Perhaps the Arab World Institute would not be an obvious choice for tourists first visiting Paris. After all, Paris has many world-famous monuments and museums illustrating centuries of French contributions to both culture and architecture. Still, a spare hour or two should be saved for this relatively new museum, opened in 1987 along the Seine River near the University of Jussieu. The building itself is unique, architecturally representing concepts of both the Orient and the Occident and constructed of glass and aluminum. Stairs within the museum connect the three floors, while glass elevators take visitors to the ticket and information booths on level zero and lavatories on level negative one.
Street level is on the first floor.
As in many museums, all exhibit inscriptions are in French. More than 600 items illustrate the history an art of the Arabic-Islamic World, including sculpture, ceramics, carpets and more. Don t miss the collection of astrolobes, mathematical jewels demonstrating the development of Arab science during the Middle Ages. These shiny gold discs appear to hang as if suspended in thin air. Also save time for the collection of carpets of every color and design hanging on the fourth floor.