The Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris, a collector's museum in the heart of the Marais district

Are you familiar with the Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris's Marais district? This small municipal museum, located close to the Musée National Picasso and the Musée Carnavalet, houses a collection of 18th-century works.

Housed in the Hôtel de Donon, this collection was the treasure trove of art loverErnest Cognacq, best known as the founder of La Samaritaine. He and his wife, Marie-Louise Jaÿ, bequeathed the collection to the City of Paris, which has since taken on the task of exhibiting and protecting the works. Paintings, sculptures, furniture and objets d'art: the museum houses over a thousand works reflecting the tastes and vision of their owner.

Classified as a historic monument, theHôtel de Donon is the setting for this collection, which perpetuates the spirit and culture of the 18th century. The rooms feature works by Fragonard, Watteau, Houdon, Rembrandt, Meyer...

Coming to the museum

The Musée Cognacq-Jay is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25. Good news for all art lovers:access to the permanent collections is free for all! To discover the exhibitions, however, tickets cost between seven and nine euros. Unfortunately, the museum is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

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Exhibitions and displays are organized by the museum, exploring the various works in the permanent collections, or focusing on a particular theme in 18th-century art. Various workshops are also organized on a regular basis. There's also a bookshop-boutique where you can keep a souvenir of your visit.

There are several metro stops within easy reach of the museum: Saint-Paul (line 1), Chemin-Vert (line 8) and Rambuteau (line 11) are all close by. By bus, you can choose between lines 29 (Turenne-Saint Gilles / Payenne), 69 (Saint-Paul), 76 (Saint-Paul) and 96 (Saint-Paul). Now you're ready for your next visit!

Museum news :

Nights of Reading 2026: A Graphic Novel Journey into 18th-Century Life at the Cognacq-Jay Museum
The Cognacq-Jay Museum in Paris invites visitors to kick off the 10th edition of Nuits de la lecture. Join us on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for a graphic novel journey into 18th-century Paris, guided by Arnaud Le Gouëfflec — a novelist, comic strip writer, and musician. [Read more]

Women in Reflection: Appearances and Imaginaries – Exploring Self-Image at the Cognacq-Jay Museum
The Cognacq-Jay Museum delves into the myriad portrayals of women in the 18th century with a captivating exhibition: "Women in the Mirror, Appearances and Imaginaries". The show runs from March 25 to September 20, 2026. [Read more]

Correspondances, an exhibition mixing contemporary art and 18th-century works at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Contemporary artist Agnès Thurnauer takes up residence at the Musée Cognacq-Jay, engaging in an unprecedented dialogue between 18th-century works and her modern creations. The exhibition Correspondances runs from October 2, 2025 to February 8, 2026. [Read more]