Opened to the public in 2014, the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, chaired by Sophie Seydoux and dedicated to the conservation and promotion of the historical heritage of Pathé, is a must-visit spot for film buffs. It was set up in my neighborhood, on Avenue des Gobelins, on the site of a former performance venue, the Théâtre des Gobelins, in a new 2,200 m² building designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.
For the history books, built in 1869 by the architect Alphonse Cusin, the Théâtre des Gobelins was a very active cultural hub in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Its facade, which has been preserved to this day, is the work of Auguste Rodin and is actually listed as a historical monument. The theater, which was later converted into a cinema, the Gaumont Gobelins-Rodin, closed its doors in 2003. Today, the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé offers a wide range of activities and a very rich program of screenings centered around specific themes.
Fondation Jerome-Seydoux Pathé
73 avenue des Gobelins 75013 Paris
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Table of Contents
Architectural tour of the Renzo Piano building
Behind the Auguste Rodin facade, architect Renzo Piano built a five-story shell covered in 7,000 protective shutters. The tour invites you to discover the building with a guide who presents both the history of the building’s construction and the details of its architecture. At the end of the tour, a 26-minute film is screened in the Charles Pathé hall. It helps you understand the history of the construction of this extraordinary building, which was the result of a seven-year collaboration between Renzo Piano and the Foundation. A guided tour is organized every week to discover the treasures of the Pathé company and the work of Renzo Piano.
The little extra: access to the top floor of the Foundation, which is reserved for researchers and students during the week and allows you to admire the now-famous “glass shell,” characteristic of the Italian architect’s style.
Architecture Tours every Saturday at 12:00 PM
Tour price: 7 € / reduced 4.50 €
Tour duration: 1 hourOnline booking on the Foundation’s website
Visit the Gallery of Devices
This tour is free to access for every visitor attending a film screening at the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, but the Gallery of Devices can also be visited with an experienced guide every Thursday at 3:00 PM. At no extra cost, this guided tour provides a great understanding of the history of the 150 cinematographic devices exhibited in the gallery, their operation, and their evolution from 1897 to the 1980s.
Gallery of Devices
Tours every Thursday at 3:00 PM
Excluding school holidays and public holidays
Price for the guided tour and a film screening: 6.50 € / Reduced (students,
seniors 65+) 5 € / Child (-14 years) 4 €
Exhibitions/programs
The Invisible Construction Site: Behind the scenes of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s films (2026)
This exhibition is dedicated to the behind-the-scenes of the film sets of Jean-Jacques Annaud, a French filmmaker whom I love very much and whose films I have always greatly admired, most of which have left a lasting impression on me, such as The Lover, Quest for Fire, or The Name of the Rose. If you are a fan of his cinema, this exhibition really allows you to dive behind the scenes and discover the secrets of how Jean-Jacques Annaud’s films are made, the extreme technical challenges, as well as the cartography of this director without borders.
The Invisible Construction Site: Behind the scenes of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s films
From 03/20/2026 to 10/31/2026
Prices: 7€ / Reduced (students, seniors 65+) 5.50 € / Child (-14 years) 4.50 €
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Alexandre Dumas on screen (2023)
From March 22 to July 15, 2023, the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé honors the literary genius of Alexandre Dumas through a cycle of films and a unique exhibition, Alexandre Dumas on screen. This celebration coincides with the release of the long-awaited film The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan by Martin Bourboulon, scheduled for April 5, 2023 (at the time of writing, I haven’t seen the film yet, but I can’t wait).
The exhibition, dedicated to cinematic adaptations of Dumas’ works, presents numerous documents and film clips, as well as costumes, photographs… It’s the perfect opportunity to dive into the world of this master of literature, whose novels have inspired filmmakers from all over the world and showcased the greatest stars of their time (Gene Kelly, Isabelle Adjani, Leonardo Di Caprio…). You are quickly struck by the impressive richness of the cinematic work adapted from Dumas’ novels. Whether in a comedic or more dramatic style, across many countries, you discover that his stories have managed to touch a global audience.
Finally, special screenings (The Three Musketeers by George Sidney then by André Hunebelle, The Tower of Nesle by Noël Herpe, etc.) and lectures led by specialists enrich the event. The Foundation also offers workshops for young audiences, as well as a cine-show called “Cinéfables”. I highly recommend this exhibition, which shows the fascinating universality of Alexandre Dumas’ work.
Alexandre Dumas on screen
From March 22 to July 15, 2023
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Pathé-Rural exhibition, cinema in the countryside (2022)
Every means was used to bring cinema to every corner of the territory. Thus, in the 1920s, Pathé developed a small, highly portable, easy-to-use projector that allowed for the screening of 17.5mm film (i.e., half of a classic 35mm film) in places that were not equipped to show films (cafes, reception halls, etc.).
This small exhibition on two floors – one dedicated to projectors, magazines, and other documents about Pathé-Rural, and the other mainly showing posters – allows you to dive into the fascinating world of the craze for cinema at the beginning of the 20th century. Behind the public authorities’ desire to promote cinema throughout France, there was also undeniably a commercial interest for Pathé. Nevertheless, thanks to this small projector in these makeshift cinemas, it allowed many people to discover cinema and the great films of its time (as well as newsreels). A must-see!
Pathé-Rural exhibition, cinema in the countryside
From April 21 to July 13, 2022
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Henri Caruel exhibition, cinema stereoscopy (2021/2022)
Starting October 7, 2021, the Foundation highlights a little-known set photographer, Henri Caruel, who from 1943 to 1953 practiced the very unique art of stereoscopy on film sets. What is hidden behind this complicated word? Simply a technique to give a 3D effect to images (yes, 3D has existed for a long time!). To see the photograph taken with this technique, you “just” need to look through a stereoscope and there you go!
Beyond the purely technical aspect, Henri Caruel demonstrates a beautiful visual sense through plays with perspectives and attention to detail. This small exhibition therefore sheds light on a talented but unfortunately forgotten photographer and allows us, the visitors, to dive into the worlds of Children of Paradise or Gates of the Night.
Little extra: you can also enjoy a special visit with breakfast and discovery of the exhibition!
Henri Caruel exhibition
From October 7, 2021 to January 1, 2022
Rates: 7€ / Reduced (students, seniors 65+) 5.50 € / Child (-14 years) 4.50 €
Breakfast / Exhibition visit: in the morning, enjoy a breakfast at the Studio followed by a visit to the “Henri Caruel” exhibition by members of the Foundation’s Collections team.
From 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM: welcome and breakfast / 9:30 AM: Visit (approx. 45min)
Rate 12€ by reservation
Upcoming dates: 20/10, 10/11, 24/11, 1/12, 15/12
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A program of Cine-Concerts dedicated to Buster Keaton, for the holiday season (2016)
After years of work, the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation, Lobster Films, and Arte have managed to restore all the silent short films (except one) of one of the pillars of comedy: Buster Keaton.
In addition to a DVD box set re-release and the upcoming broadcast on Arte, it is possible to see the short films, presented in a cine-concert, on the big screen at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation from December 19 to January 5, 2016. Each screening will also be accompanied by a pianist from Jean-François Zygel’s improvisation class, who will play live in the room. This is a dream opportunity to (re)discover the indefinable talent of the man who was said to never smile, but who still makes us smile and laugh out loud just as much.
Buster Keaton Cine-Concerts
From December 19, 2015 to January 5, 2016
Prices: standard 6.50 € / reduced (students, seniors 65+) 5 € / 1 ticket grants access to 1 cinema screening + exhibition areas
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
