Musée des Arts et Métiers

About the museum

The museum is linked to the history of the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Cnam), founded in 1794 during the French Revolution to bring together instruments, machines and models useful for teaching science and technology. It can be considered one of the oldest technical and industrial museums in the world. It is housed in the former priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, whose buildings were dedicated to technology after the Revolution.

Over the years the collections grew through numerous donations and acquisitions, reflecting the development of scientific knowledge and technical progress. Today the museum holds nearly 80,000 objects and 15,000 drawings. The visit is organised into seven sections: scientific instruments, materials, construction, communication, energy, mechanics and transport.

Among its most remarkable pieces are the laboratory of Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier, the physics cabinet of Jacques Alexandre Charles, the loom of Jacques Vaucanson, the Chappe telegraph, Cugnot’s fardier and Clément Ader’s Avion n° 3. In the former church, Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty, aircraft by Breguet and Blériot, and the first steam bus, “l’Obéissante”, are on display. The museum reopened in 2000 after a major renovation.

Highlights

• Cugnot’s fardier, the first steam-powered motor vehicle
• Clément Ader’s Avion n° 3
• Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier’s laboratory
• The Chappe telegraph and Vaucanson’s loom
• The automaton theatre
• The former church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs with the model of the Statue of Liberty and “l’Obéissante”

Founded

1794

Operated by

Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Cnam)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month for the permanent collections; tickets are issued only at the museum’s reception desk.

On Friday evenings from 18:00 to 21:00, the full price of €12 and the reduced rate of €9 apply to the permanent collections. Also free with proof: job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, teachers, journalists, ICOM members, tour guides and holders of the Paris Museum Pass; the latter must buy a ticket for the “Lady Liberté” experience if they want to see it.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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 museum is step-free from rue Réaumur. Wheelchairs and folding seats are lent free of charge at the reception desk against an identity document, subject to availability. Seats are placed along the route. Hearing-impaired visitors with a T-setting hearing aid can borrow a magnetic neck loop for the audio guide. A map of reserved parking spaces around the museum is available; the accessibility service can be reached on 01 53 01 82 89.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Family workshops for ages 4–6 and 7–12 (1 hour 30 minutes each) on weekends and during school holidays in Zone C, storytelling for ages 4–6 (30 minutes), 3-hour courses for ages 7–12 accompanied by an adult, and collaborative “Les Fabricateurs” workshops from age 6. The “enquêtes-jeux” are free game booklets available at the desk on presentation of the admission ticket. A 1-hour-30-minute audio-guide route with a small robot is designed for children aged 7 to 12. A buggy can be borrowed free of charge at reception, subject to availability.

Getting there & parking

For groups, parking in the inner courtyard can be requested by reservation at least one week in advance.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Individual and group cloakrooms. Luggage larger than a cabin bag (55 x 35 x 25 cm), bicycles and scooters are not admitted. City-Locker lockers are nearby, at 82 rue des Gravilliers. Museum shop at the end of the route.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 400 guests.

Several spaces can be hired, notably the former church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs (600 m², up to 400 people for a cocktail reception or 200 for a dinner); hire takes place on Mondays for the whole day. Requests by email to the address given on the hire page.

Plan your visit