The Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) is a higher education establishment operated by the French government dedicated to providing education and conducting research for the promotion of science and industry. It has a large museum of inventions accessible to the public.

It was founded on October 10, 1794, during the French Revolution. It was first proposed by the abbot Henri Grégoire as a "depository for machines, models, tools, drawings, descriptions and books in all the areas of the arts and trades"[1]. The deserted priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs was selected as the site of collection, which formally opened in 1802.

Originally charged with the collection of inventions, it has since become an educational institution. At the present time, it is known primarily a continuing education school for adults seeking engineering degrees, proposing evening classes in a variety of topics.

The collection of inventions is now operated as the Musée des Arts et Métiers. The original Foucault pendulum was exposed in the collection, but was moved to the Panthéon in 1995.

External links

• Official website (in French)