The Association pour la Sauvegarde et la Mise en Valeur du Paris Historique was founded in 1963 and recognized as a public utility in 2015. Its mission is "to undertake and carry out any action to promote, protect and raise awareness of the neighborhoods of Paris and the Île-de-France communes, in order to gain recognition for and safeguard their architectural, urban and sociological harmony."
Its first action was to safeguard the Marais district in the 1960s. Preceding the association by a year, the Festival du Marais drew the attention of the public and political leaders to the need for action in favor of this threatened heritage.by organizing a variety of cultural events (plays, operas, concerts in the courtyards of private mansions). From the outset, Paris historique made numerous appeals to public opinion, published an architectural inventory and a perspective map of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, and took part in volunteer workcamps at most of the district's historic sites.
Today, the association continues to defend Parisian neighborhoods, diversifying its initiatives (educational workshops, exhibitions, conferences, publications, volunteer workcamps at Maison d'Ourscamp and Maison du Fontainier).