Musée de l'Orangerie
If you have a special love for impressionist works of art, especially Monet, Musée de l'Orangerie is a must see
There are many wonderful art museums located in and around Paris but if you have a special love for impressionist and post impressionist works then you should most definitely do everything you can to include the Musée de l'Orangerie on your itinerary.
Located in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the museum houses an impressive collection of works from Monet in the form of no less than eight of the famed Water Lilies collection as well as works by artists such as Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and many others.
The gallery is located along the banks of the Seine River in the old orangery of the Tuileries Palace which is situated on the Place de la Concorde which is conveniently located near to the Concorde Metro station. The museum building was originally built in 1852 by famed architect Firmin Bourgeois. It is interesting to note that the original intention of the building was to provide shelter to the orange trees of the Tuileries garden. Throughout its history the building was used for many different purposes including housing soldiers as well as hosting various sporting and cultural events, music concerts and even events of patriotism.
The Musée de l'Orangerie is most famously known for being the place where one can view the entire collection of Monet's Water Lilies known as the Nympheas. The story is that Monet had agreed to donate the entire collection of eight Water Lilies panels to the French government and they were to be housed in the Musée de l'Orangerie. The ground floor of the building was in fact redesigned specifically for this purpose but after completion of the renovations to the building Monet could not bear to be parted from these works and it was only after his death in 1926 that they could be displayed in the museum. Such dedication and love of the work should be enough to entice anyone to go see the collection.
Nearby attractions: Jardin des Tuileries, Musée d'Orsay and Musée des Beaux Arts
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes, except free on the first Sunday of every month.Musée de l'Orangerie Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France
Phone: 01 44 50 43 00
Official Website: Musée de l'Orangerie
Musée de l'Orangerie Reviews
Rated out of 5
In addition to the amazing water lily murals by Monet, which are mesmerizing and a must-see experience, the permanent collection in the lower level is exceptional. Here you will find works by many of the great French impressionists and post-Impressionists
Not seen anywhere else in France. Additionally, the museum has special exhibits that are generally unavailable any place else.
Joel Dryer - 2 months ago
Famous for the large Monet pieces, the museum has two immersive rooms with the large panel paintings. There is a bench in the middle and you can sit a while and take it all in.
The lower floor also had some interesting art, but the two rooms upstairs were definitely the main attraction.
You could do the whole museum in an hour or two depending on how much time you have.
Got timed tickets ahead of time and getting in and out was a breeze, definitely not as crowded as the more popular museums.
Zinger Learns - in the last week
The water lilies from Monet were my favorite, but there are many wonderful items to see inside this museum. We spent a few hours here, enjoying everything on display.
Theresa St. John - a month ago
A relatively short museum tour but still pretty good. Queue was long by the time we got out. There was barely any queue when we went early in the morning when it was just opened.
Kate Lim - in the last week
A small, moderate museum but crowded with visitors. They came for Monet's gallery, I think. Ticket prices purchased at the counter are cheaper than on the website, so I encourage you to buy tickets at the counter.
Rachel Ngn - a month ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M1, M8 or M12 | Concorde Station | 4 minutes |
How to get to Musée de l'Orangerie by Metro / RER
By Metro: Exit Metro Line 1,8 or 12 at Concorde Station and walk south along the eastern edge of Place de la Concorde to the museum entrance on your left at the far end.
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Accommodations near Musée de l'Orangerie:
Photo Gallery
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Viewing paintings by Monet inside the Musée de l'Orangeriein cc licensed photo by Allie_Caulfield -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Gael Varoquaux - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Tom Hilton - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Andy Hay - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Andy Hay - cc license via Flickr
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