Monnaie de Paris

You are standing before the Monnaie de Paris, or the Paris Mint. This neoclassical palace on the Left Bank is the oldest continuously operating institution in France, dating back to eight hundred sixty-four when King Charles the Bald established it to unify the kingdom's currency. For over twelve centuries, this site has served as the center of French monetary authority, surviving revolutions, wars, and the transition from hand-hammered coins to modern industrial production. It remains a rare example of a working factory located in the heart of a major world capital, preserving an ancient tradition of craftsmanship that has survived into the twenty-first century.