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Musée Carnavalet
Housed
in a grand Marais mansion, this museum presents the history of Paris.
The collection includes painting, sculpture and antique furniture,
re-creating private residences of the 16th and 17th centuries. There is
also a collection of mementoes from the Revolution. Classical music
concerts are occasionally held here.
Musée Carnavalet
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Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Set
over nine levels, adjoining the west end of the Louvre’s Richelieu
Wing, this decorative arts museum showcases furniture and tableware from
the 12th century to the present. The breathtaking anthology of pieces
includes Gothic panelling and Renaissance porcelain, to 1970s carpets
and chairs by Philippe Starck. Also in the museum is the Musée de la
Mode et du Textile, which mounts fashion exhibitions and the Musée de la
Publicité, which has exhibitions on advertising. -
Musée National du Moyen Age
This
splendid museum dedicated to the art of the Middle Ages is known by
several names, including the Musée de Cluny after the beautiful mansion
in which it is housed, and the Thermes de Cluny after the Roman baths
adjoining the museum. Highlights include the famous “Lady and the
Unicorn” tapestries, medieval stained glass and exquisite gold crowns
and jewellery.
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Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle
Paris’s
Natural History Museum in the Jardin des Plantes contains a fascinating
collection of animal skeletons, plant fossils, minerals and gemstones.
Its highlight is the magnificent Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, which depicts the changing interaction between man and nature during the evolution of the planet.
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle garden
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Musée du Quai Branly
In
a city dominated by Western art, this impressive museum housing 300,000
artifacts tips the balance in favour of arts from Africa, Asia, Oceania
and the Americas. Must-sees include the African instruments. The
striking Jean Nouvel-designed building is an attraction in itself . -
Musée de l’Armée
France’s
proud military history is on display in this museum, housed in a wing
of the Hôtel des Invalides. Exhibits include military art and artifacts
from ancient times through to the 20th century, with a large modern
exhibit devoted to World War II. Napoleon’s campaign tent, his stuffed
dog, and suits of armour and weapons from medieval times are among the
many highlights . -
Musée Cognacq-Jay
The
Hôtel Donon is a fine setting for this superb collection of
18th-century art, furniture, porcelain and other decorative arts,
amassed by the wealthy founders of the Samaritaine department store.
Paintings by Rembrandt, Gainsborough and other masters alone are worth
the visit .
Musée Cognacq-Jay
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Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine
In
the east wing of the Palais Chaillot, the Cité de l’Architecture and
the Musée des Monuments Français showcase French architectural heritage
and has become one of the world’s great architectural centres. The
Galeries des Moulages houses models of great French cathedrals . -
Musée de Montmartre
Montmartre
has long been home to the artists of Paris and several of them have
lived in this old house, including Renoir, Dufy and Utrillo. Artifacts
from the 19th century are on display, to help conjure up the era, along
with posters, maps and documents on the house’s history. The garden also
gives good views of the surrounding district .
