While the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay museums are usually at the top of tourists’ lists when visiting Paris, the city has about 130 museums in total for visitors and locals to explore. If you’re looking for a more unique experience away from the madding crowds, here are some of the most unusual museums in Paris that are worth the visit:
1. Musée Carnavalet / The Carnavalet Museum
The gardens at Musée Carnavalet in July. Image Credit: Oliver Mallich
If you are looking for a history museum dedicated to Paris’ tumultuous past, the Musée Carnavalet is a must see in the Marais district. Located in the heart of the third arrondissement, Musée Carnavalet is the oldest museum in Paris and highlights the history of the city with exhibits on Parisian art, culture, decorative arts and archeology.
“One of my favorite museums that is not one that a lot of people know is Carnevale. It’s located in the heart of the Marais,” says Flavors of Paris Founder and CEO, Lisa Rankin. “It is in a beautiful private mansion that will be opening to the public once again after an extensive renovation. It is filled with curiosities about Paris. And best of all. It’s free.”
According to the museum’s website, The Chatillon Architectes agency just completed a four year renovation project on the Musée Carnavalet updating the building’s facades, floors and courtyards. The renovation project was also instrumental in the museum’s new cafe and restaurant which was built overlooking the gardens on the second floor.
Inside the museum’s expansive collection of Parisian artifacts. Image Credit: Oliver Mallich
One of Lisa’s favorite parts of the museum is the top floor, which is dedicated entirely to the French Revolution and how Paris changed during that time.
“It is really interesting if you want to learn more about the history of Paris and if you want to see some curious Parisian antiques,” Lisa said. “It is a really fun place and it is not usually very crowded.”
Upon its reopening, the museum’s new exhibit features the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the most renowned French photographers of the 20th century. The exhibition will display the photographer’s original prints, publications and videos of the artists for public viewing.
2. Maison Européenne de la Photographie/ The House of European Photography
Image Credit: Victor Tsu
Located in the fourth arrondissement, (also the Marais), Maison Européenne de la Photographie is a museum dedicated entirely to contemporary photography and highlights the three fundamental photographic mediums of film, exhibition prints and the printed page.
The museum, which opened to the public in 1996, is housed inside the Hotel Henault de Cantobre and built in 1706. The exhibition offers viewers a look into the diverse realm of photography with artists from around the world.
The Maison Européenne de la Photographie is three floors and offers revolving exhibitions to display new and upcoming works as well as pay tribute to the greats in photography. Many of the displays are also interactive allowing visitors to connect with the art rather than just observe the pieces on the wall like other museums.
4. Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Image Credit: Daniel Hennemand
Found in the sixteenth arrondissement, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is an art museum with an incredible collection dedicated to contemporary and modern works of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The museum offers expansive murals such as the first two versions of La Danse by Matisse and Raoul Dufy’s exquisite masterpiece La Fée électricité. as a main attraction for visitors and reopened in 2019 after a €10 million renovation and redesign project.
With over 15,000 works on display inside the museum and new exhibitions introduced every six weeks, there is always something to check out on a returning visit to Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. The museum is also one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in France and features major artists including Picasso, Modigliani, Derain, Chagall, Boltanski, Parreno, and Peter Doig.
Inside the museum, the exhibition displays vintage perfume bottles with varying scents.
Image Credit: Marie Manuel
5. Musée du Parfum Fragonard
Dedicated entirely to fragrance, the Musée du Parfum Fragonard is the French museum of perfume educating viewers about the history of perfume making in France. The museum offers free 30 minute tours everyday led by a perfumier where visitors can learn all about the process of making perfume and what ingredients make everyone’s signature perfume scent unique.
Located in the heart of the ninth arrondissement, the museum also highlights Paris’ role as the fashion capital of the world and the many signature scents of haute couture houses in Paris.
While exploring the museum, visitors will discover antique perfume bottles, toiletry sets and the complicated history of perfume making in Paris set among 19th century rooms.
The museum also offers a 90 minute customized perfume making workshop where visitors can create their own signature perfume. The experience costs €95, but is well worth the price given every participant leaves the workshop with a personalized 100 milliliter bottle of their own perfume of choice.
Discover your personal fragrance here!
Inside the museum, visitors can explore Victor Hugo’s dining room. Image Credit: Zairon
Located in the fourth arrondissement, the Maison de Victor Hugo is the former house of the esteemed French novelist and poet. The property has been restored since the 19th century, when Hugo lived there between 1832 and 1848, but is kept in the condition in which he lived in it making visitors feel also though they are travelling through time to explore his life.
The Maison de Victor Hugo features the writer’s many belongings including the original furniture, written work and art so it is a must-see for any fans of The Hunchback of Notre Dame when visiting Paris.
A visitor stops to sketch one of the works in the large plaster gallery inside the museum.
Image Credit: Velvet
7. Musée Bourdelle
For fans of sculpture and outdoor art exhibitions, theis a hidden gem in the 15th arrondissement. The museum is dedicated entirely to the work of Antoine Bourdelle, a prolific French sculptor who studied under Auguste Rodin in the late 19th century.
The Musée Bourdelle preserved Bourdelle’s art studio after he died in 1929 and has undergone two expansions since it first opened to the public in 1949. The museum is free of charge and has over 500 works on display including marble, bronze and plaster statues and Bourdelle’s own collection of artwork.
Like the Rodin museum, the Musée Bourdelle has an expansive sculpture garden for visitors to explore Bourdelle’s bronze statues in a courtyard and fully experience the artist’s vision for making his life’s work into a museum.
Among the museum’s collection of antique weapons and vintage guns, taxidermy animals surround the walls of the exhibition on hunting and history. Image Credit: Jamie Anderson
Found in the third arrondissement, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature is dedicated to all things hunting including hunting weapons, decorative art, trophies, accessories and taxidermy animals.
“It is one that people wouldn’t think of going to, but surprisingly fun,” Lisa said. “People really enjoy when they go. I think it is an underrated museum in Paris.”
The museum houses many different types of art with artifacts from natural history, eclectic works of contemporary art and ancient art. While the museum is currently closed for renovations and expansions to the exhibitions, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature announced plans to reopen in the spring of 2021.
9. Musée du Chocolat
Inside the museum, one exhibition displays a vintage advertisement for chocolate bars.
Image Credit: Larry Wentzel
At the Chocolate Museum in Paris, visitors can explore the history of chocolate, taste all you can eat chocolate creations, meet professional chocolatiers and create their own chocolates. The Musée du Chocolat, located in the 10th arrondissement, is a popular excursion for families travelling to Paris during Christmas or Halloween and a perfect place to take any true chocolate lover.
The museum takes about 1.5 hours to visit with guided tours available and free audio guides for visitors. The Musée du Chocolat website recommends booking your tickets in advance to avoid crowds and offers guests “real hot chocolate” with a choice of trying the Aztec recipe, Spanish recipe, speculoos, hazelnut, milk or dark chocolate.