Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, Architecture museum at Palais de Chaillot, Paris, France
The Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine in the Palais de Chaillot displays French architectural heritage through collections of large stone sculptures, wall paintings, stained glass windows, and modern building designs. The exhibitions spread across several galleries where you can view original pieces and full-scale reconstructions of significant French structures.
The institution began in 1879 influenced by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, an architect devoted to preserving French building traditions. A major renovation in the 2000s transformed the space into the modern museum you see today.
The collection tells the story of how French architecture reflected the needs and values of different times. You can see actual carved stonework, pieces of cathedral windows, and building models that show how people lived and what mattered to them.
Wear comfortable shoes since the collections are spread across multiple levels and there is a lot to explore. It helps to check which exhibitions are on when you visit so you can plan your time accordingly.
One section displays a full-size reconstruction of an apartment designed by Le Corbusier in the 1950s. This replica gives you a direct sense of how this influential architect organized and designed living spaces.
Location: Paris
Official opening: September 17, 2007
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Opening Hours: Monday,Wednesday,Friday,Saturday,Sunday 11:00-19:00; Thursday 11:00-21:00
Phone: +33158515200
Website: https://citedelarchitecture.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.86294,2.28901
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Paris houses several museums dedicated to Asian art. The Musée Guimet holds one of the most significant collections outside Asia, featuring works from India, China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The collection includes Buddhist sculptures from Afghanistan, Chinese bronzes, Japanese woodblock prints, and Cambodian stone reliefs. The Musée Cernuschi focuses on Chinese art from antiquity to the early 20th century. The Louvre displays Asian artworks in its Islamic Art department and the Pavillon des Sessions. Additional collections can be found at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. These institutions regularly organize temporary exhibitions on specific themes such as calligraphy, ceramics, or textiles from various Asian regions.
These locations showcase the architectural diversity of Paris through buildings spanning from medieval times to the modern era. The city preserves structures from two millennia: Roman baths from the 3rd century, Gothic churches like Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, Renaissance mansions, and Art Nouveau apartment buildings designed by Hector Guimard. Beyond the famous monuments, visitors find hidden lanes with medieval timber-framed houses and private villas from the 19th century. The collection includes both public and private buildings. Visitors can explore the remains of the Arènes de Lutèce, where Romans once held gladiatorial contests, as well as the oldest residential houses in the city dating from the 15th century. The selection ranges from medieval church towers and classical arcades to modernist experiments of the early 20th century.
Paris has reshaped its architectural landscape over recent decades by constructing distinctly contemporary buildings. La Défense's Grande Arche extends the city's historic axis, while Frank Gehry's Louis Vuitton Foundation unfurls its glass sails in Bois de Boulogne. The François Mitterrand Library rises with four towers shaped like open books along the Seine, symbolizing a confident embrace of modernity. However, Paris architecture is not limited to recent constructions. The city has reinvented old structures: La Samaritaine, a department store in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, was restored to its former glory after a lengthy renovation. The former Bercy wine warehouses have become a lively shopping district, the Viaduc des Arts hosts artisan workshops beneath its 19th-century arches, and the Centquatre turned a municipal funeral home into a cultural center. These renovations demonstrate how Paris combines heritage preservation with adaptation to contemporary functions.
Paris offers many options for families with children, from large amusement parks to interactive museums. Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée features two themed parks focused on Disney characters, while Parc Astérix in Plailly offers roller coasters and shows inspired by Gaulish culture. In the city, the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie allows children to explore technology and science practically, with its planetarium and experimental zones. Families can also visit the Paris Zoological Park, which displays 180 species in habitats recreating different ecosystems, or explore the National Museum of Natural History with its fossil and mineral collections. For aquatic activities, Aquaboulevard has slides and wave pools under a roof. The Grevin Museum exhibits over 200 wax statues of famous personalities, while the Museum of Illusions engages viewers with interactive visual installations. La Villette Park combines green spaces, playgrounds, and cultural venues across 55 hectares.
Palais de Chaillot
96 m
Musée de l'Homme
140 m
Jardins du Trocadéro
178 m
Cinéaqua
156 m
Musée national de la Marine
152 m
Théâtre national de Chaillot
44 m
Musée des monuments français
21 m
Palace of the King of Rome
106 m
Parvis des droits de l'homme
107 m
Musée national de la Marine de Paris
174 m
El pueblo español tiene un camino que conduce a una estrella
193 m
Equestrian statue of Maréchal Foch
122 m
Orgel des Auditorium Maurice Ravel
97 m
Bibliothèque de la Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine
50 m
Esplanade Joseph-Wresinski
105 m
Esplanade Bernard-Dupérier
188 m
Grave of Lemoine
198 m
Grave of Davia
198 m
Grave of Mantion-Frémont
198 m
Grave of Cierplikowski
198 m
Grave of Berès
198 m
Grave of Michard-Pélissier
198 m
Grave of Oranie-L'Host-Sander
198 m
Grave of Busnot
198 m
Grave of Cadet
198 m
Grave of Peyrecave
198 m
Grave of Bonnichon
198 m
Horses and Dog
148 mReviews
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A museum that deserves to be known! Collections that guide you through various architectural styles in an educational way. Incredible view of the Eiffel Tower!
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