When one visits Paris for either the 1stor 5thtime, a visit to one of the city’s many musées is typically a foregone conclusion. Most notable among them, the Louvre. With its incredible collection encompassing some of the world’s most famous artworks, it’s one, if not, the most popular destinations in Paris. And while I love a visit to the galleries at the Louvre, I find that it’s almost too overwhelming thanks to its incredible popularity. Thankfully Paris is home to a wonderfully large number of musées. Highlighting everything from art and architecture to nature and history, there are even musées dedicated to the catacombs and sewer system. Since I’m always asked what some of my favorite things are to do in Paris (besides shop, eat, and wander aimlessly) I thought I’d round up some of my favorite museés. By no means is this list exhaustive – there’s quite a few more that I really love, and even more that I’m itching to visit on my next return trip. If you have any favorites, I’d love to know what they are as well!
The Cluny– Tucked away in the 5th, this is one of my absolute favorite museums in Paris. Typically not overrun with tourists, I never get tired of wandering the galleries of gorgeous works quite frequently with only a few fellow visitors. The Musée national du Moyen Âge is dedicated to artworks comprising painting, sculpture, tapestry, stained glass, furnishings, illuminated manuscripts, and works of gold and ivory from the Middle Ages. Housed in the Hôtel de Cluny, itself a spectacular example of medieval architecture, it was built atop the remains of 3rdcentury Gallo-Roman baths that one is actually able to visit when touring the collection. Another must visit at the Cluny is the La Dame à la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) series of tapestries. Comprised of six panels, these wool and silk tapestries are considered one of the finest examples of medieval art. I could write a whole treatise on these pieces alone, but I’ll spare you and instead hope you add the Cluny to your list of Parisian must-dos.
Musée de l’Orangerie– Located within the Tulieries Garden next to the Place de la Concord it houses a wonderfully curated collection of impressionist and post-impressionist works. However, the absolute star of the collection is The Nymphéas. These impressive canvases were painted by Monet for the express purpose of being hung in the oval room at the heart of the musée. Monet dedicated his final years to this work and gifted it to French State to honor the French spirit and return to peace after World War I. Since their unveiling, these impressive works have become some of the most beloved of Monet’s work and part of France’s impressive cultural patrimony. For those with a little extra time and desire to immerse themselves in the world of Monet, a day trip to his home and gardens in Giverny are a true treat. A note on visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie: be prepared for a wait if you go during peak hours. That wait is very well worth your visit, but it’s worth going early to truly enjoy the peace and beauty of The Nymphéas as Monet intended.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs– Located in the Western wing of the Louvre, this entirely separate musée is dedicated to the decorative arts and design. It houses a beautiful collection of furniture, alter-pieces, religious paintings, wallpaper, tapestries, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, and even toys. From the bed of the one of the most notorious French courtesans of the Belle Époque, Lucie Émilie Delabigne, and impressive recreations of period rooms almost in their entirety, to a stunning collection of jewelry, Sèvres porcelain, and Lalique glass, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is a visual feast for the design lover’s eyes. While attached to the famed Louvre, I find the crowds typically walk past the entrance and the galleries are more enjoyable for it.
Musée Rodin– The Musée Rodin was first opened in 1919 to showcase works by the famed French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Spread over two locations: the stunning Hôtel Biron and its gardens in the Tony 7th (which also plays host to the House of Dior’s runway presentations during Fashion Week), and outside of Paris at Rodin’s former home, the Villa des Brillants at Meudon. The musée in Paris is a favorite not only for the beautiful collection – it includes some of Rodin’s most famous works including The Thinker, The Kiss, and the Gates of Hell – but the Hôtel and ground are gorgeous in their own right. I find that this is also a great musée to bring little ones to. The 3D nature of sculpture is engaging for even the youngest visitor, and the gardens make for a great place to blow off some steam before or after touring the interior galleries.
Musée Nissim Camondo– Located in the 8th on the edge of the fashionable Parc Monceau in the Hôtel Camondo, this former private home is a monument to the taste and refinement of the Jewish Camondo family – one of the leading wealthy families of 19th and 20th century France. The mansion was built by Comte Moïse de Camondo as a family home, and was designed to showcase his impressive collection of priceless 18th century French furniture and objets d’arts. Think portraits by French court favorite Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun, the Orloff silver dinner service that Catherine II of Russia commissioned by notable French silversmith Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers, and many pieces of furniture that came directly from the Royal Furniture Repository and Versailles, dating to the pre-Revolution years. The home has been preserved as if the family was still in residence with the dining room table set as if the family was about to dine. However, there is a tragic story behind this spectacular home and collection. The comte’s son Nissim, for whom the musée is named for, was killed in World War I, and while the comte passed before the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, his beloved daughter, her husband, daughter and son were deported to, and murdered in, Auschwitz, leading the family name to die out. The musée is not only a beautiful testament to the beauty of French refinement and style, but also the memory of the Camondo family.
Musée d’Orsay– Arguably, one of the most famous musées in France, it’s a temple to the glory of impressionism. Housed in the former Gare d’Orsay on the Left Bank, this gorgeous Beaux-Arts style railway station houses an impressive collection of mostly French art dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. With works from Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gaugin, and Van Gogh and many, many more of the greatest painters of the Western World, it’s a truly priceless collection of artworks. This is another Parisian gem that you can expect a wait to enter during popular dates and times, but is absolutely worth braving the crowds. The musée also has a wonderful restaurant that retains the gilded beauty of the space from when it was first opened in 1900, combined with elegant modern elements.
Note: One of my best tips for making the most of your visit to Paris and the incredible les musées there is to pick up a Paris Museum Pass. If you’re planning on visiting multiple musées and monuments, this pass can save you money on the accumulated cost of entries. This pre-paid pass grants you access to over fifty major musées and monuments in Paris and around Paris. Pass holders have their own dedicated line at the entry point of each musée, which is typically much shorter (to almost non-existant) than the general admission line. You can purchase the pass when you arrive at both Orly or Charles De Gaulle (my recommendation), or have it shipped to your home before departure or delivered to your hotel for an additional cost. The pass can be purchased for either 2 days for 48 euros, 4 days for 62 euros, or 6 days for 74 euros and is seriously worth every euro. You can see the full list of musées and monuments listed {here}.
