La Contemporaine

About the museum

The institution was born from a gift: in 1917, the Parisian industrialists Louise and Henri Leblanc gave the State a collection of around 22,000 items on the First World War. The gift was confirmed in 1918, and the collection became the Bibliothèque-musée de la Guerre, first run by the historian Camille Bloch.

It was renamed the Bibliothèque de documentation internationale contemporaine (BDIC) in 1934. The library moved to Nanterre in 1970, while its museum, which became the museum of contemporary history in 1987, was housed at the Invalides. In 2018 the whole institution took the name La Contemporaine.

A new building, designed by the architect Bruno Gaudin at the entrance to the Paris Nanterre University campus, opened in autumn 2021. It finally brings together the library, the archives and the museum after around eighty years apart.

The collections comprise around 3 million documents in a variety of formats and more than 1.5 million pictorial items, including posters and numerous photographs. The public can discover them in exhibitions and in the permanent exhibition “L’Atelier de l’histoire”, next to the reading room.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “L’Atelier de l’histoire”
• Collections on the world wars, the Resistance and political movements
• Posters, photographs and archives from the 20th century
• Building by Bruno Gaudin on the Nanterre campus
• Free guided tour every Saturday

Permanent exhibition

• L'Atelier de l'histoire – Permanent exhibition showing documents from the collections, such as leaflets, sketches, activist archives and filmed testimonies, to show how contemporary history is written.

Founded

1918

Operated by

Université Paris Nanterre

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance is at ground level, with an internal ramp. The exhibition spaces on the second floor are served by a lift. The library doors are not automatic; a member of staff at reception can help. Tactile paving in the entrance hall, a text magnifier and magnifying glasses in the reading room. Reserved parking spaces near the entrance, on prior request.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational workshops and guided tours for school classes.

Getting there & parking

The building is at the entrance to the Paris Nanterre University campus. Postal address: 200 avenue de la République, 92001 Nanterre Cedex.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi network is reserved for registered readers of La Contemporaine and for students and staff of Paris Nanterre University. A shop is mentioned on the website.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Spaces can be hired for cultural or scientific events, on request via the contact form.

Plan your visit