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Thousands of years of
history await you behind the doors of the Museums of Paris.
The most famous of all is the Louvre, where we you should try to put aside
at least half a day to visit. Many other museums are home to
masterpieces from all over the world and if you can find the time we
recommend a visit.
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Louvre Museum
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The Louvre began as a fortress in 1190 and later became a royal
residence. In 1793, it was transformed into a museum and was recently
modernized and expanded. The "Grande Pyramide" designed by I. M.
Pei, which actually serves as a skylight to the entrance, is only one of
the billion-dollar additions. The Louvre's collection of the world's art
spans over 3,000 years.
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Hotels in Louvre Paris |
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Collections:
Western art from the Middle Ages to 1848 and civilizations that have
influenced it. They are divided into 7 departments: Oriental, Egyptian,
Greek, Etruscan, Art objects and Graphic Art. In addition to these
departments is a section devoted to the history of the Louvre as well as
rooms devoted to African, Asian, Oceanic and American art.
Masterpieces:
The Mona Lisa and Radeau de la Meduse paintings, the Victory of
Samothrace and Venus de Milo sculptures. Do not miss the new Richelieu
Aisle, the Arc de Triomphe du Carroussel and the Perrault colonade.
1st arrondissement. Rue de Rivoli.
Main Entrance: Cour Napoleon - Tel: 01 40 20 51 51
Open 9am-6pm (9am-10pm on Mondays, Aile Richelieu Only), closed on
Tuesdays & some bank holidays
!!!Free for all on the first Sunday of each month!!!
Admissions: FF46.00 before 3pm, FF30.00 after 3pm & Sundays, under 18
years old: free
Metro: Palais Royal |
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Orsay Museum |
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The building was classified a Historical Monument in 1978 and a
civil commission was created to oversee the construction and organisation
of the museum. The President of the Republic, François Mitterrand,
inaugurated the new museum on December 1st, 1986. The Quai d'Orsay, a
former train station built on the ruin of the Palais d'Orsay, was first
inaugurated in 1900 and was designed by Laloux for the Universal
Exposition. |
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Collections:
All forms of French art realized between 1848 and 1914.
Masterpieces by:
Delacroix, Degas, Manet, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec,
Cezanne and Matisse, to cite just a few.
7th arrondissement. 1, rue de
Bellechasse - Tel: 01 40 49 48 14.
Open 10:00am-6:00pm (Thu until 9:45pm, Sun 9:00am-6:00pm). Closed on
Mondays.
Admissions: FF36.00 / reduced for 18-25 yrs: FF24.00 / Under 18
years old: free / Visa, AE, MC
Metro: Solferino. |
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Picasso
Museum |
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Inaugurated
in 1985, the national Picasso museum is housed in the splendid 17th
century Hotel Sale, one of the most beautiful mansions of the
Marais
quarter. The Musee Picasso is situated in the heart of historic Paris,
and has a collection of several thousand works of Pablo Picasso. Picasso
was born in 1881 and he began to study art in 1895. During his life he
created diverse works: painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, engraving,
and even poetry. After his death in 1973, many of Picasso's works went to
the French state, which decided to form a museum with the collection. |
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Collections:
This collection, first constituted by Picasso's heirs' donations to the
state, included 203 paintings and 158 sculptures and was later enriched by
other donations and acquisitions.
Masterpieces:
Visitors can now follow Picasso's artistic career, in particular
his blue, pink and cubist periods. Today,
there are 203 paintings, 191 sculptures, 85 ceramics, and over 3000
drawings, engravings, and manuscripts in the museum. Besides the personal
collection of Picasso, the museum also has some works of Cezanne and
Matisse.
3rd arrondissement. Hotel
Sale, 5, rue de Thorigny - Tel: 01 42 71 25 21
Open 9:30am-5:30pm (Apr-Sep until 6:00pm). Closed Tuesdays, January 1st
& December 25th
Admissions: FF30.00 / Sundays: FF20.00 /
Under 18
years old: free (Visa, MC)
Metro: St-Sebastien-Froissart / Saint-Paul |
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Grevin
Museum |
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At a time when there was no such a
thing as television, around 1870, a journalist called Arthur Meyer
conceived the idea of making 3D representations of famous people who were
on the front page of his well-known daily newspaper called "Le Gaulois". He asked Alfred Grevin (1827-1892) who was a talented
cartoonist, sculptor, and designer of costumes for the theatre, to help
him with this project.
It moved into one of the famous Grand Boulevards of Paris over a hundred
years ago, and ever since it has immortalized leading personalities of the
world and key scenes from history. This outing is unusual, picturesque,
amusing and full of surprises. |
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Collections:
The spirit of Paris with more than 300 personalities including 80
new ones from June 2001.
Masterpieces:
Marylin Monroe, General Charles de Gaulle, Julia Roberts, Harrison
Ford, Ray Charles, Jean-Paul Gauthier...
9th arrondissement.
