Audio GuideNational Archives Museum - Hôtel de Soubise

Welcome to the Musée des Archives Nationales at the Hôtel de Soubise. Situated in the historic Marais district of Paris, within the third arrondissement, this museum offers a unique journey into the tapestry of French history. Originally constructed as the Hôtel de Clisson in thirteen seventy-one, the building transitioned to become the Hôtel de Soubise, undergoing a grand transformation in seventeen oh five with exquisite Rococo detailing to serve the French aristocracy.

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Within its walls, an array of remarkable treasures awaits. Among these are Napoleon the First's will and the diary of Louis the Sixteenth, in addition to foundational constitutional papers and even a parchment from King Childebert the Third dating back to six hundred ninety-five. These artefacts have played pivotal roles in shaping France through epochs of royal and political change, each symbolising key moments in the nation's past.

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The museum was established in eighteen sixty-seven, under the reign of Napoleon the Third and the direction of Léon de Laborde, as a celebration of history conveyed through documents and art. Visitors can marvel at impressive rooms, such as the Salon Ovale de la Princesse, adorned with opulent gold leaf and crystal embellishments, and breathtaking ceiling frescoes by renowned artists like François Boucher, Charles-Joseph Natoire, and Carle Van Loo.

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Offering both a permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, the museum provides an ever-evolving perspective on archival practices and artistic flair. Visitors are invited to wander through these historic halls and delve into the cultural narrative that has been instrumental in shaping contemporary France.

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