With over 130 museums, Paris undoubtedly lives up to its reputation as the world's art capital. The City of Light is a treasure trove for art enthusiasts, from iconic institutions like the Louver to lesser-known gems. This in-depth guide explores the ten must-see art museums for every visitor interested in Paris’ vibrant art scene. Get ready to dive into expansive collections, renowned masterpieces, cutting-edge contemporary exhibits, and more.
1. Musée du Louvre
No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Grand Musée du Louvre. Once a 12th-century fortress, this palatial building is now the world's largest art museum and one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Given its vast size and extensive collections, you could easily spend weeks at the Louvre and still not see everything.
However, you can still get a good overview in just one day. Be sure to see these highlights:
Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic Mona Lisa portrait behind her bulletproof case
The imposing 9-foot-tall Winged Victory of Samothrace sculpture
Venus de Milo, an ancient Greek statue depicting the goddess Aphrodite
Liberty Leading the People, Eugène Delacroix’s stirring ode to the French Revolution
Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon, depicting his lavish 1804 crowning
Beyond paintings and sculptures, the Louvre houses Egyptian antiquities like sarcophagi and mummies, classical Greek and Roman marble works, jewel-encrusted crowns and chalices, and Islamic tilework and miniatures.
Pro tip: Buy tickets in advance online to avoid long queues. And be strategic in mapping out your visit. Focus on your must-sees, and don't try to see everything.
2. Musée d'Orsay
Housed in a beautifully converted Beaux-Arts railway station on the Seine, the Musée d'Orsay holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. Spend hours wandering through gallery after gallery showcasing iconic works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.
Some highlights include:
Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhône
Renoir’s Shimmering Luncheon of the Boating Party
Monet's Dreamy Water Lilies series
Edouard Manet's scandalous Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe
Paul Gauguin’s bold Vision after the Sermon
Don't miss the excellent Impressionist galleries on levels 5 and 6. The soaring architecture provides a stunning backdrop. Stop for a coffee break at the museum café, which has an outdoor terrace overlooking the city.
3. Centre Pompidou
For modern and contemporary art, head to the Centre Pompidou, known for its bold inside-out architectural style with exposed pipes and air ducts. This vibrant cultural hub houses cutting-edge temporary exhibits, cinemas, public libraries, performance spaces, and more.
The museum walkways provide panoramic views over Paris. Highlights of the permanent collection include:
Picasso's masterpieces like Guitar, Portrait of Dora Maar, and still lifes from his Blue and Rose periods
Vibrant Fauvist works by Henri Matisse, Andre Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck
Pioneering Cubist paintings by Georges Braque
Kinetic sculptures by Alexander Calder
Psychedelic canvases by Dada artist Max Ernst
Don't miss classics like Marcel Duchamp's subversive Fountain and Andy Warhol's pop art Marilyn Monroe silkscreens.
4. Musée Rodin
This elegant 18th-century mansion and surrounding garden sculptures provide the perfect setting for renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin's works. The collection includes recognizable bronze masterpieces like The Thinker, The Kiss, The Gates of Hell, and smaller clay models and sketches that reveal his creative process.
The peaceful garden displays iconic Rodin works like The Thinker at different scales and striking sculptures by Camille Claudel and other artists. The overall effect is both intimate and awe-inspiring.
5. Musée Picasso
Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential modern artists, spent most of his prolific life living and working in Paris. The Musée Picasso offers an intimate look into the breadth of his oeuvre, with over 5,000 works he owned personally. The collection spans his entire career, from his Blue Period to the bold experimentation of the 1950s and 1960s.
Highlights include:
Rare early academic-style paintings
Signature cubist canvases like Man with a Guitar
Whimsical collages and sculptures like Bull's Head made from bicycle parts
Surrealist paintings like Crucifixion depict Picasso's muse Dora Maar
His famous wartime masterpiece, The Charnel House
The museum is housed in the elegant Hôtel Salé in the chic Marais district. Don't miss the rooms dedicated to Picasso's wives and muses, Françoise Gilot and Jacqueline Roque.
6. Musée de l'Orangerie
The small but impactful Musée de l'Orangerie houses Claude Monet's stunning Water Lilies murals located in the Tuileries Gardens. These eight massive elliptical panels immerse viewers in Monet's gardens at Giverny. Stand before them to experience his mastery of light and color.
Upstairs, the museum displays highlights of the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection, including works by Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, Rousseau, and Modigliani.
Don't miss viewing the murals from the benches in the center to see Monet's waterlily panoramas in their full glory.
7. Musée Marmottan Monet
Boasting the world's largest collection of Claude Monet paintings and artworks, the Musée Marmottan Monet is another top choice for Impressionist art lovers. The permanent collection includes over 100 Monet works, like Impression: Sunrise, the piece that gave the movement its name.
Monet's techniques evolve through different series focused on haystacks, poplars, morning on the Seine, and water lilies. Other Impressionist and post-Impressionist highlights include Morisot, Pissarro, Gauguin, Sisley, and Manet paintings.
The mansion also displays an important collection of illuminated medieval manuscripts and Empire-period furniture. Don't rush through; allow enough time to soak in the atmosphere.
8. Musée de l’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Dedicated to 20th and 21st-century fine art, the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris houses the city's municipal modern collection. The diverse galleries display over 8,500 modern works by famed artists like Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Marcel Duchamp, and more.
Key highlights include:
Picasso's icy anti-war masterpiece, Massacre in Korea
Matisse's vibrancy in Harmony in Red and Portrait of Madame Matisse
Marcel Duchamp's whimsical Rotorelief optical illusions
Frida Kahlo's revealing self-portrait La Coiffure
The rooftop restaurant has fabulous views over Paris; come for lunch or a coffee break. Don't miss the sculpture garden outside, too.
9. Musée Maillol
Located in a stunning 19th-century mansion, Musée Maillol offers an intimate experience to view works by Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, and other key 19th and 20th-century artists. Aristide Maillol originally created the museum to display his private art collection.
Highlights include sensuous sculptures by Maillol himself, Eastern-inspired paintings by Gauguin, Renoir's shimmering nudes, scenes of Provence by Cézanne, and works by Impressionist Berthe Morisot.
Temporary exhibits range from Old Masters to contemporary photography. Take time to appreciate the mansion's Second Empire architecture, too.
10. Fondation Louis Vuitton
Concluded by Frank Gehry's sailboat-like design, the striking Fondation Louis Vuitton integrates art, architecture, and nature through stimulating contemporary exhibits. The private modern art museum collaborates with renowned artists like Olafur Eliasson, Gerhard Richter, and Pipilotti Rist to create compelling installations.
The permanent collection includes works by legends like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, and Ellsworth Kelly. The building's 12 glass sails offer panoramic views of the Bois de Boulogne's trees.
Art aficionados can easily uncover Paris' best museum treasures with this complete guide. Just leave plenty of time to get lost in the city’s masterpieces and thought-provoking exhibits. What are your favorite art museums and works of art in Paris? Let me know in the comments!
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