3 air-conditioned museums to escape the heat without escaping culture

In summer, Paris can quickly turn into a furnace. If you’re looking to escape the heat while keeping your dose of art and inspiration, some museums offer a double promise: well-adjusted air conditioning and intelligent programming.
Here are three places where you can breathe easier… both intellectually and physically.

The Musée Cernuschi: Asian treasures and cool contemplation

Located a stone’s throw from the Parc Monceau, in a 19th-century mansion, the Musée Cernuschi houses one of Europe’s finest collections of Asian art.
The permanent exhibition, free of charge, features monumental Buddhist statues, Japanese prints and Chinese ritual objects in a subdued, temperate atmosphere.

In summer 2025, the temporary exhibition “Art and Power in Imperial China” (until September 22) offers an erudite insight into the relationship between politics and aesthetics, through 150 rare works.
The scenography highlights the pieces without overloading the eye.
An excellent choice for those seeking a cool, calm introduction to these cultures.

📍Musée Cernuschi, 7 Av. Velasquez, 75008 Paris

The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature: an unexpected museum experience… with air-conditioning

This museum in the Marais district of Paris is as fascinating as it is disconcerting. Far from clichés, it reflects on our relationship with nature, animals and the symbolic violence of hunting.
Ancient works (tapestries, rifles, cabinets of curiosities) interact with bold contemporary installations.

This summer, the “Loup, y es-tu?” exhibition explores the figure of the wolf in the collective Western imagination, between ancestral fear and romantic fascination.
The entire tour is offered in a perfectly air-conditioned environment, allowing visitors to take full advantage of a place that is both dense and immersive.

📍Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris

The Musée Bourdelle: a sanctuary of sculpture and freshness

Not very popular with tourists, the Musée Bourdelle offers a haven of artistic peace in the 15th arrondissement.
The former studio of sculptor Antoine Bourdelle has been transformed into a museum of his monumental works, drawings and period furniture.

At present, the exhibition “Bourdelle et la matière” (until October 20, 2025) questions the link between sculpture and architecture through a sober, almost meditative staging.
The rooms are spacious, silent and carefully air-conditioned.
The interior garden, shaded and accessible, prolongs the visit in a contemplative atmosphere rare in Paris.

📍Musée Bourdelle, 18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015 Paris

Culture and air conditioning: a precious alliance in Paris

In the heat of the day, these museums offer a rare luxury: coolness, silence and a true cultural interlude. Enter to cool off, stay to reflect.
These three places prove that you can be cultured in Paris in the middle of August, without suffocating or queuing.

You’ll have no excuse to avoid museums this summer.
And if you get there early, you’ll almost have them all to yourself.

For more ideas for refreshing outings : Our summer 2025 selection on Paris Select