Musée

A view inside the Arab World Institute

The French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing was behind the project of the Arab World Institute construction at the heart of Paris. Thus, he wanted to lighten the relations between France and Arab countries bringing the two cultures closer. The building was inaugurated in 1987 under the chairmanship of François Mitterrand.

The Institute shelters permanent collections and regularly organises temporary expositions allowing the visitors to discover all the sides of Arab culture throughout works of art.

Much more than a museum, the AWI also offers performances and animations, a vocation school for Arabic, a shop and a significant library.

Being mere curious or passionate about Arab civilisation, we advise you to choose a room in the Helzear hotel, just a few steps from the Arab World Institute, with the aim of discovering or making your knowledge deeper.

Pour aller plus loin...

From the thinker to “Les Bourgeois de Calais”

Born in 1840 Auguste Rodin represents one of the most famous French carvers and often he is considered as the pioneer of the modern carving. He has brought with success the realism of his works with a touch of romance and of impressionism, playing with the light, shining the shapes. Auguste Rodin was really productive… Read more »

When everything means luxury and fineness

So youngly Guccio Gucci developed competences within the fashion field and came nearer the luxury world working into palaces. In 1921 Gucci’s brand was founded and a first shop opened in Florence offered saddlery products, luggage and riding accessories. This first shop was followed by many others and the brand branched out quickly.

An unavoidable stop in Montparnasse

The Rotonde opened its doors at the beginning of the 20th century at the corner of Montparnasse and Raspail Boulevards. From being a little bar full of blue-collared workers quickly it became a crucial address in Paris for writers and artists, then it was common to meet Picasso, Modigliani, Apollinaire or Jean Cocteau. The Rotonde… Read more »