At a Glance

Musée Carnavalet in Paris's Marais opened 1880 in a 1548 Renaissance mansion where Madame de Sévigné once lived. Reopened May 2021 after a four-year renovation. 620,000 objects; 3,800 on permanent display. Free entry.

Paris Itself as a Museum

Covers 2,000 years of the city's history. The French Revolution holdings are the world's most complete, including Robespierre's signed orders.

Highlights

• Madame de Sévigné's room.
• French Revolution gallery.
• 19th-century Parisian shopfront interiors.
• Proust's cork-lined bedroom, moved in.
• 500 historic Parisian shop signs.

Visiting Tips

Saint-Paul metro. Free. 2.5–3 hours. Closed Mondays. Pair with Picasso Museum and Place des Vosges.