Paris Museums

Perhaps “frenetic” is the best word to describe architectural and arts activity in Paris during the last two decades. While Mitterand was in office, the French government instituted a series of grand projets, thereby assuring that Paris would become the focus of international attention. A number of new Paris museums were created, in part to relieve the Louvre, Paris of its overcrowding, and to establish thematic exhibits, typified by such locales as the Institut du Monde Arabe.

Today Paris Museums are famous all over the world, and many of them are always in the list of must-be-visited tourist attractions in Paris.

Here is an alphabetical listing of many Paris museums and galleries (and a few just outside the city), with a brief explanation of what you’ll find there.

 

Musée des Antiquités Nationals de Saint-Germain-en-Laye – Museum of National Antiques in St. Germain-en-laye: A collection of archeological finds from within France, as well as an exhibit of the history of man, from the beginning to the time of Charlemagne.

Place to Chateau, 78103. RER Line A Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Tel 34 51 53 65.

 

Arc de Triomphe – Arch of Triumph: Inside the monument is a small museum explaining the history of the arch.

Monument built to the glory of the French army inaugurated on 30th July 1836. Panoramic view from the top, museum linked to the history of the monument. Architects: Chalgrin 1806-1811, Joust 1811-1814, Blouet 1833-1836. Sculptors: Cortot, Rude, Etex, Pradier, Lemaire.

Place de L’Etoile, 75008. RER or Métro to Charles de Gaulle-Etoile.

Tel 43 80 31 31.

Musée de l’Armée-Tombeau de Napoléon 1er – Museum of the Army – Tomb of Napoleon 1st: The museum of the Army is a magnificent collection of military history from prehistoric times to the present. The Church of the Dome is houses the Tomb of Napoleon 1st.

Hôtel des Invalides, 129 Rue de Grenelle,75007. Paris Métro Invalides or Varenne.

Tel 45 55 37 70.

 

Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris – Museum of modern Art – City of Paris: Paris’ modern art museum has many paintings by cubists, fauvists and members of the Paris school. There are also Mural decorations by Sonia and Robert Delaunay, Matisse and Duffy.

11 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75016.

Tel 47 23 61 27.

Musée National d’Art Moderne – Centre Georges Pompidou – National Museum of Modern Art – George Pompidou Center (usually called simply Pompidou, Paris): This modern art museum has one of the best collections of art in the world, combining all forms of plastic arts since the beginning of the 20th-century. Centre of Industrial Design, Prestigious collection of art (Matisse, Miró, Picasso, Kandinsky…), twentieth century architecture and design. Temporary exhibitions.

Place Georges Pompidou, Rue Beaubourg, 75004. Métro Rambuteau or Hôtel de Ville. Tel 44 78 12 33.

Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie – National Museum of the Art of Africa and Oceania: Collections of African art (North and sub-Saharan Africa) and Oceania art. They also have a tropical aquarium.

293 Avenue Daumesnil, 75012. Métro Porte Dorée.

Tel 44 74 84 80.

 

Musée National des Arts Asiatiques – Guimet – National Museum of Asiatic Art – Guimet: One of the largest Asian art museums in the world, it contains masterpieces from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, South-East Asia, Central Asia, China, Korea and Japan.

6 Place d’Iena, 75016. Tel 47 23 61 65.

 

Musée des Arts Décoratifs - Museum of Decorative Arts: An rare and beautiful collection of decorative arts from the middle ages to the present, including furniture, porcelain, jewels and glass.

Palais du Louvre – Rue de Rivoli, 75001.

Tel 42 60 32 14.

 

Musée National des Arts et Traditions Populaires – National Museum of Arts and Popular traditions: A collection of French ethnological heritage with art, including Paris art, archives and audiovisual presentations.

6 Avenue du Mahatma Ghandi, 7506.

Tel 44 17 60 00.

 

Maison Blazac – Balzac’s House: Located in the house where this writer once lived is a collection of his literary documents and souvenirs.  A garden that leads to a pretty alleyway.

47, Rue Raynouard, 75016.

Tel 42 24 56 38

 

Musée Bourdelle: A collection of plaster, bronze, and marble statues as well as drawings and paintings where the artist lived and worked his whole life. A recent addition on display is a personal collection donated by his daughter to the city of France.

16 rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015. Paris Métro to Falguière or Montparnasse-Bienvenue.

Tel 45 48 67 27.

 

Musée Carnavalet: Located in the 16th-century Carnavalet and the 18th-century Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau Hotels, this museum retraces the Paris history, with Paris art objects, paintings, drawings and models.

23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003. Métro St. Paul or Chemin-Vert.

