Science & Technology Museum · 3rd Arrondissement · Marais
Musée des Arts et Métiers & the Paris Museum Pass
80,000 objects tracing the history of science and invention — from Pascal’s calculating machine to Blériot’s aeroplane — in a remarkable medieval priory.
Individual ticket
€12
With Museum Pass
Included
Timed slot
Not required
Open
Tue–Sun
Hours
10am–6pm (9:30pm Thu)
Last updated: February 2026 · Prices and details verified
Is the Musée des Arts et Métiers included in the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers full entry to the Musée des Arts et Métiers, saving you €12 per person. No reservation required — walk in Tuesday to Sunday. One of the most underrated and uncrowded pass venues in Paris.
Musée des Arts et Métiers — Fast Facts
Address
60 Rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris
Nearest Metro
Arts et Métiers (Metro 3 & 11) — directly outside (Metro 3, 11)
Bus
20, 38, 39, 47
Opening hours
Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm · Thursday until 9:30pm · Closed Monday, 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Closed
Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Individual ticket
€12 (2026)
With Museum Pass
Free — included
What to Know Before You Visit
Founded in 1794 by Abbé Grégoire as a repository of ‘new and useful inventions’, the Musée des Arts et Métiers is one of the oldest science and technology museums in the world. It occupies the former priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs — a medieval religious complex whose Gothic church now houses the transport and aviation collection, with early aircraft hanging from the vaulted ceiling. The juxtaposition of medieval architecture and industrial machinery is extraordinary.
No reservation required. No reservation required. Walk in at 60 Rue Réaumur, Tuesday to Sunday. The museum is consistently uncrowded — one of the most relaxed major pass venues in Paris. The Arts et Métiers Metro station (lines 3 and 11) is itself designed as an extraordinary Jules Verne-inspired Nautilus submarine — worth seeing even if you don’t enter the museum.
Note: The Arts et Métiers Metro station (lines 3 and 11, exit right outside the museum) was redesigned in 1994 with copper cladding, portholes, and a submarine aesthetic inspired by Jules Verne — one of the most spectacular Metro stations in Paris. Thursday late opening until 9:30pm. Foucault’s Pendulum is on permanent display — a replica of the original 1851 demonstration.
Collection Highlights
Seven collection areas span scientific instruments, materials, energy, mechanics, construction, communication and transport — from the 17th century to the present.
Highlight 1
Pascal’s Pascaline (1642)
one of the world’s first mechanical calculating machines, built by Blaise Pascal at age 18 to help his father with tax calculations
Highlight 2
Blériot XI aeroplane
the actual plane flown by Louis Blériot on the first cross-Channel flight in 1909, displayed in the Gothic church nave among other early aircraft
Highlight 3
Foucault’s Pendulum
a replica of Léon Foucault’s 1851 pendulum that demonstrated the Earth’s rotation, displayed beneath the priory’s medieval vaulting
Visitor tip: The Gothic church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs (the transport gallery) is the single most dramatic room in the museum — early aircraft hanging from medieval vaulting, including Blériot’s Channel-crossing plane. Start here while you’re fresh.
Getting There
Metro 3 or 11 to Arts et Métiers — the station exits directly onto the museum plaza. From central Paris (Châtelet) take Metro 11 — 4 stops, about 8 minutes. Coming from Gare du Nord, take Metro 5 to République then Metro 3 one stop.
Ready to Visit Musée des Arts et Métiers?
€12 entry included with the Museum Pass. Plus 50+ more venues across Paris.
No — it is consistently one of the quietest major pass venues in Paris. Unlike the Louvre or Orsay, you can visit at any time without queues. This makes it an excellent choice on days when central Paris museums feel overwhelming, or as a late afternoon add-on to a Marais day.
The Arts et Métiers station on Metro lines 3 and 11 was redesigned in 1994 by Belgian comic artist François Schuiten with copper cladding, brass portholes, and geared mechanisms — inspired by Jules Verne’s Nautilus submarine. It is one of the most spectacular Metro stations in Paris and worth experiencing even if you don’t visit the museum. Take line 11 for the full submarine effect.
1.5 to 2 hours covers the key highlights across all seven collection areas. The Gothic church transport gallery (with Blériot’s plane) deserves 30 minutes alone. The full museum can take 3 hours for thorough coverage. Audio guides are available in 8 languages and significantly enhance the visit by explaining how individual objects work.
