Guests gathered around a workbench learning woodworking together in a hands-on workshop

Woodworking workshops in Paris

Learn joinery and carpentry from Parisian artisans in hands-on studio sessions.

About woodworking workshops in Paris

Paris’s Faubourg Saint-Antoine neighborhood has been home to woodworkers since the 15th century, when furniture makers settled outside the guild-controlled city center near the Bastille. That tradition of craft lives on today under the arches of the Viaduc des Arts on Avenue Daumesnil, where cabinetmakers and carpenters still run working studios. Across the city, hands-on woodworking classes welcome beginners, teaching skills like joinery, marquetry, carpentry, and wood turning. Most workshops last 2 to 3 hours, and all tools and materials are provided. Plus, you’ll be able to take your finished piece home. Whether you’re shaping an aperitif board or building a coffee table, you’ll find connection with a craft that is central to the city’s heritage.

Top highlights for your visit

Artisan studios

Artisan studios

The Viaduc des Arts in the 12th arrondissement houses 55 professional workshops beneath the arches of a former railway viaduct. Stop by to see cabinetmakers, carpenters, and designers at work in their studios.
Hand building techniques

Hands-on joinery

In the 18th arrondissement, introductory carpentry sessions will teach you the safe use of hand and power tools, basic cuts, and simple assemblies. In just 2 to 3 hours, you’ll build a finished project to take home.
Reclaimed-wood furniture

Reclaimed-wood furniture

At Les Ateliers Chutes Libres in the Viaduc des Arts, professional carpenters lead sustainable furniture workshops. You can build a stool, shelf, or coffee table using scrap wood salvaged from Parisian artisans and museums.
Marquetry techniques

Marquetry techniques

Take a 2-day course in the 3rd arrondissement and learn how to create designs using different wood veneers. You’ll learn to cut, fit, and glue decorative patterns under the guidance of a trained marqueteur.

Woodworking workshops in Paris FAQs

Things to know about woodworking workshops in Paris

Entry

  • Book online at least a week before your visit.
  • Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to meet your instructor.
  • Most workshops are conducted in French by default.

What to bring

  • Wear closed-toe shoes and dust-friendly clothes.
  • All tools and materials are provided for you.
  • Bring a bag if your finished piece will be large.

Important information

  • Studios are clustered in the 12th and 18th arrondissements. 
  • Family workshops welcome children from around age 6.
  • Ask about the language of instruction when booking.