In the heart of the Marais, the National Archives Museum has occupied the Hôtel de Soubise since 1867; the mansion has housed the State archives since a decision by Napoleon in 1808. Admission is free to its princely rooms with rococo decoration and to exhibition routes devoted to documents from French history, on papyrus, parchment or paper. The visit continues in the neighbouring Hôtel de Rohan. The Archives gardens, open freely, offer a quiet break in the third arrondissement.
Highlights
The main courtyard
Built from 1705 to 1709 by the architect Pierre-Alexis Delamair, it is lined with 56 paired columns with composite capitals. Cross it to reach the museum entrance through the central door of the mansion.
The Princess’s Oval Salon
Germain Boffrand redesigned the apartments between 1735 and 1740, working with painters such as François Boucher, Charles Natoire and Carle Van Loo. In this room, eight canvases by Natoire tell the story of Psyche beneath a ceiling with gilded ornaments.
The gateway of the Hôtel de Clisson
On rue des Archives, this fortified gateway flanked by two turrets dates from 1371. It is one of the rare remains of 14th-century private architecture still visible in Paris.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Admission to the museum and exhibitions is free, with no booking. To discover the rooms with a guide, book a guided tour of the Hôtel de Soubise, at €8 per person (price checked in September 2026). Luggage larger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm is refused; free lockers take backpacks and small bags. Flash photography is not allowed.
How to get there
Metro Hôtel de Ville, line 1; Rambuteau, line 11; Arts et Métiers, line 3. Buses 29 and 75, Archives-Haudriettes or Archives-Rambuteau stops. Address: 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003 Paris.
Opening hours
Nearby
Comments
No comments yet.