Little Known Museums in and Around Paris

A practical guide to 30 often-overlooked museums in and around Paris, from the romantic and exotic to the eccentric and humorous. A profile of each museum is included, with photographs of significant features, and information such as address and phone number, opening times and travel directions.

Those who seek something off the beaten path in Paris need look no further: Rachel Kaplan has uncovered some 30 museums, ranging from the grand--Alexandre Dumas's Monte-Cristo Estate--to the quaint, such as the Fan Museum, which houses nearly 800 French fans. Of the Museum of the Institute of the Arab World, Kaplan remarks, "[it] contains a precious legacy which not only helps to illuminate the past, but also enhances our understanding of many current advances we may have come to take for granted. Its handsome and well-documented displays of sumptuous woven rugs and textiles, richly embroidered costumes, ceramics and scientific instruments, confirm that without the influence of Arabic art and science, the world as we know it today would be a very different place." With beautiful color photographs and affectionate commentary, Little-Known Museums in and Around Paris is the perfect tonic for travelers with the "been there, done that" blues. --Jhana Bach