For several years, the Musée Carnavalet, a museum dedicated to the history of Paris and located in the heart of the Marais district, has been undergoing renovation work. It's one of the oldest museums in Paris, having been founded in 1880! Its collection of over 610,000 items traces thehistory of the capital, from Antiquity to the 20th century. And these historical treasures can be discovered in an XXL journey through time, marked by beautiful scenography.
But what to expect? Comprising two private mansions, the Hôtel Carnavalet and the Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau, the Musée Carnavalet offers not only a 3,900m2 exhibition space - with 3,800 works on display- but also areas dedicated to events and catering.
We warn you, you'd better bring your best sneakers to explore this museum: the route stretches over 1.5km and is structured in chronological order, with immersive scenographies, notably thanks to reconstructed settings.
Your visit begins at theHôtel Carnavalet, and goes back long before Paris was Paris, or even Lutetia. The adventure begins in prehistoric times, when people still navigated the Seine in pirogues, and you discover where the very first Parisians settled. Then we cross the centuries and literally see the capital being built before our very eyes.
If you thought you knew everything about Paris and its history, this museum will surprise you with some little-known facts and anecdotes. The evolution of the capital is deciphered from every angle, from its architectural transformation to its customs, art of living, politics, art and religion.
You'll even be surprised to discover familiar works of art, iconic sculptures of the Parisian landscape. Then you'll learn that the ones you used to walk past are actually replicas: the originals are kept at the Musée Carnavalet. But we won't tell you more, to preserve the surprises!
The first part of the tour stops at the dawn of the French Revolution. Your journey through time continues at the Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau. Here, you can relive the Revolution that marked a turning point in French history. Here, you'll discover the world's largest collection dedicated to the French Revolution, and these pieces tell the story of this historic event down to the smallest detail. There's even the last order given by Louis XVI!
The Museum's rich collection also allows us to unravel and understand a famous Parisian insurrection: the Paris Commune. This revolt, which took place over 150 years ago, seems not so long ago.
On the other hand, the Musée Carnavalet shows us the evolution of the Parisian art of living, on the one hand through fashions, including the fascination with hot-air balloons, and on the other through the intimacy of the capital's inhabitants, with the evolution of apartment decorations and fittings.
Through objects and works depicting everyday scenes, we discover a more peaceful and festive aspect of the capital. In fact, contrary to what you might think, the filters found on Instagram and Snapchat today don't date back to yesterday!
They continue to cross the ages until they're caught up with the times. Little by little, increasingly familiar pieces take you back to events you experienced yourself, whatever your age. So for Parisians, it's no longer history you're exploring, but your own past. The idea is clear: History is being written today.
Opening hours:
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Halls close at 5:45 p.m.
Halls close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and 31
Public holidays: the museum is closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Admission :
Free admission for permanent exhibitions
Variable rates for temporary exhibitions
Access:
Metro:
line 1: Stop Saint-Paul
line 5: Stop Bréguet Sabin
line 7: Stop Pont-Marie
line 8: Stop Chemin Vert
Bus:
lines 96 (Place des Vosges), 91 (Saint-Gilles - Chemin Vert), 29 (Place des Vosges), 69 (Saint-Paul), 76 (Saint-Paul)
Vélib' stations:
Station no. 3002 Saint-Gilles - Turenne
Station no. 4010 Saint-Antoine - Sévigné
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Location
Carnavalet Museum
23 Rue de Sévigné
75003 Paris 3
Prices
Free
Official website
www.carnavalet.paris.fr
More information
Free on reservation
