Culture for Cheapskates in Paris

Although some culturally enriching activities in Paris can be a bit pricey, the city boasts an impressive array of museums that are free of charge to the public. Now there are even more museums on this list, thanks to a new program initiated by France's culture minister, which will see 14 museums across the country forgo admission fees to their permanent collections from January 2008 until the end of June. Designed to make culture more accessible to everyone, if the results of this test run are positive, even more museums may be free in the future. For now, get out there and enjoy some free culture at the three participating Paris museums -- the Musée Guimet, the Musée des Arts ets Métiers, and the Musée national du Moyen Âge -- as well as a few more that are always free to the public.

Musée National du Moyen Âge

6, Place Paul Painlevé
75005 5ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France

[link]

N 48° 51.943 E 2° 20.38821

Musée Guimet

Place d'Iéna
75116 16ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France

[link]

N 48° 51.54968 E 2° 17.40210

Musée Curie

11, Rue Pierre et Marie Curie
75005 5ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France

[link]

N 48° 50.40506 E 2° 20.37967

Musée Cognacq-Jay

8, Rue Elzévir
75003 3ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France

[link]

N 48° 51.29491 E 2° 21.41130

Musée Cernuschi

7, Avenue Vélasquez
75008 8ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France

[link]

N 48° 52.47139 E 2° 18.44369

Musée des Arts et Métiers

60, rue Réamur, 75003 Paris, France

Possibly the only science museum in the world housed in a former monastery, the Musée des Arts et Métiers is a treasure trove of technological marvels, including … antique photographic equipment, original metric weights and measures, and early computer systems. The sanctuary of the monastery church is filled with vintage cars and airplanes and hosts a replica of the pendulum devised by French scientist Jean Foucault to prove the rotation of the earth. [link]

N 48° 52.1711 E 2° 21.16545