Visit the Musée d'Orsay

Things To Do In Paris

Inside the Musee d'Orsay, a stunning art museum housed in a historic train station in Paris, showcasing Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces.

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Navigating The Musée d'Orsay : Answers to common questions

Admission Fee: Admission fee required, with free entry on the first Sunday of each month.
How Long to Visit: Visitors often spend 2-4 hours exploring the collections and exhibitions.
Washrooms: Accessible restrooms are available on each floor of the museum.
Hours of Operation: Open from 9:30 AM to 6 PM on most days, with late night opening until 9:45 PM on Thursdays.
Important Information: It's recommended to purchase tickets online in advance to avoid long queues, especially during tourist season.
Handicap Accessible: The museum is accessible for visitors with disabilities, offering lifts and wheelchair loans.
Pets: Only service animals are permitted inside the museum.
Guided Tours: Guided tours are available in several languages, focusing on the museum's extensive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces.
Restaurant or Cafe: The museum's restaurant offers panoramic views of Paris, and there are also several cafes within the museum.
Gift Shop: A gift shop is available, offering a wide range of art books, replicas, and souvenirs related to the museum's collections.
Family Friendly: Family-friendly with activities and workshops for children. Free entry for visitors under 18.
Photography: Photography is permitted for private use, without flash or tripod, except in temporary exhibition areas.
WIFI: Free WIFI available throughout the museum.
Picnic Area: While there are no designated picnic areas within the museum, the nearby Tuileries Garden is a perfect spot for a picnic.
Parking: Parking is available at nearby public car parks, with limited street parking. Public transportation is recommended.

Please note all times and prices subject to change. Please check the offical website for details.

When you are traveling to the irresistible city of lights and love, Paris, paying a visit to the renowned Musée d'Orsay is a must. A former train station, it has over time metamorphosed into a manifestation of beauty and art, rivalling even the famed Louvre with its grandeur and collection. As you cross the threshold, be prepared for a sensational journey through the history of art, primarily emphasizing the enchanting world of French and European art from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries.

Imagine stepping into a world designed to resemble the interior of a jewel box, where each 'gem' is an extraordinary work of art that illuminates France's cultural background. Here, at the Musée d'Orsay, masterpieces from Van Gogh's 'Starry Night Over the Rhone' to Manet’s 'Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe' keep you riveted. Whistler, Courbet, Millet and the list of revered artists within the museum’s repertoire is endless.

One of the highlights of Musée d'Orsay is its unique way of displaying the cogs and wheels of artistic movements. The museum paints a vivid panorama of different phases in art, from Academic art and Realism to Impressionism and Art Nouveau. This allows the visitor to breathe in not just individual pieces of art, but observe the fascinating evolution of artistic styles over a significant period.

The Musée d'Orsay isn't just a sanctuary for paintings. It also houses awe-inspiring collections of sculptures, photography, graphic art, and decorative art. Each of these sections has a magical aura of its own, with a blend of familiar and lesser-known artists who bring a swath of contrasting perspectives and techniques.

The museum itself is a work of art. Its Beaux-Arts architectural style is a feast for the eyes and has a distinctive flavor, wrought with history and transforming events. The dramatic central aisle, the grand clock which provides a stunning view of the Seine river and the Tuileries Garden, along with its ornate ceilings and galleries, all form part of an unforgettable visual experience.

For the gourmands and food enthusiasts, the museum also plays host to two splendid restaurants - the Café de l'Ours and the more upscale Le Restaurant, both housed under gorgeous gold-leaf ceilings mirroring the opulence of a bygone era.

Every corner, every moment at the Musée d'Orsay leads you to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human spirit immortalized through art. Visiting the museum is much more than a simple sightseeing trip, it's a pilgrimage undertaken by every lover of culture, history, and beauty. It magnificently captures the essence of Paris - enticing, enchanting, and ever inspiring.

Did You Know These Facts About The Musée d'Orsay ?

The Musée d'Orsay is a world-renowned art museum located in the heart of Paris, on the left bank of the Seine River. Housed in the former Orsay railway station, the museum is famous for its rich collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, making it a must-visit destination for art lovers.

