Visiting the Cité de l'Histoire
Opened in January 2023 beneath the esplanade of La Défense, just steps from the Grande Arche, the Cité de l'Histoire sits somewhere between a museum, a cultural space, and a performance venue. We have included it in our list of the best museums to visit with the family. You will find various projections, performances, and immersive exhibits that transport you through different eras of history.
The Amaclio Productions touch
A surprising site in the heart of the famous business district west of Paris, the Cité de l'Histoire is produced by Amaclio Productions, a company specialized in promoting history and heritage through new technologies. Founded in 2012 by François Nicolas, who is passionate about history and literature, and Bruno Seillier, a screenwriter and director, Amaclio Productions gained recognition for shows like the Nocturnes de l'Abbaye and the Nuit aux Invalides.
Shows to see and experience
Whether you are with friends or family, you will find several activities on-site:
- The immersive path La Clé des Siècles: equipped with an audio guide, you walk through 17 rooms that trace 12 centuries of history by recreating realistic settings and having you interact with actors.
- The timeline Le Couloir du Temps: a large gallery you can explore at your own pace, billed as the largest chronological frieze in the world. Using tablets placed along the gallery, you can choose to project up to 400 pieces of content onto the wall, covering key events in human history since antiquity.
- The 360-degree Ellipse Au Temps des Mousquetaires (temporary exhibit): in a large elliptical room, a 15-minute computer-generated film is projected 360 degrees around you, telling the story of the Musketeers.
- Related to this temporary exhibit, you can attend a mini-play where 2 actors perform a sword fight between Athos the Musketeer and his ex-wife, Milady. You can even take an introductory sword lesson.
Ticket pricing for the Cité de l'Histoire
You can easily book your entry for the date and time slot of your choice on Tiqets.com. Here are the details and conditions for the different rates*:
- Full price ticket at 23,99 EUR (about $26).
- Reduced price ticket at 18,99 EUR (about $21) for minors aged 8 to 17, students, job seekers, and holders of a monthly or annual Navigo pass.
- Free entry for children 7 and under.
* Indicative prices, subject to change.
What else is there to see?
This massive cultural space also includes a free-access bookstore with hundreds of books and comics on the theme of history, a gift shop selling souvenirs and items related to history, culture, and heritage, and a cafeteria for a snack on-site or to go.
Finally, the venue also hosts another activity that requires a separate, specific ticket: Eternelle Notre-Dame, a 45-minute immersive virtual reality experience that transports you through 800 years of history of the famous cathedral in Paris.
Opening hours
*Information subject to change
The place is not uninteresting, but it is a bit expensive for what you get. There are a lot of things to see on screens and a few scenes performed by actors, but not enough relative to the price paid.