On the 15th April 2010 the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts opened its doors at 222, Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris.

The Haussmanian building, found in the protected sector of the 7th arrondissment in Paris, has been entirely refurbished to provide a setting fit to host the written word of Proust, Hugo, Sand, Saint-Exupéry, Napoleon, Eisenhower, de Gaulle, Einstein, Edison, Delacroix, Van Gogh, Mozart, Beethoven and hundreds of other great historical figures.

Among the some 70,000 letters, manuscripts, autographs, sketches, drafts and first editions in the Museum’s collection, we have chosen to present to the public around one thousand of the most significant pieces across an area of 600 m2, in order to effectively illustrate the main themes covered over the course of a visit: history, science and discovery, literature, the arts and music. The presentation of the permanent collections is regularly refreshed in addition to the programme of temporary exhibitions also offered.

Each exhibit allows us to look at things from a new historical perspective and brings us palpably closer to their authors; men and women who have played such an important part in the history of humanity. Beyond the new knowledge that it brings, a letter or a handwritten manuscript can provoke unique emotions, as part of a truly satisfying experience.
The Museum of Letters and Manuscripts is a unique community venture entirely dedicated to the conservation and showcasing of the written word. The Museum’s collections are also made available to researchers as well as provincial and foreign museums via numerous loans and even ready-made exhibitions. This place so steeped in history and emotion allows us to embrace centuries of creativity, exchange of ideas, discovery and passion and to immerse ourselves in the stories, both on a large and small scale, which have shaped the time in which we live.