Pavillon de l'Arsenal

Pavillon de l'Arsenal Review

If your knowledge of Paris history is nul (negligible), stop here for an easy and entertaining explainer. Built in 1879 as a private museum, this restored glass-and-iron building today showcases the city's urban development through the ages. The first floor features a giant floor model of Paris today. Along the walls, a snappy timeline tracks the development of the growing city under each ruler, with text in French and English, accompanied by maps from various periods, photographs, and video displays. The second floor is dedicated to temporary architecture-theme exhibits.