10, boulevard Montmartre - Tel: 01 47 70 85 05
Open 10am - 7pm. Open daily throughout the year
Admissions: FF78.00 adults / FF58.00 children 6-14 yrs
Metro: Grands Boulevards |
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Carnavalet
Museum |
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Housed in the Hotel
Carnavalet, a Renaissance mansion built in 1545, this museum retraces
Parisian history, from the Roman empire to the end of the 17th century.
Entire rooms, with original decorations, furniture and works of art, show
the evolution of Parisians interiors, from the reign of Henri IV
(beginning of the 17th century) to the 20th century. |
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Collections:
The Museum collection also displays the belongings of Madame de Sevigne,
who lived in the Hotel Carnavalet from 1677 to 1696. This aristocrat's
colorful correspondence, famous in French Literature, provides an
interesting overview of French manners and customs at the end of the 17th
century.
3rd arrondissement. 23, rue de Sevigne - Tel:
01 42 72 21 13
Open 10am-5:40pm. Closed Mondays & bank holidays
Admissions: FF30.00 / reduced: FF20.00 / Visa, AE, Dinners.
Metro: St-Paul / Bastille / Chemin-Vert |
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Chateau de Versailles |
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Versailles is an exception to our list, since it
is not really a Museum nor it is in Paris. It is, however, the best
day-trip you could make while in Paris. Louis XIV built this palace
in just 40 years to make it the residence of the court and the
capital of France. Its gigantic proportions (the western facade is
nearly 2,000 feet wide) and the masterpieces of French artists and
craftsmen were used by Louis XIV to showcase the power of the French
Monarchy.
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Collections:
Marie-Antoinette’s Collections: Lacquer
Ware from Japan
For the first time since the French Revolution in 1789, all the Japanese
lacquer objects belonging to Queen Marie-Antoinette will be reunited for
an exhibition at the Chateau of Versailles from October the 14th
2001 to January the 7th 2002
Masterpieces:
Among the finest examples of this architectural splendor,
do not miss the Galerie des Glaces (Gallery of Mirrors), the Salon
d'Apollon, the Royal Chapel and the Petit Appartement. Take the time to
visit the park (over 200 acres) in which you'll find the Grand Trianon,
Louis XIV's summer private residence and the Petit Trianon, built by Louis
XV and which became Marie-Antoinette's favorite retreat.
The Chateau de Versailles, 15 miles West of Paris - A13
Freeway, exit Versailles
Tel: 01 30 84 74 00 & 01 30 83 78 00
Open May-Sep: 9:00am-6:30pm,Oct-Apr: until 5:30pm. Closed on Mondays
(last admission one hour before
closing time)
Admissions: FF49.00 before 3.30 p.m. / reduced: FF35.00 after 3.30 p.m.
RER line C: Versailles Rive Gauche / Bus 171 |
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Georges
Pompidou Center / Beaubourg |
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The Centre Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg, was built in 1977 under the reign of President Georges
Pompidou. Its modern design (it kind of looks like an oil refinery)
contrasts abruptly with the surrounding buildings dating from the
early 19th century. In this center, you'll find a museum, a huge
library, art galleries, an industrial design center, a concert hall
and record archives. |
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Collections:
The museum of modern art, with over 36,000 pieces, is
certainly the world's richest.
Masterpieces by:
Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky and many others from the Cubist era to the
present.
Not to miss:
The show goes on in front of the Center's entrance, on the
plaza, with attractions such as mimes, jugglers and fire-eaters, a sort of
Venice Beach, without the beach. Do not miss the fountain on the Place
Igor-Stravinsky next to the center and the Halles Quarter two blocks away.
4th Arrondissement
-19, rue Beaubourg - Tel: 01
44 78 12 33
Every day (except Tuesdays and May 1) from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Exhibits FF56.00 / Reduced admission: FF42.00
National Museum of Modern Art allowing access to the Brancusi
Workshop, the Museum's Galleries and the Children’s Gallery
FF36.00 / Reduced admission: FF23.00
(free admission
to the Museum for those under 18 years of age and to the
exhibitions for those under 13 years)
!!!Free for all on the first Sunday of each month!!!
Metro: Hotel de Ville |
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Rodin
Museum |
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Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) lived and
worked in the Rococo Hotel Biron (built in 1728) which now houses a
unique museum where you can fully comprehend the genius of the
sculptor. It is in the Hotel's courtyard that you will find
"The Thinker". |
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Collections:
Rodin's works as well as works by Camille Claudel.
Masterpieces:
"The Thinker, "Hell's Gate", "The Burghers of
Calais", "Balzac"...
7th arrondissement. Hotel Biron, 77, rue de
Varenne - Tel: 01 47 05 01 34
Open 9:30am-5:40pm (winter until 4:45pm). Closed Mon
Admissions: FF28.00 / reduced: FF18.00 /
Under 18
years old: free / Visa, AE, Dinners.
Metro: Varenne |
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