I have always been someone who loves art. I can spend hours walking through endless galleries, looking at all of the beautiful artistic works. To me, there is something so special about the peaceful silence and reflecting upon what is in front of you, surrounded by other art enthusiasts who are just as enthralled.
Paris has some of the most amazing art museums, filled to the brim with works that everyone can enjoy. The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay are very touristy spots, but they have such lovely pieces and are a Paris must-see. Two museums that are more off the beaten trail are the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Rodin Museum. These are much quieter and don't have the same ‘street cred’.
Each of the four are unique and well worth the time taken out of your busy Parisian schedule to have a walk through.
The Louvre
The Louvre is not only the largest museum in Paris, but it is also one of the largest in the world. The museum is broken down into three wings, the Richelieu, the Sully, and the Denon, which span over four floors with over seventy rooms in each. There are around 35,000 works of art in the Louvre and it is estimated that it would take about 200 days to see everything displayed inside the museum, looking at each individual piece for only thirty seconds. You can find anything and everything from the art world here.
Click here to view the Louvre's website, where you can download the floor plan of the museum. There are also details on how to get to the museum, as well as which entrances to take depending on your ticket type.
Since there is so much to see, and such little time, here are some of my favorite pieces within the museum that I think are worth finding.
The Mona Lisa is not only one of the most iconic paintings in the Louvre, but also in the world. This is by far the busiest area of the museum, but it is definitely worth a glimpse. The painting itself is actually much smaller than you would expect. Covid-19 did have a benefit in regards to the Mona Lisa. When I visited in 2015, there was no system and just a massive huddle around the painting. The absolute chaos made it impossible to really see it, let alone get a good photo. When I went back in 2021, there was a system of two lines on either side where visitors could wait their turn to be in front of it for a minute or two and get the perfect picture. It didn't take long at all; I was in line for fifteen minutes max. I hope they’ve kept this system in place. It made it so much nicer and you were able to appreciate the painting so much more.
I have always found the Four Seasons, or ‘vegetable people paintings’, by the artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo really fascinating. He used different fruits and vegetables collaged together to create a human face. They are supposed to represent the four seasons based upon the seasonal fruits and vegetables he used as his mediums. I only have pictures of two of the paintings, Winter and Summer, since Spring and Autumn were on loan when I was visiting. I had to do a project on Summer in elementary school, and always love to see it when I visit the Louvre. You can find them very easily. Once you leave the room that houses the Mona Lisa, turn right and continue down the long gallery. You will find them further down on the right hand wall.
A great must-see is in the basement, walking through the medieval remnants of the old Louvre. Here you'll find the original structures from when the Louvre was a fortress in the twelfth century, as well as what remains of the old moat. Walking along this passage gives you a sense of history and makes you realize how old this building truly is. This path then leads you towards the Ancient Egyptian galleries, which are always a hit in any museum, though they are often the busiest with tourists.
Other places you should check out are the French Hall of Sculpture, Napoleon III's apartments, the twin bulls statue from King Darius' palace in Persia, and the two winged Assyrian bulls. Be prepared to spend at least two hours there (and that is really cutting it early).
The Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a beautiful museum, housed inside of an old train station. It has a large, open floor plan, with arched glass ceilings, marble floors and walls, and gold accents.
At the front of the museum is the eye-catching giant gold clock. It is definitely one of the prettier museums you will ever visit. The architecture inside is worth a look, even without all of the art work.
The museum is broken down into three floors. There are paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture, architecture, and decorative arts spread around. My favorite piece in the whole museum is the statue of the Polar Bear by Francois Pompon. It is so simplistic and sleek, but so elegant and beautiful. They also have a great collection of Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh. Although I am not as well versed in statues compared to paintings, they have a fantastic assortment that I found quite a sight to behold.
The Musée de l'Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie was one of the top things I wanted to do in Paris when I went interrailing in 2021. This then became my first stop of the whole trip. Jet-lagged and running on little sleep, I found myself outside the museum in the early afternoon.
My all time favorite artist is the impressionist painter Claude Monet, and the l'Orangerie is the permanent home of eight of his long waterlily paintings. These are located on the upper floor, in two long, ovular rooms with benches in the middle. You are requested to be quiet in the rooms, so it is lovely to sit and reflect in silence under the beautiful paintings that line the walls. On the lower floor is a temporary exhibition space, as well as some resident impressionist and post-impressionist paintings by a collection of artists.
The museum is quite small, I believe I was only in there for a little less than an hour, but if you love Monet like me, it is highly worth it. The museum is located in the Tuileries Gardens and is across the river from the Musée d'Orsay.
The Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum was a surprise to me; I did not expect to love it as much as I did. Originally, all I wanted to see was the Thinker, and I wasn’t expecting to be very interested otherwise. The inside and grounds of the museum are dedicated solely to the works of Auguste Rodin, who worked primarily in sculpture. I'd been wanting to visit since the cameo of the Thinker in Night At The Museum II.
In the garden, there are numerous statues among the greenery and flowers. Besides the Thinker, there are also the famous Gates of Hell and the Burghers of Calais.
Inside the Hotel Biron, the main building on the property where statues are spread out over two floors, there is so much natural light, which is very different compared to your typical art museum. Museums filled with paintings are usually much darker, so the artwork doesn't fade over time. Since these were statues, natural light could be used as it wouldn't damage the works.
A few of my favorite pieces inside include The Kiss, The Cathedral, and Two Hands. I love how Rodin doesn't shy away from the concept of the human body, and embraces it in every aspect. The Cathedral is now one of my all time favorite pieces in any form of art; I find it truly beautiful.
Whether you can only visit one or are able to make time for all four, it will be well worth your while. Paris is a hub for the arts and has such a great appreciation for every form. There really is something that will interest everyone, no matter what their tastes.
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