Museum/arts/culture
Part of the Archives nationales, this museum occupies the Hôtel de Soubise, an ornate 18th-century mansion. Displays draw on the institution's vast holdings, including millions of digitized documents, presented through rotating thematic exhibitions. Visitors can also join guided tours of the historic building, including sessions in French sign language.
✨ Reasons to go
💡 Good to know
⏱️ Typical visit
1h30
🕰️ Best time
morning, lunchtime or afternoon
🚶 Walking intensity
Moderate walking
Hours
Booking
What people say
"Fantastic display of historic documents from French history. The National Archives are where French history records are kept, dating from the Merovingian period all the way through to 1958.There are parchment and paper documents, microfilms, sound recordings and digital files throughout the museum. The archives of French history include a diploma from Charlemagne, the founding paperwork for Sainte-Chapelle, the last letter of Marie-Antoinette, and the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. There are multiple furnished rooms, such as a bedroom, writing or game area, large circular rooms and an area that looks like a library. The museum is free and worth a walk through."
— Jamie Wojciechowski
