The Musée de la Préfecture de Police, immerse yourself in history and police investigations

Created in 1909 by Louis Lépine, the Musée de la Préfecture de Police has its origins in the exhibits collected for the 1900 Universal Exhibition. In his desire to bring the police closer to the population, the Prefect of Police of the time wanted to show the human face of the police force through portraits and heritage objects. It was thanks to Louis Lépine, Alfred Rey and Louis Féron that the museum was born, and inaugurated on December 20, 1909. Originally located at 36 quai des Orfèvres, it moved to rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in 1975, where it can still be visited today.

Over the years, the museum's collections have been enriched by :

• The Macé donation: Gustave Macé, former head of security, bequeathed precious exhibits detailed in his memoir "Mon musée criminel".
  
• The Péchard donation: Charles Péchard, police commissioner, donated a rich collection of weapons, police equipment and robbery-related instruments.
  

Today, the Musée de la Préfecture de Police showcases the rich holdings of the Archives de la Préfecture de Police and the Service de la Mémoire et des Affaires Culturelles (SMAC). But that's not all. There is also an exhibition tracing the history of the police force from its creation in 1667 by Louis XIV to the present day. Particular emphasis is placed on the creation of the Prefecture of Police by Bonaparte in 1800, as well as on major Parisian criminal cases.

Key cases include

• The assassination of Henri IV in 1610
• The Poisons affair
• The assassination attempt on Louis Philippe in 1835
• The Violette Nozière affair
• The crimes of Henri-Désiré Landru and Doctor Petiot

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Discover also the professions of the Prefecture of Police, which since the 17th century have played a crucial role in maintaining order and protecting citizens. What's more, the museum, having inaugurated a new space in 2020, is dedicating a section to the technical and scientific police. A special mention is reserved for Alphonse Bertillon, a pioneer of forensic science who revolutionized identification methods.

To sum up, a visit to the Musée de la Préfecture de Police is to plunge into a rich history, discover the behind-the-scenes of famous cases and understand the evolution of police techniques. A unique experience not to be missed on your visit to Paris. And with free admission, there's no excuse not to go!

The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please note that although the museum is free of charge, online reservations are required for all visits.