Tel 47 72 21 13.

Paris Catacombs: These are the basic charnel houses for the Parisian cemeteries, located in used quarries. The underground world of Paris. Bones from the old cemeteries of Paris, namely the cemetery of the Innocents. Ossuaries in the hollowed out spaces of the former stone quarries. Closed for construction work. Reopening in the Summer of 1995

1 Place Denfert-Rochereau, 75014. Paris Métro or RER Denfert-Rochereau.

Tel 43 22 47 63.

 

Musée National de Céramique de Sèvres – National Museum of Ceramics from Sèvres: A beautiful collection of European china, pottery and porcelain from the Middle Ages to the 19th-century.

Place de la Manufacture, 92310 Sèvres. Métro Pont de Sèvres.

Tel 45 34 99 05.

 

Musée Cernuschi: A collection of ancient Chinese art, pottery, bronzes, funerary statuettes, as well as contemporary Chinese paintings.

7 Avenue Velasquez, 75008. Métro Villiers or Monceau.

Tel 45 63 50 75.

 

Château de Champs -  Castle of the Fields: Located just outside Paris, this château is a prime example of 18th-century French architecture, interior decorations, furniture and gardens.

Champs-sur-Marne, 77420. RER Line A to Noisel, then the No. 220 bus to Château de Champs.

Tel 60 05 24 43.

 

Chapelle Expiatoire – Monument de Louis XVI – Expatriates Chapel – Monument to Louis 16th: The chapel was built during the Restoration period in a Neo-Classical style to commemorate Louis XVI and the victims of the revolution.

Square Louis XVI, 29 Rue Pasquier, 75008. Paris Métro Saint Lazare or Saint Augustin.

Tel 42 65 35 80.

Musée du Cinema – Henry Langlois – Museum of Cinema: A complete collection of scenery, costumes, posters, manuscripts, etc. all relating to movies and cinematography from the beginnings to present.

Palais de Chaillot, Place du Trocadéro, 75016.

Métro Trocadéro. Tel 45 54 74 39.

 

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – La Villette – City of Science and Industry: Europe’s largest science and industry museum. It explores the present and future of mankind, including rockets, telecommunications etc.

30 Avenue Cirentin Cariou, 75019. Paris Métro Poret de la Villette.

Tel 40 05 70 00.

 

Musée National du Moyen Age – Thermes de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages – Baths of Cluny: The Hotel of Abbey of Cluny dating from the 15th-century, contains one of the richest Medieval collections in the world.  The Gallo-Roman baths now house antique sculptures.

6 Place Paul Painlevé, 75005. Paris Métro or RER to Saint-Michel or Cluny.

Tel 43 25 62 00.

 

Musée Cognacq – Jay: Collections from the 18th-century include Fragonard, Chardin, Boucher and others. The collection was bequeathed to the city of Paris by Ernest Cognacq and his wife Louise Jay, who were also the founders of the Samaritaine stores.

Hôtel Donon, 8, rue Elzévir, 75003 Paris
Tel. 40 27 07 21

 

Musée National du Château de Compiègne – The National Museum of the Castle of Compiegne: Located outside Paris, there are actually three Paris museums located in this castle. The first is the “Grand Apartments” where Louis 16th and Napoléon III stayed. The second is a Museum of the Second Empire. The third is a Museum of Cars and Tourism.

Place du Général de Gaulle, 60200 Compiègne. SNCF train Gare du Nord to Compèigne.

Tel: 44 40 02 02.

 

Conciergerie – The Prison: This building is a classic example of 14th-century civil architecture. Inside you can visit the guardrooms, gun rooms, and kitchens to name a few. Visitors also can see inside the old prisons and Marie Antoinette’s hiding place.  Ile de la Cité – Quai de L’horloge.

Métro Cité.

 

Musée Eugène Delacroix: A museum dedicated to the Artist Delacroix (1798 – 1863) with works and documents by the artist. This was also his last home.

6 Rue de Furstemberg, 75006. Paris Métro Saint-Germain des Prés.

Tel 43 54 04 87.

 

Musée des Egouts de Paris; Museum of the Paris Sewers: For a look at the other side of Paris, this takes you through a network of drains, and shows the history of Paris’ sanitation.

Pont d’Alma, 75007. Paris Métro Alma-Marceau.

Tel 47 05 10 29.

 

Musée d’Ennery: A collection of over 7,000 art objects from China and Japan during the Second Empire.

59 Avenue Foch, 75016. Paris Métro Porte Dauphine.

Tel 45 53 57 96.

