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

Sculpture of an embracing couple by Rodin outside the Musée de l'Orangerie
Sculpture of an embracing couple by Rodin outside the Musée de l'Orangerie cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by mckrista1976

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 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Had a wonderful visit to the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris! The collection is stunning, especially Monet’s Water Lilies. The whole experience was both enriching and inspiring. Highly recommend for art lovers and those seeking tranquility in the city.
Carol Lo - a month ago

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5 Star Rating 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 - 5 months ago

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5 Star Rating Overall, a very pretty museum to visit. Didn’t wait in line because we went very early in the morning. Note that the cafe can be accessed from 9:30 so waited for about 30 min to enter because the museum itself opens from 9AM.
Tina - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Loved Monet’s Water Lilies exhibition - a classic exhibition but with surreal experience of being surrounded by one of the greatest artworks of history. Also loved Robert Ryman’s exhibition whose artworks based on the use of white colour and expression of light were surprisingly inspiring.
Jina Kim - a month ago

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4 Star Rating A major museum gallery of arts collections The collections from 20th is the best of all artists in the impressionist era such as Claude Monet, Maurice Utrillo, Henri Russeau etc. One of must visit museum when you travel to Paris city. And the meditation room of water Lillies collection from Claude Monet was amazingly impressive and cannot be missed. I’m really lucky to be able catch it when the visitors are not so crowded. You better have a ticket on your hand priory. For the entrance you have to queuing another 40 mins to buy the ticket if you’re not the exception of the list. But once you entered the musee, it’s totally worth the visit, especially for those who really love (and understanding art), really want to spend the time to give attention and observes. I love being here even on my own.
Putri Dumadi - a month ago

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Directions

Metro / RER Line Nearest Station Walking Time
M1, M8 or M12Concorde Station4 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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