My collection of museum cards started with my discovery of the Passion Monuments card. An annual subscription that allows you unlimited visits to the National Monuments of France? Count me in! Since then I have picked up subscriptions to the Louvre museum (because why not?) and the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (hello members only hour!). But the card I have used the most by far is my subscription to the Paris Musées.
Introducing the Paris Musées
Paris has a lot of museums. Around 130 altogether, if you include the museums in Paris’ suburbs. Which I do. And most of these museums are independently owned and operated, either by non-profit or private organizations. However, there are 14 museums that can lay claim to being official City of Paris Museums, otherwise known as the Paris Musées.
The Paris Musées is a public institution that was incorporated in 2014 to oversee the management of these 14 museums, as well as to ensure that the cultural goals of the City of Paris are being achieved. The museums that fall under this entity include some of my favourite museums in Paris, such as the Musée Cernuschi, the Musée Carnavalet, and the Petit Palais. Which is why when I discovered the Paris Musées card, I subscribed right away.
The Paris Musées Card
If you have visited any of the museums I listed above, you may be wondering why I need a subscription at all. One of the mandates of the Paris Musées is making art and culture available to all. To this end, the permanent collections of the City of Paris museums are free to visit. Which is incredible. You could spend a week discovering all that the Paris Musées have to offer without having to spend a single euro. So why would I buy an annual subscription? The answer is easy. The temporary exhibitions.
As has been well documented on this site, I love visiting temporary exhibitions at museums. And the Paris Musées offer an extraordinary program of temporary exhibitions every year. I purchased my membership card last October, and since then, I have experienced over 20 different exhibitions. Exhibitions that featured artists from all over the world across a wide variety of time periods. I have seen paintings from 16th century Chinese monks and art installations by 21st century contemporary artists. I have discovered the history of fashion and learned about the lives of some of Paris’ most famous artists. And I have experienced more art in a year than I ever thought possible
Another Year, Another Card
It’s October again, and in looking back at the past year, I’m convinced that my Paris Musées card was the best money I’ve ever spent. I will absolutely be renewing my subscription, and I can’t wait to see what I discover in the year ahead. I’m sure it will be another great year of art, history, and culture.
Laura Moore is a professional storyteller who loves history and the many stories that make Paris one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Join one of her signature tours to learn the story of a city.
