
Dave B. Apr-24-2023
An excellent museum of history of Paris. Huge collection. Free. Recommended. We went to learn more about Paris and we did. There was also a special... Read More
Crystal T. Jul-01-2022
I will give the museum a 5 star because it should not be missed! It is within two historically important mansions so of course it is beautiful and the... Read More
Cassandra Y. Mar-02-2016
Location: Exiting Metro #1, "St. Paul". This is one of the museums in the area. Admission: FREE Love the entrance, nice garden, I bet during spring/summer... Read More
Accommodations near Musée Carnavalet:
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: Yelp Photo Credit: Yelp Photo Credit: Yelp -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: hugh llewelyn - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: ajleon - 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