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
Fantastic museum to explore the history of Paris, and it's free. Beautiful exhibits from medieval times to the Revolution. You might find a queue, but it moves quickly, and the museum isn't too crowded. Perfect for history lovers, I highly recommend
Bertha Mumba - a week ago
It's a pretty big museum and the good thing is it's FREE to visit. The collection displayed is also very prominent and unique. But the museum map is a bit confusing. And also try not to miss the garden access where you can sit and relax while having a coffee. The good thing about this museum is that it's part of the Paris Museums and the permanent exhibition is completely free in this museum so you should visit here if you have enough time and want to amaze yourself. You can also witness a lot of art and history about Paris and see how medusa was influencing people in the olden times. I definitely recommend going to this museum.
Rahul Agarwal - 2 weeks ago
Very interesting free museum! Had the opportunity to tour with my university and the guide was very informative. I was using a mobility device at the time for a broken ankle and there was ample accessibility accommodations, including a separate entrance and multiple elevators to access each floor. Artwork reveals Paris’ rich history. Paintings and other artifacts of the first hot air balloon on display. Features a wonderful look into Benjamin Franklin’s diplomacy and residence in France. Other objects of note include the first punctuation marker, many building models, and tributes to Paris’ architecture and history with the Olympic Games.
Cat Keane - a month ago
Fantastic and Free! Especially enjoyed the medieval & ancient history and the revolution exhibits. Honestly worth it even just for the salvaged signage in the first few rooms. A great place to get a thorough history of the city.
A Little - 2 weeks ago
10/17/2024
What a great museum and with free entry to the permanent exhibit, it's an amazing deal. It was a really large exhibit too. From the history of Paris and France to a collection of signs and building decor, there were tons of interesting things to see.
Aaron Prohaska - 3 weeks 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: 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 -
Photo Credit: TijsB - cc license via Flickr
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