Five Lesser Known Museums

By Dawn Mitchelle Discover Something New in Paris- Five Lesser Known Museums

So how many times have you been to the Louvre?  So many that now you can almost run a museum tour of the Grand Gallery all by yourself?  Perhaps it’s a sign you need to start diversifying your Paris museum experiences by, let’s say, visiting one of the other scores of specialized museums Paris has to offer.  You know they’re out there, so let us help you find your way off the beaten path to these five lesser known, but equally as fascinating museums. 

After taking a stroll through the Tuileries garden, why not visit the nearby Musee de la Publicite? This is a great spot for graphic artists and lovers of pop culture relics and advertising.   The museum offers a contemporary look into French culture through a collection of posters, press releases, radio and print advertisements, publicity films and thematic retrospectives. 

LES ARTS DECORATIFS - MUSEE DE LA PUBLICITE
107, rue de Rivoli 75001 PARIS
Metro:  Tuileries 
Bus:  21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 , 95 
Telephone number :  01 44 55 57 50  
Hours:  Tuesday to Friday:  11am – 6pm.
             Wednesday: 11am – 9pm
          Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Admission: 6 euros, reduced fare: 4.50 euros. 

Located in a 1900’s theater, Les Theater Musee des Capucines tells the long and sweet-smelling story of perfume!  Here you can witness the various methods used for extracting raw materials used in perfumes, including a demonstration of a beautiful 19th century copper distilling apparatus.  The museum also has on display a selection of their perfume bottles, and a boutique for you to take a piece of the history home with you.

LE THEATRE MUSEE DES CAPUCINES - FRAGONARD
 39, boulevard des Capucines 75002 PARIS
Metro:  Opéra 
RER:  A : Auber 
Telephone number:  01 47 42 93 40  
Hours:  Monday – Saturday, 9am to 6pm. 
Admission:  Free

Ever wonder why Parisians always look so good? At the Musee Galliera, also known as Musee de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, you will find the answer as you track their impeccable fashion history through the ages.  The museum displays about 90,000 clothing pieces, including temporary exhibitions of grands couturiers and fashion designers.   It’s no wonder they know how to dress - they’ve been doing it well for centuries!

MUSEE GALLIERA - MUSEE DE LA MODE DE LA VILLE DE PARIS
10, avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie 75116 PARIS
Metro:  Iéna 
Bus:  32, 63, 72, 92, 42,80, 82 
Telephone number:  01 56 52 86 00  
Hours:  Tuesday – Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Admission:  7 euros (rates vary depending on exhibition); 5.50 euros; 14-26yrs:  3.5 euros; free for children under 13yrs.

 
For literary buffs, or just those who want to tour the only house-museum in Paris, the Maison de Balzac is a quick stop off the Metro Passy.   It was here in this house that the 19th century writer wrote and edited his most famous work, The Human Comedy.  In fact, the well-worn desk upon which he wrote this novel and where he penned letters to his mistress is on display.  It is worth the trip for both its stunning rose garden and view of the Eiffel Tower, as well as its fascinating research library in the basement.  The museum houses numerous original editions and manuscripts of Balzac’s works. 

MAISON DE BALZAC
 47, rue Raynouard 75016 PARIS
Metro:  Passy 
RER:  Boulainvilliers 
Bus:  52, 70, 72 
Telephone number:  01 55 74 41 80  
Hours:  Tuesday through Sunday from 10am-6pm; cash desk closes at 5:30pm
Closed Mondays
Admission: Free for permanent collection; varying charge for exhibitions (free for under 14yrs, half price for under 26yrs)

If you’d rather spend the day examining the gadgets of great minds, the Musee des Arts et Metiers must not be missed.  Created in 1794 and located in the Abbey of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, this "depot of new and useful inventions" houses 80,000 objects, including Foucoult’s famous pendulum.  Ingenuity in the arts and trades can be traced here through their impressive collection, containing 15,000 drawings and seven different departments to explore, including scientific items, building materials, communication tools, mechanisms and transport systems.

MUSEE DES ARTS ET METIERS
60, rue Réaumur 75003 PARIS
Metro:  Arts et Métiers 
Bus:  20, 27, 38, 39, 47 
Telephone number:  01 53 01 82 63  
Hours: 10 a.m.- 6 pm, Tuesday - Sunday; until 9:30 pm Thursdays
Closed: Monday, bank holidays
Admission:  5.50 euros (includes temporary exhibitions); Special price for family of 2 and 2 children: 15.25 euros; free for children under 5 and for owners of professional cards and Les Amis du Musee