By Bridget Castner
Ah, the City of Light, capital of beautiful France. Filled with pastries and baguettes, twinkling lights, and stunning architecture, Paris is also home to some of the most incredible museums to visit in the world.
If you're looking for the best museums in Paris to visit during your trip to France, read on!
The Louvre Museum
Once a royal palace, Musee du Louvre holds some of the world's best art since 1793. The museum is home to over 35,000 works of art including world renowned treasures such as the Mona Lisa, the Raft of the Medusa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and more. Entry is free on the first Friday of every month with the exception of July and August.
The Louvre is a family-friendly space equipped with a baby wing for nursing mothers, and visitors under the age of 18 enter for free. Take a break during your explorations and have a bite to eat at one of the museum's many cafes.
The Paris Museum of Modern Art
The Parisian Museum of Modern Art has been a "must-see" since it first opened its doors in 1961. The permanent collections in the museum are viewable free of charge, and any special exhibits usually cost anywhere from $5-$12 USD. Download the free museum app to be guided through the museum's many collections independently.
The museum is home to works by distinguished artists such as Pablo Picasso, Yves Klein, and Henri Matisse. Don't miss Raoul Dufy's La Fee Electricite, Le Reve by Marc Chagall, and be sure to grab a classic French pastry from the museum's cafe where you can sit on the terrace and take in the stunning views of the Eiffel Tower - just a short 12 minute walk away!
Gustave Moreau Museum
This amazing museum in Paris is dedicated to the works of French Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau. There are six rooms that showcase over 400 paintings, drawings, and watercolors by Moreau. On display are some of his most famous and stunning works like Narcissus and Ulysses and the Sirens. There are two cupboards that hold more than 600 drawings done by the artist, and the museum extends into a restoration of an identical copy of Moreau's apartment, giving visitors a glimpse into the artist's life before his death in 1898.
The Orsay Museum
Set on the left bank of the Seine, this former railway station embodies French art that dates from 1848-1914 and includes many iconic paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. Visit the museum's movie theater, dedicated to the birth of cinematography in 1895, and view paintings by Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
The museum is also home to one of the most famous sculptures known around the world: Liberty. Bartholdi's scaled down model of Lady Liberty stands to greet you in the center of the museum's main floor. Keep an eye out for other spectacular sculptures such as Barye's Napoleon I As a Roman Emperor, Bourdelle's Hercules the Archer, and Carpeaux's The Four Parts of the World.
Centre Pompidou
Have you ever been in a building that was designed from the inside out? You will, once you visit Centre Pompidou. Architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers took practical interior elements such as air vents, plumbing pipes, and electrical cables to form part of the outer appearance of the building. The museum is home to 140,000 works of modern and contemporary art including Portrait de la Sylvia von Harden by Otto Dix, and Frida Kahlo's self portrait The Frame.
Marmottan Museum of Monet
This museum pays homage to Claude Monet, the esteemed artist known for his Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. The museum features a vast collection of over 300 paintings, including one of his most famous works of art, the 1872 Impression, Sunrise. Gaze upon stunning landscapes in Argenteuil, water lilies, and gardens in Giverny. While the museum is mainly focused on Monet, it’s also home to a collection of works by Berthe Morisot, Delacriox, Sisley, Pissarro, and more.
The Museum of Decorative Arts
This museum showcases the immense talent of craftsmen spanning across centuries, featuring the evolution of various styles, advancements in technology, and the endless creativity of artists. In addition, the museum is home to one of the world's best Fashion and Textile collections, and offers a diverse range of films and objects from renowned artists Toulouse-Lautrec and Jean-Paul Goude.
The Orangery Museum
Located in the west corner of the Tuileries Garden, right next to the Place de la Concorde in Paris, lies this wonderful art gallery filled with impressionist and post-impressionists paintings. Step into the eight panels of Water Lilies room and take in the breathtaking compositions created by Monet. Browse the Walter-Guillame collection, which showcases extraordinary pieces by renowned European artists like Renior and Gauguin, along with an array of stunning artworks that span from the 1860s to the 1930s.
The Picasso Museum
Visit this magical art gallery dedicated to the works of the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Located in the Marais district in the luxurious Hotel Sale, this museum houses over 5,000 Picaso works, along with his personal art collection featuring renowned artists like Matisse. Browse all five floors which contain paintings, sculptures, and thousands of archival items such as Picasso’s sketchbooks. The on-site gift shop offers visitors a variety of products inspired by the museum, and the rooftop cafe allows you to take a break and indulge in delectable French snacks and beverages.
The Museum of Arts and Crafts
Immerse yourself in this industrial design museum which is home to a collection of the National Conservatory Arts and Trades, which was founded to preserve scientific instruments, materials, and inventions. The museum is home to the original model of Foucault's Pendulum. View everything from barometers, clocks, and weighing devices, as well as the Lumiere brothers' cinematograph, the monoplane that Bleriot crossed the Channel in, and more.
Now that you're aware of some of the best museums in Paris to visit, start planning your Paris vacation!
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