The Maison Auguste Comte, tucked away in the heart of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is one of those places you pass by without ever noticing. For the Nuit Blanche 2026, this Saturday, June 6, 2026, this discreet apartment-museum will unusually throw open its doors for a free nocturnal viewing, as part of the 25th edition of Paris’s city-sponsored event.
The Maison d'Auguste Comte is a museum-apartment where the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798-1857) lived, located at 10 Rue Monsieur le Prince in the 6th arrondissement. It was the last home he inhabited, from 1841 until his death in 1857. A place of memory just a stone's throw from the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Odéon neighborhood, in one of the capital's most historic districts.
Once you cross the threshold, you enter the philosopher’s home as he knew it, with its original furniture and the objects that belonged to him. The thematic route, arranged through a museographic setup that preserves the place’s authenticity, guides visitors through Auguste Comte’s philosophy. It feels a bit like stepping into a 19th‑century resident’s house, with period wallpaper, a cozy sitting room, a library, and even a kitchen whose oven was only rediscovered during renovations in 2014.
In a buzzing, feverishly intellectual climate, Auguste Comte and Claude-Henri de Saint-Simon imagined what tomorrow’s society might look like. The pair began a collaboration that would last nearly seven years, until Comte broke with his mentor in 1824. It’s in this very apartment that he laid the foundations of positivism, a philosophical current that places science and observation at the heart of knowledge. A heritage that still resonates today, and one that the visit lets you grasp in a way you won’t find in a philosophy textbook.
Labelled "Maison des illustres" since 2011, the museum is one of the first writers' houses to earn this distinction created by the Ministry of Culture. A mark of credibility for a venue that, all the same, remains surprisingly quiet for most of the year.
For Nuit Blanche 2026, the program shines a spotlight on diverse forms of artistic expression, and all events are free and accessible to the broadest possible audience. Maison Auguste Comte fully embraces this spirit by offering an exceptional late-night opening. Here is the evening’s scheduled lineup:
Participation: 4 euros
Pour cette seconde session de 2026, nous nous poserons la question suivante :
« Rien d'étonnant ?»
L’ « Heure philo » propose d’analyser une question et ses enjeux à un large public : du curieux à l’amateur, du lycéen au chercheur. L’exposé illustré d’exemples s’appuie sur des références accessibles dont chacun peut nourrir ses connaissances et sa réflexion. A la fin de l’heure, le public s’interroge sur l’actualité des problèmes évoqués et les éléments de réponse que la pensée contemporaine formule.
La réservation est obligatoire et le nombre de places limité, pour le confort et la sécurité de tous, à l’adresse:
auguste.comte.paris@gmail.com
Par téléphone: 01 43 26 08 56
We recommend this stop to anyone eager to step off the beaten path for a night and discover a Paris that's less visible, away from the queues at the big museums. It’s the kind of place that pleasantly surprises, whether you’re into philosophy or simply curious about history. Less famous than the Rodin Museum or the Orsay, it is no less rich, and Nuit Blanche is arguably one of the best opportunities to discover it for the first time—free of charge and in a distinctive, atmospheric setting.
The Maison Auguste Comte, at 10 rue Monsieur le Prince in Paris’s 6th arrondissement, is a short walk from Odéon metro station (lines 4 and 10). Admission is free for Nuit Blanche 2026, on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Outside this event, the museum is open on Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Who is this outing for? For lovers of heritage and the history of ideas, for fans of hidden gems, and for those who want to craft an original Nuit Blanche route in the 6th arrondissement.
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Dates and Opening Time
On June 6, 2026
Location
Auguste Comte House
10 Rue Monsieur le Prince
75006 Paris 6
Access
Odéon, line 4 or 10
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
