15 History Museums
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Theme | Cost | Arr. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Invalides | ★★★★☆ | Army History | Paid € | 7 |
| 02 | Cluny Museum | ★★★☆☆ | Medieval | Paid € | 5 |
| 03 | Carnavalet Museum | ★★★☆☆ | Paris History | Either | 3 |
| 04 | Architecture and Heritage City | ★★★☆☆ | Architecture | Paid € | 16 |
| 05 | Musée de l'Homme | ★★★☆☆ | Mankind | Paid € | 16 |
| 06 | National Marine Museum | ★★★☆☆ | Maritime | Paid € | 16 |
| 07 | Conciergerie | ★★☆☆☆ | French Revolution | Paid € | 1 |
| 08 | Liberation of Paris Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | WWII | Free | 14 |
| 09 | Jewish Art & History Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Judaism | Paid € | 3 |
| 10 | Holocaust Memorial | ★★☆☆☆ | WWII | Free | 4 |
| 11 | Archaeological Crypt | ★☆☆☆☆ | Archeology | Paid € | 4 |
| 12 | National Archives Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | State Archives | Free | 3 |
| 13 | Legion of Honor Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | Order of Merit | Free | 7 |
| 14 | Tower Jean-sans-Peur | ★☆☆☆☆ | Medieval | Paid € | 2 |
| 15 | Deportation Martyrs Memorial | ★☆☆☆☆ | WWII | Free | 4 |
01. Invalides
Appeal ★★★★☆
Type Landmark + Museums + Churches
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 7th
French Names
Les Invalides
Hôtel des Invalides
This complex ommissioned by King Louis XIV in the late 17th century was originally established as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.
The complex features several museums, including the Musée de l’Armée, which is one of the largest military museums in the world, showcasing an extensive collection of military artifacts, uniforms, and historical objects.
A significant highlight of Les Invalides is the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, which lies beneath the stunning dome of the Dôme des Invalides, a prominent feature of the Paris skyline.
⚙️ Attractions within Invalides (Official Website)
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
02. Cluny Museum
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Medieval Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 5th
French Names
Musée de Cluny
Musée National du Moyen-Âge
This museum is dedicated to the art and artifacts of the Middle Ages. It’s housed in a historic building that includes remnants of ancient Roman baths and a medieval abbey, providing a unique backdrop for its extensive collection.
Visitors can explore a variety of medieval artworks, including sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, and tapestries.
The museum not only showcases the artistic achievements of the medieval period but also offers insights into the daily life and culture of that era.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
03. Carnavalet Museum
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Paris History Museum
Cost Free or Paid
Arrondissement 3rd
French Name
Musée Carnavalet
This museum is dedicated to the history of the city. It is housed in two adjacent mansions, the Hôtel Carnavalet and the former Hôtel de Ligneris, showcasing Renaissance architecture.
The museum’s extensive collection spans from prehistoric times to the present, with a particular focus on the 16th and 17th century. It features thousands of artifacts, paintings, and historical objects that illustrate the evolution of Paris.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
04. Architecture and Heritage City
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Architecture Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 16th
French Name
Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine
This museum is dedicated to architecture and monumental sculpture. It serves as a key institution for understanding French architectural heritage, urban planning, and landscape design.
It houses an extensive collection of plaster reproductions of significant French monuments.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
05. Musée de l'Homme
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Mankind Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 16th
French Name
Musée de l’Homme
This museum focuses on the study of humanity from various perspectives, including biological and cultural anthropology. It showcases the evolution of humans, their cultures, and their environments.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
06. National Marine Museum
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Maritime Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 16th
French Name
Musée National de la Marine
This museum showcases France’s rich naval history. It features models and artifacts that illustrate maritime issues from the past, present, and future.
It offers a perspective on naval history through its diverse collections, including ship models, paintings, and historical documents.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
07. Conciergerie
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Former Courthouse & Prison
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 1st
French Name
La Conciergerie
A former royal palace and prison, this historical monument is most famous for housing prisoners during the French Revolution, including Marie Antoinette. The building offers insight into France’s medieval and revolutionary history.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
08. Liberation of Paris Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type WWII Museum
Cost Free
Arrondissement 14th
French Names
Musée de la Libération de Paris
Musée du Général Leclerc
Musée Jean Moulin
This museum is dedicated to the history of the Liberation of Paris during World War II. Its mission is to educate visitors about the events surrounding the liberation of Paris, particularly focusing on the contributions of General Philippe Leclerc and the French Resistance.
It features a variety of exhibits, including documents, photographs, and multimedia presentations that provide a comprehensive overview of this pivotal moment in French history.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
09. Jewish Art & History Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Jewish Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 3rd
French Names
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme
mahJ
It’s the largest museum in France dedicated to Jewish art and history. It showcases a rich collection that spans the history of Jewish communities in France, Europe, and the Maghreb, highlighting their artistic contributions and cultural heritage.
It features artifacts, artworks, and historical documents that narrate the Jewish experience from medieval times to the present.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
10. Holocaust Memorial
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type WWII Memorial & Museum
Cost Free
Arrondissement 4th
French Name
Mémorial de la Shoah
This memorial serves as a place of remembrance and education about the Holocaust, focusing on the history of the Jewish community in France during World War II. The memorial features a documentation center, exhibitions, and a memorial wall inscribed with the names of deported Jews.
It aims to honor the memory of the victims and educate visitors about the atrocities of the Holocaust, fostering a deeper understanding of this tragic period in history.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
11. Archaeological Crypt
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Archeology Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 4th
French Name
Crypte Archéologique de l’île de la Cité
This crypt is located beneath the forecourt of Notre-Dame Cathedral. It showcases the urban and architectural evolution of the Île de la Cité, which has been the historical heart of Paris for over 2,000 years.
The crypt was established following excavations conducted during the 1960’s and the 1970’s, revealing a wealth of artifacts and structures from various periods, including Roman, medieval, and modern times.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
12. National Archives Museum
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type State Archives Museum
Cost Free
Arrondissement 3rd
French Names
Musée des Archives Nationales
Hôtel de Soubise
Hôtel de Rohan
This museum houses an extensive collection of documents that chronicle the history of France, including significant governmental records and historical manuscripts. It features both permanent and temporary exhibitions, showcasing important documents that provide insight into the evolution of French society.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
13. Legion of Honor Museum
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Oder of Merit Museum
Cost Free
Arrondissement 7th
French Name
Musée de la Légion d’honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie
Located in a palace, this museum is dedicated to the history of French orders of merit and chivalry. It showcases a vast collection of medals, decorations, and artifacts reflecting the evolution of honors awarded in France.
The museum not only highlights the prestigious Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit, but also includes various other military and civilian awards.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
14. Tower Jean-sans-Peur
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Medieval History Museum
Cost Paid
Arrondissement 2nd
French Name
Tour Jean sans Peur
A rare remnant of medieval Paris, this fortified tower highlights the city’s medieval history through exhibitions. Its spiral staircase and decorative vaulting reflect 15th-century craftsmanship. It serves as an intriguing window into the past.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
15. Deportation Martyrs Memorial
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type WWII Memorial
Cost Free
Arrondissement 4th
French Name
Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation
This memorial is dedicated to the memory of people who were deported from France to concentration camps during World War II.
Visitors can access the memorial through a narrow passageway that leads to a central chamber, where inscriptions and symbolic elements honor the memory of the deported.
