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This museum is dedicated to Paris’s most successful and most glamorous industry – fashion. The permanent collection features clothing from the 17th century up to the haute couture designers of today, and gowns that once belonged to royalty and celebrities are on show. The history and creation of various fabrics and textiles is also well presented through themed exhibitions that change every six months.

Head-shrinking, tattooing and mummification are some of mankind’s more unusual rituals, explored in this ethnological and anthropological museum housed in the Palais de Chaillot. The collection of artifacts dates back to 3.5 million years BC, and ranges from Africa to South America, to Asia and the Pacific (see Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle).

The Museum of Eroticism, appropriately located between the sex shows and cabarets of Pigalle, is a fascinating look at erotic art from around the world. Paintings, carvings, drawings, sculpture and other items illustrate how different cultures portray sex as either spiritual, satirical, humorous or titillating.

Montmartre has long been home to the artists of Paris and several of them have lived in this old house, including Renoir, Dufy and Utrillo. Artifacts from the 19th century are on display, to help conjure up the era, along with posters, maps and documents on the house’s history. The garden also gives good views of the surrounding district.

On the fourth floor of the east wing is a collection of relief models of French towns showing the development of fortifications from the 17th century onwards.

French and Italian sculpture, Greek and Roman antiquities and paintings from the 12th to 19th centuries are just some of the highlights of the world’s largest museum.

Works of the French artist Aristide Maillol, including his drawings, engravings, paintings and plastercasts, are the focal point of this museum which was created by his model, Dina Vierny. Works by Rodin and Picasso are also on display.

The Impressionist paintings of Claude Monet are the star attraction at this museum, featuring some 165 works donated by his son and perhaps the finest collection of his works in the world. They include a series of his late waterlily paintings. Other Impressionist and Realist painters are also represented, and there is a fine collection of illuminated medieval manuscripts.