National Archives
National Archives
4.5
Historic Sites • Libraries • History Museums
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10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
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1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: 3rd Arr. - Temple
How to get there
  • Rambuteau • 5 min walk
  • Hôtel de Ville • 7 min walk
See what other travelers are saying
  • Nicolas C
    Limassol City, Cyprus891 contributions
    Hidden Royal Gem in the middle of Le Marais!!
    The small gate leading to the Archives Nationales shows no indication of the magnificent Museum containing the National Archives of France, with a royal ambience all over, nor the secret gardens that open up once you pass the small indoors gate to the right. Being in the busy area of Le Marais, this is not the kind of building you would expect. The fact that you can hear no noise whatsoever on the indoors area is impressive by itself. The small indoors garden area is unique offering moments of piece and quiet especially if you are a solo traveller, without getting away from the centre.
    Visited July 2021
    Written July 19, 2021
  • Traveler O
    Washington DC, District of Columbia873 contributions
    National Archives of France
    A fantastic museum delving into the history of writings, recorded writing, and French/European history in general. You can see the history of writing and record keeping in France and the European continent in the permanent exhibition on the ground floor. The floor above usually has rotating, temporary exhibits. As of this writing it's all about the royal family, namely King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and their original correspondence-which is on display. The current temp exhibit displays these original writings along with an overview of the since lost Tuileries Palace which formerly stood by the Louvre (palace was burned and ruined during the Paris Commune in 1871). It's a great exhibit for those with good knowledge of then history of Paris or a fascination with the French Revolution. The museum normally closes from early July through mid to late August, so take note of visiting hours from the website itself. Entrance is free. Located in the Marais, it's a nice place to stopby if you have the time. Giftshop and bathrooms on site as well.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 16, 2023
  • ginsengNewYork
    New York City, New York1,318 contributions
    HIDDEN GEM IN LE MARAIS
    Magnificent Mansion housing National French Archives. If you are interested in history, do not miss this fascinating and free museum : it displays some amazing historical documents such as letters written by Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, Voltaire, Robespierre, etc, etc. Documents are housed in display cases with explanations of their significance and the place they held in nearly 1400 years of French history. However, they do rotate as they are quite fragile. The temporary exhibits are a lot of fun as well : We saw the Guerre Des Moutons exhibit on the importance of the merino sheep in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and the competition between different countries in times when wool was supremaly important. Don't miss the period rooms (the museum was formerly the Soubise Chateau) nor the indoors gardens : the front royal courtyard or the gardens on the right side of the mansion offer delicious moments of peace savoured by Parisians who picnic there during sunny days !
    Visited March 2022
    Written May 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
173 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
81
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
1

1girl_1passport
Vancouver, Canada1,041 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Hidden gem within the city. Budget-friendly activity.

Free Admission.

The Hôtel de Soubise was built for the Prince and Princess de Soubise on the site of a semi-fortified manor house named the Grand-Chantier built in 1375 for connétable Olivier de Clisson, that had formerly been a property of the Templars.[1]

Located at 58 rue des Archives, also houses the Hotel de Clisson which has two beautiful corbelled turrets.
The Gothic arch underneath was the main entrance.All date from the late fourteenth century, when Olivier de Clisson, who died in 1407, close to Charles V, had begun to settle there.In 1553 the hotel came into possession of the family of Guise.

Their house was the headquarters of the Catholic party during the Wars of Religion. It is perhaps there that the St.Bartholomew was prepared in 1572.

The hotel was then purchased by Soubise in 1700 and incorporated in all buildings. Since a Napoleonic decree of 1808, this residence has been the property of the State.

Nowadays it hosts the Musée des Archives Nationales and a part of the French National Archives.
Written April 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CK2000
New York City, NY277 contributions
Aug 2022
As we wandered through Le Marais, we passed by the National Archives. Entry is free and provided a little respite from the sunny day and a bathroom. Inside was an exhibit on various mediums to make records, from papyrus to paper to digital form.
Written August 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nov 2019 • Couples
This was a really surprisingly good understated and modest museum.

As everything in Paris/ amazing structure and architecture- both inside and out.

There were many historical old maps and many historical documents and many descriptions of stuff like that.

But the most amazing for me was stumbling into a model true-to-scale replica of the notorious Bastille prison. And then in the display glass next to that, I was thrilled and l stopped in my tracks to witness the original keys to the place. What a fantastic piece of history to see!!

