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Musée Carnavalet

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Musée Carnavalet Review

If it has to do with Paris history, it's here. A fascinating hodgepodge of Parisian artifacts and art, the collection ranges from the prehistoric canoes used by Parisii tribes to the furniture of the cork-lined bedroom where Marcel Proust labored over his evocative novels. Thanks to scores of paintings, nowhere else in Paris can you get such a precise picture of the city's evolution through the ages. The museum fills two adjacent mansions, the Hôtel Le Peletier de St-Fargeau and the Hôtel Carnavalet. The latter is a Renaissance jewel that in the mid-1600s became the home of writer Madame de Sévigné. Throughout her long life, Sévigné wrote hundreds of frank and funny letters to her daughter, giving an incomparable view of both public and private life during the time of Louis XIV. The museum offers a glimpse into her world, but the collection covers far more than just the 17th century. The exhibits on the Revolution are especially interesting, with scale models of guillotines and a replica of the Bastille prison carved from one of its stones. Louis XVI's prison cell is reconstructed along with mementos of his life, even medallions containing locks of his family's hair. Other impressive interiors are reconstructed from the Middle Ages through the Rococo period and into Art Nouveau—showstoppers include the Fouquet jewelry shop and the Café de Paris's original furnishings. The sculpted garden at 36 rue des Francs Bourgeois is open from April to the end of October.

    Contact Information

  • Address: 23 rue de Sévigné, Marais, Paris, 75004 | Map It
  • Phone: 01-44-59-58-58
  • Cost: Free for permanent collection, around €7 for exhibits
  • Hours: Tues.--Sun. 10--6
  • Website: www.carnavalet.paris.fr
  • Metro St-Paul.
  • Location: The Marais
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    Enjoyable historic museum

    A very enjoyable museum showing the history of Paris. Contains paintings, furniture and other applied art work, whole rooms, and other artifacts. Worth a visit.

    by bachslunch, 11/9/08
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    A Human-sized Museum

    I love this museum from the basement with its display of early Paris and Roman artefacts. It's been a few years since I've been - I love the selection of artworks too and usually find one I adore. One I always recommend to fellow travellers and then follow up with a rest in the Place des Vosges.

    by Mercier, 8/22/08
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    fabulous garden

    I recently went to the Geffreye Museum in London (interior decor through the ages in the UK) so this caught my eye. Like the Museum of Photography, its not a must-see museum (like the Louvre or d'Orsay) and over the summer the French Revolution and 20th Century rooms are closed - very disappointing! - but the building and gardens made up for it. You can see the garden from the main street, which gives it its oasis-like quality. And its free, which is an added bonus if you fancy a quick cultural fix between Marais-cafe hopping, but don't fancy a long queue or hefty entrance fee.

    by traveller2007, 7/20/08
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    Nice look at old Paris

    This museum is in two lovely old mansions with a beautful courtyard right in the Marais. The collection is very large and gives a great look into Paris through the ages. My only disappointment was the French Revlution rooms were closed when I was there

    by ShannonMc, 7/18/08

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