 

Musée National du Château de Fontainebleau – The National Museum of the Castle of Fontainebleau: This was the official residence of the Monarchs from François I to Napoleon III. These is also a separate museum dedicated to Napoleon I with an extraordinary collection of paintings, furniture and other objects of art.

Fontainebleau, 77300. SNCF train Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon station.

Tel64 22 34 39.

 

La Grande Arch de la Défense – The Grand Arch of the Défense: The Defense is the section of Paris where this new arch stands. Opened in 1989, La Défense, which means “The Resistance”, immediately became a success and was adapted as one of Paris’ great monuments, offering panoramic views and continual exhibitions.

1 Parvais de la Défense, 92040. Paris Métro Grande Arche de La Défense.

Tel 49 07 27 57.

 

Musée Grévin: Wax works of French figures from Charlemagne to the present.

10 Boulevard Montmatre,75009. Paris Métro Etienne Marcel.

Tel 47 70 85 05.

 

Musée Hébert: A collection of paintings and watercolors by Ernest Hebert (1817 – 1908).

Hôtel de Montmorency-Bours, 85 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006. Paris Métro Sèvres Babylone or Vaneau.

Tel 42 22 23 82.

 

Musée Jean-Jacques Henner: A collection of paintings and drawings by Jean-Jacques Henner (1829 – 1905).

43 Avenue Villiers, 75017.

Tel 47 63 42 73.

 

Musée de l’Institute du Monde Arabe - Museum of the Institute of the Arab World. Contemporary art from Arab countries.

1 Rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, 75005. Paris Métro Jussieu or Cardinal Lemoine.

Tel. 40 51 38 38.

 

Château de Maisons-Laffitte – Castle of the Lafitte Houses: Located just outside Pairs, it is a perfect example of Classical art in France built by François Mansart between 1642 and 1651. The building still boasts most the original interior.

Avenue Carnot, 78600. RER line A – Direction Poissy to Maisons-Lafitte.

Tel 38 62 01 49.

 

Musée de la Marine – Museum of the Navy: A wealthy collection of items depicting the history of the French Navy from the 1600′s to present.

Palais de Chaillot, Place du Trocadéro, 75016. Paris Métro Trocadéro.

Tel 45 53 31 70.

 

Musée de la Mode et du Costume – Palais Galliera – Museum of Fashion and Dress: A complete history of fashion from 1735 to the present, in a series of temporary exhibitions. Displays include dinner jackets, waistcoats, dresses, petticoats, laces and other articles of apparel.

10 Avenue Pierre 1ere de Serbie, 75016. Métro Iéna or Alma Marceau.

Tel 47 20 85 23.

 

Musée de la Monnaie – Museum of coins: France history told by coins and medals from the beginning to the present.

11 Quai de Conti, 75006. Paris Métro Odéon or Pont Neuf.

Tel 40 4655 33.

 

Musée National des Monuments Français – National Museum of French monuments: A collection of molds of the great works by French sculptors from the 11th to the 14th century and French mural paintings form the 11th to the 16th century.

Palais de Chaillot, 75016. Paris Métro Trocadéro.

Musée Gustave Moreau: Gustave Moreau (1826 – 1898) one of the early symbolists, had his workshop here. On display are 1,200 paintings, watercolors and cards, as well as 5,000 drawings.

14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, 75009. Paris Métro Trinité or Saint-Georges.

Tel 48 74 38 50.

 

Musée Nissim de Camondo: The atmosphere of the 18th century is replicated with a collection of furniture, paintings, tapestries, porcelain and silver.

63 Rue Monceau, 75008. Métro Trinité of Saint-Georges.

Tel 45 63 26 32.

 

Musée National de l’Orangerie des Tuileries – National Museum of the Orange house of the Tuileries: An exhibition of the Walter Guillaume collection with paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso among others, and two rooms dedicated to Monet’s Nymphéas.

Place de la Concorde, 75001. Paris Métro Concorde or Tuileries.

Tel 42 97 48 16.

 

Musée Orsay: Once a railway station, it has now been converted to house artistic creations from 1848 to 1914 including paintings, sculptures, photography and the applied arts.

A superb example of a successful recon version, the musée d’Orsay, Paris was redeveloped in the old Gare d’Orsay, built by Victor Laloux and inaugurated in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. After having received the first electric trains, the station was closed in 1939, the victim of progress. It was registered as a listed building in 1978. The museum was opened in December 1986 and was dedicated to all artistic production from 1848 to 1914. Paintings, pastels, sculptures, furniture and objects d’art, photography and documentary objects reflect the richness and diversity of this era.

1 Rue de Bellechasse, 75007. Paris Métro Solférino.

Tel 40 49 48 14.

