While the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou top the Paris museum list, the city also offers plenty of hidden gems. These lesser-known museums allow you to delve into various aspects of art, culture, and history on a more intimate scale.
LessThis offbeat museum is home to a vast collection of counterfeit products dating from the 16th century to the present day, which reveal the history, techniques, and consequences of counterfeiting. Displays on the imitation of luxury goods and the role of intellectual property make it a fascinating experience for visitors interested in the intersection of commerce and creativity.
This dazzling museum, dedicated to the arts of magic and illusion, houses a vast collection of artifacts, including vintage props, posters, and automata. The space also offers interactive exhibits where visitors can try their hand at various magic tricks and learn the secrets behind some of the most perplexing illusions. One of the most popular attractions is a magic show held in the museum's theater, featuring skilled magicians from around the world.
Housed in the former police headquarters, this often-overlooked museum offers visitors a glimpse into the city's law enforcement history. The vast collection presents various artifacts, including old uniforms, weapons, and crime-solving tools used over the centuries. Visitors can learn about the history of the police force in Paris, including their solving of famous crimes, their role in the French Revolution, and the evolution of police techniques.
In the heart of Paris, housed in an 18th-century mansion, this museum's riveting collection features an assortment of taxidermied animals, antique hunting tools, and contemporary art installations. Its interactive displays offer a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and nature, each blending history and artistic expression.
This unusual attraction takes visitors through the underground network of Parisian sewers. Through displays and (sanitary) hands-on exhibits, it highlights the history and importance of the city's sewer system and its evolution. You can take a guided tour that allows you to see the system's functioning, exploring its tunnels and learning about its technical and historic importance.
Set in a wine warehouse, this museum is dedicated to fairground arts and entertainment, displaying antique rides, carousels, and games from the 19th and 20th centuries. Fun for travelers of every age, the museum's atmosphere, reminiscent of a bygone era, takes visitors on a magical journey through time.
Travel back in time to 19th-century France and explore the Romantic era. This immersive museum is located in an impressive house that once belonged to painter Ary Scheffer, and it’s rich with displays of art, furniture, and decorative objects from the period. Rotating exhibits featuring French and international artists ensure a unique experience with every visit.
Set in the city's 9th arrondissement, this aromatic museum takes visitors on a sensory journey into the world of perfume. Engaging exhibits and displays highlight the history of perfume and the techniques used in making it. In addition, visitors can see rare perfume-making equipment and learn about the raw materials used in production.
Set in the center of Paris, this building was a dilapidated townhouse before it was taken over by a group of artists in 1999, who transformed it into a vibrant hub for the city's alternative arts scene. Today, it houses the workshops of over 30 emerging artists, showcasing contemporary art in various media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and performance art.