We have both been to Paris many times and absolutely love visiting this beautiful city. The is something truly special about the 'City of Lights'. Of course, there is plenty to enjoy in the culture, restaurants and bars of Paris, but for the first (or many times) visitor, there are some must-see places.
France: Paris – Musee D’Orsay
Set in the old Gare D'Orsay on the banks of the River Seine in Paris, the Musee D'Orsay in home to a collection of amazing impressionist art
On the River Seine, right across from the Louvre Museum, the Musee D’Orsay is simply one of our favourite places to visit when in Paris. The art itself is impressive but is made even more special by the setting inside the old railway station which retains some of its original features (and plenty of its old charm!)
The museum has plenty to offer including permanent and temporary exhibits. The building and its architecture are almost enough reason to visit alone!
The sculptures
The main hall of the Musee D’Orsay would have once been a throng of people, today the humans have largely been replaced by sculptures (with the exception of the visitors).
The 19th Century was a boon for sculptures with many rich people commissioning works. From 1945 people moved away from sculpture as an art form.
The opening of the Musee D’Orsay gave a new lease of life to sculptures from the late 19th Century. The new museum offered an ideal space for displaying sculpture: the great central nave lit by the changing daylight streaming through the glass roof.
When it opened in December 1986, the Musée d’Orsay had assembled some 1,200 sculptures, mostly from the former collections of the Musée du Luxembourg, the Louvre, and state loans.
The paintings
Undoubtedly, the main draw of the museum is the impressionist paintings. In the Musee D’Orsay, you will find works by the great French impressionists including paintings by Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Henri Matisse. As well as French impressionists you’ll find work by painters from other countries, including Vincent Van Gogh and James Whistler.
The Architecture
One of the biggest stars of the Musee D’Orsay is the building itself. Many of the original features of the former station.
The temporary exhibitions
Like many museums, the Musee D’Orsay has rotating exhibitions. When we visited there was an exhibition on the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí.
Planning your visit to the Musee D’Orsay
Needless to say, the Musee D’Orsay is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. It gets very busy, so if you want to avoid the crowds go as early as possible in the morning. Also, plan what exhibits you want to see and rush to get there first!
Where to eat
Of course, there is a huge selection of places to eat in Paris, but if you want to eat at the museum it has a couple of great options.
The restaurant is a beautiful space, complete with a classic painted ceiling, gilded decorations and chandeliers to which has been added furniture with a modem twist.
If you are looking for something a little less formal, then you should check out Café Campana. Located high up in the loft space of the museum, next to the Impressionist Gallery, this cafe was designed by the Campana brothers. Its design was directly inspired by Emile Gallé and is also a tribute to Art Nouveau.
Getting there
By Metro: line 12, Solférino station
By RER: line C, Musée d’Orsay station
By bus: 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 87, 94
Taxi: drop off and pick up by taxi or specialized vehicles Quai Anatole-France
| Address: | 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, |
| Website: | https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en |
| Telephone: | T: +33 (0)1 40 49 48 14 |
| Hours: | Tuesday through Sunday 09:00 to 18:00. Late night opening on Thursdays. |
| Fees | General Admission: €16 If purchased online the tickets will cost you €2 less than shown above |
| Address: | 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, |
| Website: | https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en |
| Telephone: | T: +33 (0)1 40 49 48 14 |
| Hours: | Tuesday through Sunday 09:00 to 18:00. Late night opening on Thursdays. |
| Fees | General Admission: €16 If purchased online the tickets will cost you €2 less than shown above |
Best time to visit Paris
You’ll experience crowds from May to September, but encounter the most people in July (followed closely by June and August). We’d recommend visiting between October and April if your main objective is to avoid crowds. For the warmest temperatures, October and April are the best times to visit Paris sans crowds.
Other places to visit while in Paris
1. BANKS OF THE RIVER SEINE
The banks of the River Seine through the heart of Paris are listed as UNESCO world heritage site due to the incredible architecture of buildings such as Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Grand Palais and the examples of outstanding town planning, in particular, the large squares and avenues built by Haussmann at the time of Napoleon III have influenced town planning throughout the world.
2. VERSAILLES
The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century.
3. SACRÉ-COEUR
The Sacré-Coeur, consecrated in 1919, is one of the most iconic monuments in Paris. At the top of the Butte Montmarte, it has one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the capital, from 130 metres above the ground. In a Roman-Byzantine style, the Sacré Coeur is recognizable by its white colour. Inside the building, the ceiling is decorated with the largest mosaic in France measuring about 480 m². The crypt is also worth a visit. And to go even higher up, visitors can access the dome where the 360° view of Paris is magnificent.
4. THE LOUVRE MUSEUM
The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the world’s most-visited museum, and a historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. At any given point in time, approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are being exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres.
5. THE PALAIS GARNIER
The Palais Garnier, also known as Opéra Garnier, is a 1,979-seat opera house at the Place de l’Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. It is also famous due to its use as the setting for Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera.
6. PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETARY
The Père Lachaise cemetery takes its name from King Louis XIV’s confessor, Father François d’Aix de La Chaise. It is the most prestigious and most visited necropolis in Paris. Here you will find the graves of such famous people as Frédéric Chopin, Colette, Jean de La Fontaine, Molière, Yves Montand, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Camille Pissarro and Oscar Wilde are just a few.
7. CHÂTEAU DE FONTAINBLEAU
The Château de Fontainebleau is located in the small town bearing the same name and lies 40 miles (65 km) south-southeast of Paris by road. It has been the residence of 34 kings and two emperors, Fontainebleau is the only château that was lived in by every French monarch for almost eight centuries. With 1500 rooms, it is one of the biggest châteaux in France, and the most furnished in Europe.
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