For the 42nd edition of the Journées du Patrimoine, we're off to discover a place like no other: the Musée de la Préfecture de Police. Often overlooked by the general public, this museum is nonetheless fascinating for all lovers of police investigations.
Located in the Hôtel de Police in the 5th arrondissement, this museum, founded in 1909 by Prefect Louis Lépine, traces the history of the Paris police from the 17th century to the present day. More than 2,000 works of art retrace the history of the police and highlight the different professions and missions of the Prefecture de Police, from investigators to forensic scientists. A retrospective of the major criminal cases followed by the Parisian police over the centuries is also on display in the museum: the assassination of Henri IV by Ravaillac in 1610, the Poisons affair, the crimes of Henri-Désiré Landru...
If this adventure appeals to you, then take advantage of the Heritage Days, which take place on September 20 and 21, 2025, to explore this unusual museum free of charge, and test your investigative skills...
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Technical and Scientific Police (PTS)! In the 2000s, the CSI series propelled the STP into the media spotlight. Its professions arouse curiosity and fascination, even if for the general public, these professional realities remain an enigma! Armed with their specialized toolboxes, STP technicians work to make crime scenes speak for themselves, playing an active role in uncovering the truth. Today, new methods make it possible to better process traces and clues. In order to better understand today's STP, this conference, led by a former crime scene technician at the Paris Judicial Identification Department, highlights the great men in the history of forensic science and its evolution.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the BRI and the 50th anniversary of the BRB, the Musée de la Préfecture de Police is showcasing the seven central brigades of the Prefecture de Police in a new temporary exhibition. Come and discover how major social problems, such as drugs, pimping, serious crime and the management of convicts in open environments, have led the Paris police to adapt by creating brigades specialized in these particularly sensitive areas.
A former commander of the Paris Criminal Brigade will show you how a judicial investigation unfolds, using emblematic cases from the 1980s to the present day.
Three women entered the police station to gain access to the museum with their identity cards. A fourth went in and out without giving her card. The next day, the museum manager arrived at the museum to find the lifeless body of one of the women in the forensics room, next to the seats, a 1900 browning pistol lying on one of the seats. On the floor were glasses and a broken heel.
Who is this young woman? What could have happened to her? Was it murder? But who and why? A suicide?
This investigation for children is based on learning how to identify victims and criminals, and on the history and development of forensic science.
Here's a great idea for a family outing, which your teenagers aged 13 and over are sure to love. An unusual activity to spice up the Journées du Patrimoine 2025. And best of all, it's free!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Préfecture de Police Museum
4 Rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève
75005 Paris 5
Prices
Free
Official website
www.prefecturedepolice.interieur.gouv.fr
