We find we have some free time in Paris, our third trip. RS gives little encouragement to visit Musee Carnavalet, another said a good alternative to other busy Musuems. WE have done the big guys and this trip are looking at Picasso (well he is big!), Musee des Arts et Metiers, Jacquemart-Ande, Romantic, Rodin, and Marmottan Monet. Any thoughts on the Carnavalet? We are doing 2 Paris walks and I would love another unmusee activity. Were thinking of St. Martin Canal but that may be too slow for me. Would love a good cheese tour. Ideas?
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
The Carnavalet is free and next to the Picasso Museums, so you can easily pop by! It is big, so I suggest you focus your visit on the historical periods that interest you the most. If you have no idea, my opinion is that you can skip the earliest eras - the prehistoric / ancient historical artefacts on display are not that special.
Posted by
Paris
10193 posts
I agree with Balso completely - the Carnavalet is big, but has fun stuff if you just pick a section or two instead of trying to drag yourself around seeing it all.
I love the old shop signs, then a visit to one of the recreated (transferred, not copied -- i.e. rebuilt in place) interiors would be a good way to wrap up. That gives you some variety .
Posted by
Florida
211 posts
What I particularly loved, and didn't realize was in the Carnavalet, was the beautiful collection of Belle Époque paintings.
Also, if you're looking for a really unique museum, check out Musée des Arts Forains. I visited this several years ago after trying to get in on previous trips. Back then, they only let you in if they already had a group coming but it is different now. Easier. It was really cool. Less museum, more just...fun. Lots of interactive. https://arts-forains.com/en
Posted by
Chicago
8550 posts
When we were there the Carnavalet was requiring timed tickets (they are free but they were still requiring them). So check the website for this.
We did a cheese tasting with some wine paring, but the focus was cheese at https://parolesdefromagers.com
we had an apartment so appreciated the discount on cheese and butter purchases made after the tour. An added bonus there is some really interesting architecture in this district. Check out Rue d'Abbeville which is not far away and has amazing Martel fascades. The tour takes you to their aging room where the guide walks you through the various regional cheeses and types of cheeses and then you go to the cellar where you sample 7 different cheeses with discussion of cheese tasting and wine pairing. There were 3 different wines included. We don't usually do tourist events like this, but found it interesting and are glad we did it.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
I think this is a really interesting museum. I do get frustrated because it's not laid out like "I" would lay it out and I always wind up coming back on myself, lol. I particularly like the exhibitions on the Lower Level (where the toilets are). They are the prehistory/Neolithic/Mesolithic era artifacts including a dugout canoe. I found this fascinating! Like Kim, I love the signs in the entry hall. Another favorite is the Art Deco stuff including:
"from the Fouquet jewelry store (made in 1901 by the artist Alfons Mucha). They represent the full flowering of the Art Nouveau style, which conveyed a taste for asymmetry and featured a “whiplash” line; the style invaded architecture and the decorative arts."
https://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/en/le-nouveau-parcours
When I went last spring timed entries were not needed. The official website says:
"The permanent collections are free of charge and can be accessed without booking."
So yes...go! Very interesting and quite an assortment of stuff.