In addition to photos of the model and the keys, I have about six other photos
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kitchenchemist
Clearwater, FL1,264 contributions
Apr 2013 • Solo
It was kinda neat seeing the huge seals of the big guys in French history. Seeing something signed by Francois I was really cool for me. Also, the few hotel rooms open for perusing were lovely. The man at reception wasn't very happy. And he didn't provide me with a museum guide. There was, however, a friendlier man nearby who was very generous with information about the hotel. There must be a museum guide/map, though, as the document display is set up in chronological order and numbered. Descriptions in French only. As I say in most of my attraction reviews, do research before visiting. Entrance is through the iron gates and courtyard, straight ahead. Check times before going. I believe I paid 4 euros for admission. You must go up a grand staircase to view exhibits. Also check out the lovely gardens on the side of the complex. If you found my review helpful, please click on "yes." Thanks.
Written May 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

255100Max
Melbourne, Australia132 contributions
Jun 2011 • Couples
It is obvious that this museum is low on the tourist totem-pole. Not many people seem to know about it. A shame but I'm sure that will change in time. We sometimes go there to dodge the large tourist crowds at the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. This palace is truly historic having been a residence since the 14th century, housing the likes of Templars to members of the Royal Family. After it was rebuilt in 1705, Napoleon III changed it into the Museum of French History and it has remained as such to this day. It is a serene place where you can wander unimpeded by big crowds and enjoy the architecture and exquisite furnishings of bygone eras. Often, it will have an important exhibition. One of the most interesting was the rebellion in the Latin Quarter in 1968 and how the French Presidents reacted to it. The Declaration of Human Rights is also on exhibit there. A truly fascinating day.
Tips:Friendly staff and easy on the pocket, only a four euro tariff. What great value! Give yourself two to three hours.
Written February 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JRM
Penetanguishene, Canada91 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
This attraction is awesome both in its setting (one of the finest old buildings in Paris in the heart of the Marais district) and in its scope (the illumination of French history through the display of important original documents). Yet it remains underwhelming in the best sense of the word: the documents on display are never so numerous that one risks experiencing museum fatigue. The documents are housed in display cases featuring explanations of the significance of the documents and the place they hold in nearly 1400 years of French history. Content plus context allows casual visitors and serious history buffs alike to take away something from even a brief visit. The museum also sponsors excellent temporary expositions themed upon particular events (this year, "1968 les archives de pouvoir) which focuses on the events of May 1968 in Paris. The museum is never very crowded and, as an added bonus, you are withing walking distance of several other excellent museums (Musee Carnavalet, Musee Picasso), venerable and pleasant churches (Eglise St Louis-St Paul, Eglise des Blancs Manteaux) and worthwhile diversions (Places des Vosges, rue des Rosiers, the old Jewish Quarter and Place de la Bastille).
Written September 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

savvyworldtraveler
New York City, NY395 contributions
May 2015
The Hôtel de Soubise in the Marais houses the Salon du Prince, which is on the ground floor and is worth seeing, even if it's in rather desperate need of a considerable amount of renovation work. But ascend the grand staircase and you'll come to the Salon de la Princesse, a Rococo masterpiece that is one of the most beautiful rooms in the city and which is alone worth the trip to the Hôtel de Soubise. There are very few original 18th century period rooms in Paris that can compare with the Salon de la Princesse and none that are more beautiful. If you go, take a short walk up the Rue Vieille du Temple to the Hôtel Carnavalet, which houses the Musée de la Ville de Paris, for a comprehensive history of the great city in another grand hôtel particulier.
Written August 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Johnpalfrey
Chicago, IL67 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
I very much enjoyed a short visit to the national archives in Paris. They had on a good exhibit on the ill treatment of women in France, from a Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette to more recent times, with documents from French history accessible for viewing.
Written March 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisamarie P
Petaluma, CA21 contributions
Jun 2015
If you do not see enough teeth (I.E. Smiles) aimed at you in Paris because you are a tourist go here! Smiles galore from the French. They assume you are French or truly appreciative of their history since this is not on most touristy agendas. It should be! Especially touching to see such documents as Marie Antoinettes last letter written to her sister in law. So emotional you must take this journey. Magnifique!
Written July 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Glowach_Family
Northwest Territories, Canada105 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
Want to see documents with Napoleon's original signature? The declaration documents for the Suez Canal? What a wedding was like in the 1500's? Wander through a prince's palace? And do it all with no crowds anywhere in stunning settings? Don't miss these National Archives. Congratulations to France for allowing the public to view these incredible treasures. You guys sure know how to do public spaces well.
Written June 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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National Archives (Paris) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about National Archives

National Archives is open:
  • Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Sat - Sun 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
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