Seeing an ancient city in relief, almost as if it’s perched on a table, has a certain fascination—and you’ll hear no disagreement at the Musée des Plans-Reliefs in Paris. On the occasion of the European Archaeology Days 2026, the venue spotlights a different way of looking at the past: through models, observation, and detail. A telling frame that underscores what these days are about—opening archaeology to a wider audience. From 12 to 14 June 2026, museums, sites and cultural institutions invite the public to better understand how traces of the past are studied, preserved and told.
The Museum of Plans-Reliefs holds a special place in Paris’s cultural landscape. Based at the Hôtel des Invalides, it preserves a world-unique collection of historical scale models of fortified towns, forts, and sieges, created between the reigns of Louis XIV and Napoleon III. Originally, these plan-reliefs were tools of military strategy. They allowed visualizing the kingdom’s strongholds, their arrangement, defenses and surroundings. Today, they tell far more than military history: they also trace the evolution of cities, borders and territorial planning.
The Musée des Plans Reliefs, a unique collection in Paris
The Musée des Plans Relief, located in the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris, houses some 100 relief plans of fortified towns. Once used for military purposes, they are now preserved in their original state at the Invalides, where you can discover these immense models of French towns. [Read more]
The site itself has its own history. The collection began in 1668, and the scale models were installed at the Invalides from 1777. The museum, for its part, was established in 1943. This long heritage explains the distinctive character of the collections: you encounter not only beautiful objects but three-dimensional documents that are precise, meticulous, and spectacular. Some models are truly impressive in size, with the largest display surface reaching 56 square meters.
As part of Archaeology Days 2026, the Museum of Plans-Reliefs naturally finds its place in the lineup. It helps you understand how we observe a site, how we read an ancient landscape, and how history is conveyed through tangible forms. Even before the program is announced, the venue invites you to lift your eyes, notice the details, and be surprised by a different way of exploring the past.
Following a presentation of the collection and an introduction to medieval fortifications, children will, in a workshop, build a small model of the entrance gate to a fortified town—drawn from the Mont Saint-Michel display. They’ll learn the shapes and vocabulary of medieval defense: crenel, rampart, machicolation… and walk away with their own creation!
This activity is open to cycles 2 and 3, from CP to 6th grade, with content adapted to the appropriate level.
Duration: 2 hours
Registration is mandatory by email and should include:
* Name and surname and mobile phone number of the lead teacher
* Name and postal address of the school
* Number of participating students (max. 30) + number of accompanying adults (max. 5)
* Grade(s) of the class
This tour kicks off with a brief guided introduction and an exploration of the history behind the relief maps—an extraordinary collection of scale models of cities and fortified sites, unrivaled worldwide, with the oldest pieces dating back to the 17th century. Students then complete a game booklet in the museum rooms to deepen what they’ve seen on the visit: landscape studies, towns, ports, and French history are all on the agenda!
The route is accessible from primary school through university, with content adapted to the level.
Registration is mandatory by email, including:
* Name, surname, and mobile phone number of the supervising teacher
* Name and postal address of the school
* Number of participating students (max. 30) + number of accompanying adults (max. 5)
* Grade level(s) of the class
Families will discover the museum and one of the collection’s stars: the Mont Saint-Michel relief map and its medieval fortifications. Next, the workshop where children will build a small scale model of the entrance gate inspired by the one at the Mont. Walls, crenellations, machicolations... no longer hold any secrets for them!
For families with children aged 6 to 12. Duration: about 1 hour 45 minutes
Follow the guide as you discover the world’s only collection of relief plans—historical scale models of fortified sites from the 17th to the 19th centuries. From Mont Saint-Michel to Toulon, visitors will see how these distinctive objects have served (and still serve) as archaeological tools and eyewitnesses to the evolution of cities.
Free upon presentation of a museum admission ticket, which can be purchased online through the Army Museum’s ticketing system (the “Museum Access” ticket) or on-site on the day of your visit.
No reservation required—simply head straight to the 4th floor of the Hôtel des Invalides (Access via staircase J in the Cour d’Honneur).
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Dates and Opening Time
From June 12, 2026 to June 14, 2026
The Musée des Plans Reliefs, a unique collection in Paris
