Calling all bargain-hunters! The Night of Museums is making a grand return on Saturday, May 23, 2026 for a fresh edition. Across Paris and throughout the Île-de-France, expect a superb lineup of exceptional evening openings, free visits, and quirky activities at museums, monuments, châteaux and other cultural venues. An unmissable event that promises a great night out with friends, family, as a couple, or solo.
Why not take advantage of this year's event to explore some of the capital's most secret museums? This would be the perfect opportunity to discover the Musée du Service de Santé des Armées, nestled in the heart of Paris's Val-de-Grâce. This former 17th-century abbey became a military hospital, and today still houses the central library of the armed forces health service, the Val-de-Grâce school, as well as the museum. The museum houses a collection focusing on the creation and missions of the armed forces health service, uniforms, hygiene and prevention.
The Army Health Service Museum, housed in the former royal Val-de-Grâce Abbey (17th century), traces the history of French military medicine. It was established in 1916 to preserve the testimonies and advances that emerged from World War I.
Its collections include medical instruments, uniforms, anatomical casts, models, paintings, and antique pharmaceutical items, highlighting the Service’s pivotal role in sustaining the armed forces’ health—from casualty evacuation to subsequent care and rehabilitation. The exhibits cover conflicts from the Napoleonic wars to contemporary overseas operations, illustrating the progress of military medicine to the present day and its influence on civilian medicine.
Le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Dates and Opening Time
On May 23, 2026
Location
Musée du Service de Santé des Armées
1 Place Alphonse Laveran
75005 Paris 5
Official website
www.defense.gouv.fr
