Menus, transit tickets, flyers, or receipts: all small pieces of paper that we would normally have thrown away without a second thought. Yet, more than a century later, they tell a different story of Paris. In the heart of the Marais, the Historical Library of the City of Paris preserves hundreds of thousands of them. During Heritage Days, the archives—usually closed to the public—open their doors to reveal a Paris we’ve forgotten.
500,000 little snippets of Parisian life
A broth menu, a tram ticket, a department store receipt: since 1903, the Historical Library of the City of Paris (BHVP) has been collecting what it calls “ephemeral documents”—printed materials that no one intended to keep. Today there are nearly 500,000 of them: flyers, catalogs, invitations, programs, announcements, and transit tickets.
What was a day in Paris like 100 years ago?
By delving into these archives, one can almost piece together an entire day. One can imagine a Parisian from the early 20th century reading a bouillon menu, then strolling past the department store windows, before tucking the metro or tram ticket into his pocket to take him home. The BHVP also preserves documents from old Parisian restaurants and several boxes filled with transit tickets.
Papers meant to be thrown away have become part of our heritage
That is the paradox of this collection. At the time, these documents had no value; they were destined for the trash immediately after use. But brought together a century later, they tell the story of a Paris that monuments do not reveal: shops that have disappeared, outings, consumer habits, and everyday journeys.
The storage areas open for Heritage Days
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, the BHVP is organizing six one-hour guided tours of its storage areas, which are closed to the public the rest of the year. Visitors will get a behind-the-scenes look at this repository of Parisian history and the spaces where the collections are stored. The tour is free, but reservations are required.
Practical Information
Location: Historical Library of the City of Paris, 24 rue Pavée, Paris 4th arrondissement
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Admission: free