National Archives Museum

Located in the Marais district in the magnificent Hôtel de Soubise and Hôtel de Rohan, the National Archives are where French history records are kept, dating from the Merovingian period all the way through to 1958.

These exceptional records – parchment and paper documents, microfilms, sound recordings and digital files – fill hundreds of miles of shelving and are all available to access.

The archives of French history

A selection of these remarkable records is displayed in the permanent museum section, and updated every four months to protect the precious documents from light damage.
Each new display is a chance to bring out around thirty new items from the stores, which are home to some of the rarest and most symbolic records in existence, including a diploma from Charlemagne, the founding paperwork for Sainte-Chapelle, the last letter of Marie-Antoinette, and even the Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

Ready for a rest? Feel free to take a stroll through the gardens to explore the natural and architectural beauty of this unique heritage site, located right in the heart of historic Paris and only a few steps away from the Picasso Museum and Cognacq-Jay Museum.

Visitors can also enjoy a jam-packed calendar of cultural and musical events all year round – it’s available to view on the National Archives website.

Do not miss the other museums and cultural sites in Paris Region!