Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries "The Musée de la Poupée opened in June 1994 in the heart of Paris in a charming cul-de-sac full of flowers." The private antique doll collection of father and son Guido and Samy Odin and donations from the public, the Musée de la Poupée has more than 400 French dolls from 1800 to 1999, all presented as part of very lively Parisian scenes. They're mostly hand-painted porcelain dolls, presented in miniature tableaux … [Read more...]
Musée de la Musique
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries The Musée de la Musique is the "jewel in the crown" of the Cité de la Musique, in the Parc de la Villette; it houses one of the richest collections of musical instruments in the world - over 4500 pieces from the 200 year old National Conservatory on five floors of 2800 square metres, although only 900 are on display at a time. There are a some early instruments from other times (a flute made of vulture bone from … [Read more...]
Musée National du Moyen-Age: Thermes et Hôtel de Cluny
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries Small but perfectly formed! The Musée National du Moyen-Age (National Museum of the Middle Ages), located right in the Latin Quarter, has three major sections. The main museum is housed in a 15th century Gothic mansion, Cluny Abbey, containing a wide selection of medieval art as well as a collection of original sculptures from the facade of Notre Dame such as the heads from the gallery of Kings (removed by mobs during the … [Read more...]
The Musée de la Monnaie (The French Mint)
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries The Musée de la Monnaie (The French Mint) is conveniently located in the suitably impressive neo-classic Hôtel de la Monnaie facing the Louvre, and offers tours and activities that are especially orientated toward a young audience. It also regularly organizes exhibits, private sales, concerts and auctions for numismatists and medal collectors (it's responsible for medals and regalia as well as money). Although the building still … [Read more...]
Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Musée de la Mode et du Textile
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries There's also another fashion museum in Paris at the Louvre: the Musée des Arts Décoratifs was created after the success of the historic Expositions Universelles, and the Musée de la Mode et du Textile opened in the Marsan wing of the Louvre in 1905, moving in 1997 to the Rohan wing. The museum (3,000 m2) houses over 16 000 costumes going from the 16th century to modern times. In addition, it has some 35,000 fashion … [Read more...]
Musée de la Mode et du Costume de la Ville de Paris
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries The museum is closed for renovations and is due to be re-opened in Autumn 2013. The Museum of Fashion in Paris is housed in the Palais Galliéra, which was built in Renaissance style at the end of the 19th century. It contains clothing and professional uniforms from 1735 to the present day, including Brigitte Bardot’s Dior wedding dress, a classic 1930s Chanel wool suit, and a robe worn by stage legend Sarah Bernhardt. … [Read more...]
Musée de la Magie (Magic Museum)
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries Georges Proust’s Museum of Magic is in the Marais district, and the museum itself is housed below ground in ancient vaulted chambers built of stone. There are magical antiques, interactive illusions (around 15 interactive "curiosities") and magical devices in the subterranean museum, reached via a stairway down from street level. Your visit starts off in a small theatre with a 20 minute live magic show in French, but … [Read more...]
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries The Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme comprises a unique collection of artefacts and documents in a beautiful 17th century building, the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan. The museum is arranged so that after the introductory hall, each room corresponds to an epoch, a geographic and cultural setting and to a theme: Introductory room The Jews in France in the Middle Ages The Jews in Italy from the … [Read more...]
Musée Grévin: waxworks that live!
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries The Musée Grevin was the 19th century Fox News, CNN and BBC rolled into one! In the 1870's there was no such thing as TV or cinema newsreels; so a journalist called Arthur Meyer thought of making 3D wax dummies of the famous people who featured in "Le Gaulois", his well-known daily newspaper. He asked Alfred Grevin (1827-1892) who was a talented cartoonist, sculptor, and designer of costumes for the theatre, to help him and the rest … [Read more...]
Musée Guimet: Asian Art
June 3, 2013 by
Unusual Paris Museums and Galleries Even after its expensive renovation (it was closed for 5 years prior to 2002), it's easy to pass by the entrance to Musée Guimet without it catching your attention. Half way between two métro stops, on a corner, it only has a smallish sign. But if you did, you'd be missing a real treat. The Musée National Guimet has the most important panoramic collection of Indian, Chinese, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Japanese, … [Read more...]
