Musée Carnavalet

Overview

The Musée Carnavalet is the official museum dedicated exclusively to the incredibly complex, bloody, and fascinating history of Paris itself. Recently reopened after massive renovations, it occupies two stunning neighboring mansions deep in the Marais.

Highlights

• The Room Re-creations: Complete, meticulously transferred historic rooms, including Marcel Proust's cork-lined bedroom where he wrote In Search of Lost Time.
• The French Revolution: A massive, unparalleled collection of artifacts, paintings, and everyday objects detailing the chaos of the Revolution.
• The Signs: A delightful corridor lined with incredibly intricate, historic iron shop signs that used to hang over the medieval streets.

History

Opened in 1880 at the urging of Baron Haussmann, who recognized that his massive urban modernization project was actively destroying the medieval history of the city. He established the museum specifically to rescue and preserve the architectural remnants and artifacts before they were lost to the wrecking ball.

Visitor Tips

• Cost: Access to the vast, permanent collection is completely free.
• Courtyard Gardens: The beautifully geometric inner courtyards are impeccably maintained and offer a quiet, wonderful escape from the busy neighborhood.
• Duration: 2–3 hours; the collection is surprisingly vast and winding.