Musee des Antiques Nationales and.....

[joan1]

Musee des Antiquites Nationales Musee de la Mode et du Textile.
Has anyone been to these?
I am interested in some different museums for my next trip. I am not into modern or abstract art or scultures,, I prefer relics , medival prefered. I also like the idea of a costume museum.
In London one of my favorite sites was in fact the National Portrait Museum,, is there a similar in Paris??

Also, from what I understand the Musee de la Mode et du Textile is a temporary exhibit in the Lourve?? I am a bit confused about this, the web site I found did not have a translation so I struggled with it, managed to get hours and days of opening, but it mentioned it was a temp exhibit but I couldn't find the actual dates open .

Any help or suggestions welcome.
PS I have been to the Cluny.

[arrowcapet]

When you ask about the Musee des Antiquites Nationale, do you mean the one at St Germain-en-Laye? If you do, I think the whole trip is definitely worth the visit. St Germain-en-Laye is a wonderful old chateau that sits on the banks of the Seine, perched high on the edge of slightly cliff-like part of the country-side. The view from there of Paris is really unparalleled, especially if you get their early in the morning before the haze and smog take over. The gardens are marvelous, and you can sneak a visit to the Pavillon Henri IV, which is on the grounds, and is the very place where Louis XIV was born. The museum itself is no longer called the national antiquities museum, it's now the Musee d'Archeologie Nationale. You can visit their website at www.musee-archeologienationale.fr/ and it'll give you some info on the place. The museum has never been anything that's excited me to any great degree, but the visit on the whole is one of the best ever, and I really think it's something everyone should do at least once. It's very easy to get to by taking the RER A in the direction of St. Germain-en-Laye to the end of the line. When you arrive, you take the stairs up and you're practically in the parc....just follow the signs for the chateau. It is a place very much like the Louvre in the sense that you can still get a glimpse of what the palace was like if you look beyond the exhibits, but you won't find it dolled up like Versailles. I really do love the place.

[joan1]

Wow, that sounds absolutely wonder Arrow( I exalted you for such a great reply!), I think I must look into this place.
I went on the web site, and unfortunately with my poor french ( and I did not see a translation emblem) I found it heavy going, I would have loved to understand more of the history, sounded ( what I could understand) fascinating!
I wonder, did it offer the usaul brochure in english? Or perhaps an audio guide, do you recall?
Is there a little town about the chateau? How long is the train ride there?
Anyways thanks for reply.

[arrowcapet]

joan1, the train ride is less than 30 minutes from central Paris (the RER A line does split so you want to be sure you get on the right train to St-Germain-en-Laye), but just like the RER to Versailles, it's the last stop on the line, so it's hard to miss. There is a very nice town surrounding the chateau that's wonderful to stroll through, have lunch, etc. I think if you go, you'll find it easy to spend several hours wondering the museum, the gardens, and even the town if you're so inclined. It's not much more information, but you can check the RMN website in English and they have a little info about the place. I'm pretty certain there are guides in English once you're there...I think I still have one somewhere. RMN's site on SGEL is www.rmn.fr/gb/02musees/01presentation/index.html

[joan1]

thanks Arrow, I will keep this page . !

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

This is why I really love this forum -- I've never heard of this before, and it just got bumped up to must-see status.

[GitteK]

ArrowCapet - thank you ! I have St.Germain-en-Laye on my list already, but I will hurry and make a note that I must go out there early in the morning. Have never been there before, so I look forward to it very much.

[frederickwentworth]

Hello all,
The park in St. Germain is one of the finest places on a fine day--the famous "terrasse" designed by Le Nôtre has a glorious view as described above. For those who love history it is also a place rich in memories. After the Glorious Revolution (1688) this is where the Stuart King James II was given asylum by Louis XIV until his death in 1701 (he is buried in the church). His son, the Old Pretender, lived in St. Germain till 1713 when the Peace of Utrecht forced L XIV to refuse him asylum. His court was reputed to be the gloomiest in Europe. His entourage is believed to have brought freemasonry to France and to be the at the origin of the creation of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The chateau itself has a beautiful Renaissance courtyard and the gothic chapel may interest some of you. The museum of antiquities (prehistory to the Gauls) is one of the most important in the world but not one of the most popular.
Yours
FW

[greyghost1]

If you like artifacts give the Perfecture de Police museum @ 4 rue Montagne St-Genevieve a try. It even has a real guillotine blade encased in plastic. It contains police uniforms, pictures and stuff from the establishment of the General Police Lieutenancy -15 March 1667- to the present. We spent almost 3 hours there.

Also, if there is an exhibit, visit one of my fovourite museums: The Foundation Pierre Berge Yves Saint-Laurent @ 5 avenue Marceau, 16e. When it has a dress exhibit it is always a fabulous one!

I'm not sure but if you mean the Les Arts Decoratifs, part of the Louvre, it usually has an excellent advertising exhibit and some wonderful clothing and textiles on display. GitteK calls it a brocante museum.

[cybee]

Welcome and thanks, Frederickwentworth! I love hearing the history of the park/chateau in St. Germain-en-Laye! Combined with Arrow's description thereof, I would really love to visit the place! Paris/France has a fascinating history of which I have only recently really been learning! Frederick, what a great new member you are with such wonderful info and insight! I think now we are 102 strong!

[Jody]

I'll atttest to the worthiness of a trip to St Germain en Laye. It was one of my favorite day trips. The chateau/museum is terrific ...and FREE! We enjoyed walking along the romenade and seeing Paris from afar. The park statutes were shrouded up for winter when we were there. I'd never seen that before. The walk thru the gardens was still enjoyable.

We had an excellent visit to the town. It was a market day so all the stalls were open and busy. Also many shops were opem. There were several nice cafes for lunch and as it was a Sunday, we visited the church after services were over.