 

Musée du Petit Palais – Museum of the Small Palace: A valuable collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, tapestries and art objects from the beginning of time to the 20th-century, and a large collection of paintings from the 19th-century.

 

Musée National Picasso – The National Picasso Museum: Works from the artist’s personal collection are featured in this 17th-century mansion.

Hôtel Salé, 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris.

Tel. 42 71 25 21.

 

Musée des Plans-Reliefs -  Museum of Relief Maps: An exceptional collection started by Louis XIV displaying relief models of fortified towns throughout France.

Hôtel des Invalides,75007. Paris Métro Invalides or Varenne.

Tel 47 05 11 07.

 

Musée de la Poste – Museum of the Postal Service: A comparison of the Post Office of yesterday and today. A collection of mailboxes and uniforms from around the world, as well as all the stamps issued by France and from other countries.

34 Boulevard de Vaugirard, 75015. Paris Métro Montparnasse-Bienvenue.

Tel 42 79 23 45.

 

Musée Auguste Rodin: Bronze and marble sculpted by August Rodin are on display on an 18th-century mansion. Large sculptures are also outside in the park.

Hôtel Biron, 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007. Paris Métro Varenne.

Tel 47 05 01 34.

 

Basilique Saint-Denis – Basilica of Saint Dennis: Located just outside Paris, it is one of the earliest examples of Gothic art in France. There are numerous funerary sculptures and stained glass windows. It is also contains the tombs of the kings of France.

Place de l’Hotel de Ville, 93200 Saint-Denis. Paris Métro Saint-Denis-Basilique.

Tel 48 09 83 54.

 

Musée de la Sculpture en Plen Air – Museum of Open Air Sculptures: Located in a vast garden off the banks of the Seine, this museum was created in 1980 to house sculptures from the second half of the 20th-century.

Quai Saint-Bernard, 75005. Paris Métro Gare d’Austerlitz or Sully-Morland.

 

Musée des Techniques – Technical Museum: Located in an ancient 12th-century priory of St. martin-des-Champs, is a unique collection retracing the development of science and technology from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

 

Maison Victor Hugo – Victor Hugo’s House: Victor Hugo lived in this building from 1832 to 1848. Here you will find over 400 designs by this writer, who was also a painter and an interior decorator.

6 Place des Vosges, 75004. Métro Bastille or Chemin Vert.

Tel 42 72 10 16.

 

Musée de la Vie Romantique – Maison Renan-Scheffer - Museum of the Romantic Life – Renan-Scheffer’s House: Souvenirs from George Sand and his family.

16 Rue Chaptal, 75009. Paris Métro Saint-Georges or Blanche.

Tel 48 74 95 38.

 

Musée du Vin – Museum of Wine: Located in a 13th-century abbey that was destroyed during the revolution, and rebuilt in 1981, this museum details the history and the making of wine through artifacts, displays and wax figures.

5 – 7 Square Charles Dickens, 75016. Paris Métro Passy.

Tel. 45 25 63 26.

Musée Zadkine: The studio where the artist worked up until his death in 1967.

100 Bis Rue d’Assas, 75006. Paris Métro Notre-Dame-des-champs or Vavin.

Tel 43 26 91 90.

The Pass to Paris Museums.

With the museum pass, there’s no admission charge, no waiting in lines and no limit to the number of times you can visit more than 70 museums and monuments in Paris and in the Paris region.

What are the advantages ?

- Free direct entry to the permanent collections.
- Unlimited visits
- Unlimited validity: the pass may be used any time after purchase – so you in advance !

How does it work ?

Just choose the number and type of pass you want to buy and fill the form with your personal information and your hotel address in France. Your museum pass(es) will be waiting you at your arrival at your hotel. Print clearly your first and last name and the date of first use on the back of your card. Show your pass on entry, there will be no need to wait, or pay an admission charge, you can go straight to the top of the line.

Please Note

- The museum pass does not permit access to temporary exhibitions or guided visits.
- Most Paris museums: offer free admission to children under 18 years of age, offer reduced admission to young adults between 18 and 25 years of age, and generally close on Mondays or Tuesdays, and on January 1 and May 1.
- The no wait rule may not be guaranteed at certain sites with magnetic-strip ticket machines which require a free-admission ticket or at monuments where visitor capacity is limited for security reasons.
- The pass cannot be extended or reimbursed for any reason. The rule applies in the event of closure of participating museums for public holidays or unforeseen events ( strikes, etc…) or free-entrance days.

Prices:

1-day pass 25euro

3-day pass
(consecutive days) 44euro

5-day pass
(consecutive days) 62euro