The factory was relocated to its current site in Sèvres in 1756 by Madame de Pompadour to be closer to the royal residences.
The signature 'Sèvres blue' (bleu céleste) was a high-temperature glaze developed specifically for the royal manufacture.
The institution remains an active production site, still manufacturing porcelain for French state institutions and embassies.
The museum holds a permanent collection of both historical Sèvres porcelain and extensive Asian ceramics donated throughout its history.
Many of the kilns onsite are designated as protected historic monuments.
The factory famously transitioned from soft-paste porcelain to hard-paste porcelain in the late 18th century to match Chinese quality.
It is one of the few places in the world that maintains continuous traditional porcelain production methods since the mid-1700s.
The Manufacture nationale de Sèvres is a historic porcelain production site founded in 1740, now housing the Cité de la céramique museum. The museum displays a collection of over 50,000 objects ranging from ancient pottery to contemporary ceramic art. Visitors can view the technical workshops where master craftspeople continue to use 18th-century firing techniques. The site preserves a significant heritage of European decorative arts under the administration of the French Ministry of Culture. Galleries are organized to highlight the evolution of ceramic technology and aesthetic trends through the centuries. The site also serves as a research center for ceramic material science and conservation. It functions as both a living workshop for production and a public exhibition space.
The rotunda entrance area which features large-scale ceramic installations and historic architectural elements.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Parc de Saint-Cloud for a full day experience.
Check the official website for scheduled demonstration days to see artisans working in the factory wings.
Photography is generally allowed without flash, but check specific signage in sensitive temporary exhibition rooms.
Attempting to visit without checking for temporary exhibition closures, which occasionally require specific gallery access.
Closed on Tuesdays.