The building itself is an architectural marvel. The Orsay railway station was originally constructed for the 1900 World Exposition. By the 1970s, it was no longer used as a station and was transformed into a museum, which opened in 1986. The conversion preserved much of the original structure, including the magnificent glass and iron roof, which now floods the main gallery with natural light.

The Musée d'Orsay's collection spans from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, featuring works by renowned artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas. It fills a chronological gap between the collections of the Louvre Museum, which covers up to the mid-19th century, and the National Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou, which focuses on the 20th century onwards.

Beyond paintings, the Musée d'Orsay boasts an impressive collection of sculptures, photographs, and decorative arts, providing a comprehensive overview of artistic creations from the period. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures, and performances that delve deeper into the themes and movements represented in its collections, making each visit a unique experience.

One of the museum's most famous pieces is Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night Over the Rhône," which predates his more famous "Starry Night" and showcases his unique use of color and brushwork. The Musée d'Orsay also houses the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, including Monet's "Blue Water Lilies" and Renoir's "Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette."

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Currency Exchange Rates for France

1 EUR = 1.0571 $ USD
1 EUR = 1.4834 $ CAD
1 EUR = 0.8291 £ GBP
1 EUR = 158.7763 ¥ JPY
1 EUR = 0.9301 ₣ CHF
1 EUR = 7.6719 元CNY
1 EUR = 8.2252 圓 HKD
1 EUR = 1.64 $ AUD
1 EUR = 1.7992 $ NZD

NOTE: Exchange rates are an average currency exchange rate from several sources. These rates are not buy or sell rates which will depend on when and where you buy or sell currency.

Verified & Trusted Contact Information for The Musée d'Orsay

Address:

1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France

Telephone: +33 1 40 49 48 14

Official Website: www.musee-orsay.fr/

Latitude: 48.86

Longitude: 2.2366

Map for The Musée d'Orsay

Suresnes Current Weather

Local Temp: 8.5℃ / 47.3℉

High: 9℃ / 48.2℉

Low: 7.4℃ / 45.3℉

Humidity: 78 %

Visit the Musée d'Orsay

Things To Do In Paris

Navigating The Musée d'Orsay : Answers to common questions

Did You Know These Facts About The Musée d'Orsay ?

Currency Exchange Rates for France

1 EUR = 1.0571 $ USD1 EUR = 1.4834 $ CAD1 EUR = 0.8291 £ GBP1 EUR = 158.7763 ¥ JPY1 EUR = 0.9301 ₣ CHF1 EUR = 7.6719 元CNY1 EUR = 8.2252 圓 HKD1 EUR = 1.64 $ AUD1 EUR = 1.7992 $ NZD

Verified & Trusted Contact Information for The Musée d'Orsay

Map for The Musée d'Orsay

Suresnes Current Weather

More Places and Things To Do in Paris Within 25 kilometers/15 miles of The Musée d'Orsay

Seine River Cruise

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The Champs-Élysées

Visit the Grand Palais

Petit Palais

The Rodin Museum

Explore the Place de la Concorde

Walk the Tuileries Garden

Discover the Orsay Museum

Visit the Place Vendôme

Explore the Palais Garnier

Enjoy the Paris Fashion Week

The Louvre Museum

Moulin Rouge

Luxembourg Gardens

The Catacombs of Paris

Sainte-Chapelle

Parisian Cafés

Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

Walk the Rue Montorgueil

The Panthéon

The Latin Quarter

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Montmartre

Centre Pompidou

French Cooking Class

Paris Wine Tasting

Discover the Institut du Monde Arabe

Le Marais

Explore the Maison de Victor Hugo

Walk the Canal Saint-Martin

Discover the Place des Vosges

Bastille Day Celebrations

Discover the Opéra Bastille

Palace of Versailles

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1 EUR = 1.0571 $ USD
1 EUR = 1.4834 $ CAD
1 EUR = 0.8291 £ GBP
1 EUR = 158.7763 ¥ JPY
1 EUR = 0.9301 ₣ CHF
1 EUR = 7.6719 元CNY
1 EUR = 8.2252 圓 HKD
1 EUR = 1.64 $ AUD
1 EUR = 1.7992 $ NZD