Musée des Arts et des Métiers
The Musée des Arts et Métiers (MuAM) is one of the oldest technical museums in the world. It is closely linked to the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Cnam), a public institution overseen by the Ministry for Higher Education and Research. Since 1794, its collections have continued to grow. The museum now holds nearly 80,000 objects and 15,000 drawings, bearing witness to scientific knowledge and technical progress. The visitor route is organised into seven sections: Scientific Instruments, Materials, Construction, Communication, Energy, Mechanics and Transport. It is housed in the former Saint-Martin-des-Champs priory, turned into a “temple” of technology by the French Revolution. Highlights include Jacques Alexandre Charles’s physics cabinet, Lavoisier’s laboratory, Vaucanson’s weaving loom, the Chappe telegraph, Cugnot’s steam wagon and Clément Ader’s Avion No. 3. Reopened in 2000 after renovation, the museum offers a rich cultural programme. It runs educational activities, lectures, temporary exhibitions and documentary resources on the history of technology.
