The museums of Paris: quantity, quality and diversity

As a cultural capital par excellence, Paris is brimming with world-class museums. While enjoying the various attractions of one of the most tourist-oriented cities in the world, visitors should also find time to explore an astonishingly diverse cultural universe in which pride of place is given to the arts, literature and history.

Temples of culture and knowledge

With nearly 150 museums spread throughout the various districts of Paris, the city can justly claim to be a world centre of heritage, history and the fine arts. Painting or sculpture, contemporary or primitive arts; whatever your tastes or interests you will find a museum, or even several, to cater to them. To make the absolute most of your holiday or quick break in the midst of this cultural treasure-house, you need to choose the ideal hotel, and Les Tournelles is perfectly situated to be your home base and starting point for excursions throughout the capital. Set in the heart of historical Paris, in the Marais district, our hotel is within easy reach of world-famous institutions such as the Louvre, the Pompidou Centre, the Picasso Museum and the Arts and Crafts Museum. The City of Paris organises regular exhibitions and events that place the spotlight on many national museums, but also on smaller and more intimate places devoted to a particular subject. With many museums being family-friendly, there is plenty of scope for enjoyment for all ages, and several remain open well into the evenings or during holidays, including the Arts and Crafts Museum, the Jacquemart-André Museum and the Louvre.

Louvre Museum

Paris museums you should not miss

With their permanent collections and periodic or regular exhibitions, the museums of Paris are perfect places for broadening your horizons and deepening your knowledge. Some are free, while others charge a fee for admission, but all comprise a rich cultural repository that is unequalled anywhere in the world. The Hotel Les Tournelles, in the heart of the historic centre of our great metropolis, is well situated to allow convenient access to such world-class museum facilities as the National Archives in the Marais, where the Museum of the History of France can be found; or the Bibliothèque Historique of the City of Paris, close to the Saint-Paul Metro station. In fact, the district has a wealth of historical and cultural landmarks, many of which are a must-see, including the stunning Centre Pompidou, where you can find the National Museum for Modern Art, which is among the most visited art museums in the world. Finally, the Carnavalet Museum, dedicated to the history of the city, is only 200m from the hotel. Here you can discover the story of Paris from its Gallo-Roman origins through to the birth of the Republic and on to the 20th century. A stay at the Hotel Les Tournelles will allow you to discover the cultural face of the city.

Les Tournelles, a 3 star hotel with historical charm, an exclusive address in the heart of the Marais