Best for
Science and technology enthusiasts, families with curious kids
Time needed
1.5–2.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes — an underrated museum with a genuinely unusual setting
Skip if
Science and technology history holds no interest for you
About Musée des Arts et Métiers
Founded in 1794 during the Revolution as a public repository of scientific instruments, models and machines — an educational resource open to craftsmen and inventors rather than a royal cabinet of curiosities — the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers has occupied the former Priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs since 1799, giving the museum the unusual quality of housing cutting-edge historical technology inside a Romanesque and Gothic medieval church and cloister.
The collection spans seven themed galleries — scientific instruments, materials, construction, communication, energy, mechanics and transportation — and includes genuine landmark objects: early calculating machines, Lavoisier's chemistry equipment, one of Blériot's pioneering aircraft, and a working replica of Foucault's pendulum, which first proved the Earth's rotation when demonstrated in this building's very deconsecrated church nave in 1851.
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The deconsecrated priory church, now serving as a display hall for large industrial objects including early cars, aircraft and Foucault's pendulum suspended from the vaulted ceiling, is one of the more striking spaces in any Paris museum — a genuinely strange and effective pairing of medieval architecture and industrial-age invention.
Less visited than the city's major art museums, Arts et Métiers rewards anyone with even a casual interest in the history of science and invention, and its location in the 3rd arrondissement puts it within easy reach of the Marais.
What to See: Highlights
- 1A working Foucault's Pendulum, demonstrated here in 1851 to prove the Earth's rotation
- 2One of Blériot's early aircraft and pioneering calculating machines
- 3Seven themed galleries covering three centuries of invention
- 4Displayed inside a former medieval priory church and cloister
- 5One of the more distinctive, least-crowded major museums in Paris
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Insider Tips
Check current admission status before visiting — parts of the museum were free through mid-2026 during partial renovation
The deconsecrated priory church holding the large-scale exhibits is the highlight — don't rush past it
Friday evening opening (until 9pm) is a good quieter option
Combine with a Marais walk given its 3rd-arrondissement location
Good option for families with children curious about science and machines
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Getting There
60 Rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris
Open in Google Maps →- 1Metro 3 or 11 to Arts et Métiers, right outside the entrance.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're interested in the history of science, engineering or invention
- You want to see Foucault's Pendulum in its original demonstration setting
- You appreciate unusual pairings of architecture and museum content
- You're already exploring the Marais or 3rd arrondissement
Skip if...
- Science and technology history isn't of interest
- You have limited time and are prioritising art museums instead
- You're not near the 3rd arrondissement on your itinerary
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Paris
Musée Carnavalet — Histoire de Paris
The free museum of Paris's own history, spread across two connected Marais mansions, tracing the city from prehistory through the Revolution to the present day.
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Europe's largest science museum, set in the Parc de la Villette, with a giant mirrored geodesic cinema dome, a submarine you can tour, and hands-on exhibits built for curious minds of every age.
Bibliothèque nationale de France — Richelieu (Salle Ovale)
A magnificent oval reading room inside France's historic national library building, free to enter and browse — one of the most beautiful public interiors in Paris that most visitors never see.