Location: Paris
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The 10 Best History Museums in Paris, Ile-de-France
Lingering over pain au chocolat in a sidewalk café, relaxing after a day of strolling along the Seine and marveling at icons like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe… the perfect Paris experience combines leisure and liveliness with enough time to savor both an exquisite meal and exhibits at the Louvre. Awaken your spirit at Notre Dame, bargain hunt at the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil or for goodies at the Marché Biologique Raspail, then cap it all off with a risqué show at the Moulin Rouge.
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1. Musee de la Musique
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 303 reviews
This museum has nearly 1,000 different instruments on display, complete with audio commentary.
2. Musee de la Poste
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
This museum documents the history of the French postal service.
3. Musee de la Prefecture de Police
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 117 reviews
This museum explores the history of the Parisian police force from the 17th century to the present.
4. Pasteur Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Guided tours are offered of the home of Louis Pasteur, the scientist who discovered pasteurization, the technique by which bacteria are destroyed in certain types of foods.
5. Musee de Montmartre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 853 reviews
In the oldest house on the hill of Montmartre lived fourteen personalities, among whom Renoir, Valadon, Dufy and Poulbot. Take a step back in time to the glory days of this independent and bohemian quarter through original works by Utrillo, Toulouse-Lautrec and Willette at the Montmartre Museum. The gardens and the atmosphere have a rustic feel to them, making this is a very special site in the heart of Paris.
Reviewed By carlg617 - Saint Simons Island, United States
We have been to Montmarte many times but have never been in this Musuem just South of Sacre Couer ! Many great French painters shared this mansion ! A great place to go after lunch at Pink Mamas !
6. National Archives
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By Ivisitedtheplace - Israel, null
This was a really surprisingly good understated and modest museum. As everything in Paris/ amazing structure and architecture- both inside and out. There were many historical old maps and many historical documents and many descriptions of stuff like that. But the most amazing for me was stumbling into a model true-to-scale replica of the notorious Bastille prison. And then in the display glass next to that, I was thrilled and l stopped in my tracks to witness the original keys to the place. What a fantastic piece of history to see!! In addition to photos of the model and the keys, I have about six other photos
7. Memorial De La Shoah
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,169 reviews
Reviewed By Tramble
High recommendations for the current temporary exhibit. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the death camps, this is an outstanding exposition featuring video testimonials of witnesses who survived the horrors of the camps. The voices and words included are Promo Levi, Simone Veil, Imre Kertész, and others. The exhibit is in French and closes in 2021 on 3 January.
8. Musee d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaisme
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 321 reviews
The Museum of Jewish Art and History is housed in one of the most beautiful historic monuments in the Marais, the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, built in the 17th century. The museum traces the evolution of the Jewish world via its artistic and cultural heritage, focussing on the history of the Jews in France since the Middle Ages and evoking the communities of Europe and North Africa. Its collection, one of the finest in the world, comprises religious objects, manuscripts, textiles and unique archive documents concerning the Dreyfus Affair. Special importance is given to the Jewish presence in the arts, featuring the painters of the School of Paris (Chagall, Kikoïne, Soutine...) and contemporary artists such Christian Boltanski and Sophie Calle. The museum runs programmes of workshops for children, families and adults, guided tours, lectures, live performances and films throughout the year.
Reviewed By TheStudentExplorer - Rabat, Morocco
I am a student and a part of my course is Jewish Studies. I always make an effort to visit Jewish museums and galleries where I go. This is one of the best that I have been to. It provides basic information about Judaism and Jewish culture- you do not have to be Jewish or know anything about Judaism to enjoy this museum. When I went there was a really fascinating exhibition on Jules Adler posing the question as to how relevant his Jewishness was to his art, if it was relevant at all. The Museum also has an amazing bookshop which is mainly in French (small number of English books) that covers extensively almost every part of Jewish history, philosophy, art and music and much more. As with most museums in Paris if you are under 26 years of age you can go in for free!
9. Musee du Service de Sante des Armees au Val-de-Grace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Créé pendant la guerre de 1914-1918 dans l'ancienne abbaye royale du Val-de-Grâce, le musée permet au visiteur, par la présentation pédagogique de ses collections, de mieux comprendre les fondements et les vocations multiples de la médecine aux armées : soutien sanitaire des forces armées, essor de la chirurgie maxillo-faciale (moulages en cire des "Gueules Cassées"), recherche en psychiatrie, médecine subaquatique et aérospatiale, lutte contre les gaz toxiques, actions humanitaires, soins aux populations, création d’écoles de médecine ou d’Instituts Pasteur, lutte contre les grandes endémies outre-mer et contre les maladies infectieuses métropolitaines ou exotiques, progrès de l’hygiène.
10. Musee de la Legion d'honneur et des ordres de chevalerie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 197 reviews
Le musée de la Légion d’honneur et des ordres de chevalerie propose un voyage insolite à travers les époques et les cultures grâce à 5.000 objets d’art et décorations provenant du monde entier.
Reviewed By SakiJR - Turku, Finland
Small museum. Excellent collection of military medals, pieces of Napoleon belongings, maltese knights and military related collection, costumes and paintings. Free entrance, opens at 13.00. I strongly recommend to visit. Friendly and attentive personnel.
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