Museum of National Archives, State archive museum in Marais district, France.
The Museum of National Archives occupies the Hôtel de Soubise, an ornate Baroque palace in the Marais district, displaying source documents from French history spanning multiple centuries. The exhibitions present original manuscripts, from medieval parchments to modern records, arranged in climate-controlled cases with explanatory notes.
The museum was founded in 1867 during Napoleon III's rule when Léon de Laborde began collecting and organizing French documents systematically. This collection aimed to preserve the nation's most important records for future generations.
The museum displays documents that shaped French history, including treaties, decrees, and personal letters from key historical figures. Visitors can see how ordinary written words shaped the nation's major turning points.
The museum is open on weekdays and Wednesday, with shorter hours on weekends that focus on afternoon visits. Plan time to read the document descriptions carefully, since many pieces are displayed only in their original form.
The museum houses an iron vault containing personal documents such as Napoleon's testament and King Louis XVI's journal from different eras. These rare items reveal the private side of powerful historical figures.
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