Musée des Arts et Métiers

Can't get enough antique steam turbine parts? Me neither! That's why we visited the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Arts and Professions) which has a collection of industrial tools and machinery, as well as exhibitions of French inventors and engineers such as Blaise Pascal, Leon Foucault, and the Lumìere brothers.

One of the museum's breathtaking examples of function, form, and beautiful simplicity.

It's actually a fascinating set of exhibitions on advances in the industrial age--from early lathes and weaving machines right up to nuclear reactors. The museum's Foucault pendulum and exhibitions on aviation and automotive history reside in the Abbaye Sainte-Martin-des-Champs, a former monastery established in the 8th century.

You'll come for the vintage dynamos, but stay for the homemade ultralight Grandpa Munster made down in his laboratory.


Comments

  1. Eric MendelsonMarch 13, 2023 at 10:10 PM

    What was the turbine used for?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paris WerewolfMarch 14, 2023 at 8:05 AM

      Good question. Too early for electrical production, I would guess.

      Delete

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