About this episode

Oliver Gee shares his experience of visiting the Carnavalet Museum in Paris alone while awaiting the birth of his son.

C is for Carnavalet. Or should that be Kernevenoy?? In this episode, we dive into one of Paris's most overlooked treasures - the Carnavalet Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to the history of Paris. I share, for the first time, the story of visiting the newly renovated museum before it opened to the public - completely alone - while waiting for the birth of my first son. Plus: the strange story behind the museum's bizarre name, and the remarkable woman history forgot. The Carnavalet Museum: 23 rue de Sévigné (also entered from 16 rue des Francs-Bourgeois), 75003 Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm. Closed Mondays. Permanent collection is free. Metro: Saint-Paul (line 1) Official website: carnavalet.paris.fr Mentioned in this episode: The €56 million renovation that closed the museum for four and a half years before reopening in May 2021 Françoise de La Baume — the twice-widowed aristocrat who actually owned the building and whose husband's unpronounceable Breton name gave the museum its peculiar title Marcel Proust's cork-lined bedroom, Napoleon's death mask, and a 6,000-year-old canoe pulled from the Seine The music is from Pres Maxson. This episode brought to…

People in this episode

Host: Oliver Gee

Topics covered

• Carnavalet Museum
• Paris history
• personal story
• museum renovation
• cultural heritage

Sponsors

The Earful Tower Tours

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Marcel Proust's cork-lined bedroom, Napoleon's death mask, 6,000-year-old canoe

Places: Carnavalet Museum, Paris, Saint-Paul

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