Visit This Reimagined Musée Carnavalet In Paris After Its Five Year Closure
Located in the Marais district of Paris, Musée Carnavalet is a hidden gem, set in two grand buildings dating back to the Renaissance period. After a $67 million (€55 million) makeover, including five years of renovation, one of Paris’ most overlooked treasures is reopening to visitors.
Musée Carnavalet has been reimagined
On top of the news that France is reopening to international travelers this summer, Musée Carnavalet is also reopening after a five-year renovation. The reimagined museum opens on Saturday, May 29.
Musée Carnavalet is set in two grand buildings from the Renaissance period in the Marais District of Paris. The museum originally opened in 1888 and is dedicated to the history of the city.
The fascinating and varied exhibits include curiosities and artifacts, including Marie Antoinette’s belongings, Renoir paintings, 19th century cartoons, Gallo-Roman ruins, Art Deco furniture and various signs and shop fronts from the past of Paris. Visitors get to explore more than 30 period rooms, taken from stately homes across Paris and reconstructed in the museum, in all their finery.
The reason for the closure in 2016 was that the collection had grown so large the curators found it impossible to display it all in a coherent fashion. However, with the design expertise of François Châtillon, chief architect for France’s historical monuments, along with $67 million (€55 million), it has finally reopened.
Described by the official website as a “new museum,” Musée Carnavalet now has improved exhibition spaces to rightfully display all its exhibits to the public. Among the best improvements is a newly adapted circuit route running through the museum in chronological order, as well as the opening up of previously hidden areas to bring in more light.
A more accessible Musée Carnavalet
As part of the major renovations, elevators and ramps have been added throughout the museum, making it more accessible. Also, digital displays have also been added to bring the museum into the 21st century.
The basement is one of the oldest parts of the museum and has been completely renovated to display collections from the Mesolithic period through to the Renaissance period. There are also two new introductory rooms to greet visitors and a café/restaurant has been added, overlooking the gardens, for a welcome snack or meal.
How to get there
Visitors should travel to the Saint Paul metro station, where the Musée Carnavalet is just a five-minute walk away at 23, rue de Sévigné.
Another welcome aspect of Musée Carnavalet is that entry to the permanent collection is free. The only time visitors are charged is for temporary exhibitions, the first of which will focus on the life and work of French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. That temporary exhibition will run from June 15 to October 31, 2021.
Opening hours at the museum are from 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday – the museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays. To find out more information about the new look Musée Carnavalet, visit the museum’s official website. The museum’s Instagram account also reveals images, showing the major renovation work as it was underway.
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Photos credit: Deposit Photos