THE NEW TRENDY PLACE?

Who has never dreamed of deciphering the major mechanisms of the global economy? You will perhaps answer us: “not me”… And to be honest, that’s a bit what we said to ourselves before visiting the brand new Cité de l’Economie… But that was “before ". We'll guide you!

The frame already.

When we create the first museum in Europe dedicated to the discipline, we do not skimp on resources. With an initial budget of 47 million euros, almost 100 million in the end, and an opening delayed by 5 years, we expected something grandiose. And indeed, to be sublime, the place is just breathtaking. We are here in a heritage setting, the emblematic building of the Bank of France in the 17^th arrondissement of Paris, a former private mansion -  the Hôtel Gaillard named after the wealthy banker who had it built in 1878 – a true masterpiece of neo-Renaissance architecture classified as a Historic Monument. A freestone palace, with its endless glass roofs, its arcades, columns, its ceilings decorated with chandeliers, its Gothic woodwork and dizzying staircases... 3,000 square meters of visit await us.

But then how, failing to teach us economics, are we going to be able to make us appreciate the subject here? A major challenge for the French who are not particularly sensitive to the issue according to recent international studies... Well undoubtedly with an interactive, educational and fun approach which will allow us to address the major questions of the global economy: the law of supply and demand, the question of currencies, wealth creation, economic crises or inflation...

Concretely, we will be able to create our own banknote in the “safe room”, protected by a moat and an armored door, we will be able to take a seat in the heart of the “council room” and set up negotiations on the energy during a role play which can quickly become lively and animated you will see. You will be invited to touch a gold ingot, a real one or to weigh a bar of barely 25cm of gold... and 12kg, hence the expression worth its weight in gold, you will relive the crisis of 1929, you you will initiate bartering by trying to feed baby birds without money, or you will put yourself in the shoes of a more or less understanding banker to grant – or not – loans to his broke clients. Don't miss certain treasures either, such as the golden shield of Saint Louis, minted in 1266, or the first franc of 1360, created to pay the ransom of King John the Good, prisoner of the English.

A new cultural place that you have to take the time to discover, at your own pace, so don't plan a visit between two shopping sessions...

This is a first in Europe: the economy comes to the museum. And contrary to what one might think at first glance, it is a place that aims to be educational and cultural where parents, like children, will be able to familiarize themselves with the financial world and even debate together around major themes such as as Europe, purchasing power or taxation. The City of Economy, such is its name, takes up a major challenge here: making the notions of finance and money more accessible and understandable for everyone and even, why not, making them loved by as many people as possible. Located in the heart of the 17th arrondissement of the capital, this ambitious project takes place within an exceptional historic monument of neo-Renaissance inspiration, the Hôtel Gaillard. It was the private home of the banker collector Émile Gaillard in the 19th century and a branch of the Bank of France in the 1920s. It is therefore over 2,400 m2 that the museum rooms, interactive devices and objects of collection.

Thanks to multimedia games, you will be put directly into a situation to understand economic mechanisms: playing the role of fishermen who must be productive while respecting natural maritime resources or managing the delicate problem of financing pensions. And for art lovers, coins and banknotes of inestimable value will also be discovered in the building's vault, surrounded by a moat and whose armored door measures more than 40 centimeters thick. The strong cabinets, which contained the treasures of rich families, are transformed into display cases to house some priceless pieces including a gold shield of Saint Louis struck in 1226, or the first franc of 1360 created to pay the ransom of King John the Good , prisoner of the English during the Hundred Years' War. It’s a safe bet that this new kind of museum will very quickly become a must-see in the capital.

The only museum dedicated to the economy in Europe, to make the notions of money and finances more accessible.

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