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

Official Website: Musée de l'Orangerie

Fee: Yes, except free on the first Sunday of every month.

Closed Now

Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.

  • Monday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Sunday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Category: Museums

Address: Place de la Concorde
Jardin des Tuileries
75001 Paris
France

Phone: +33 1 44 77 80 07

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4.5 out of 5 4.5 Star Rating
Based on 224 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

5 Star Rating my favorite museum in paris! it's small (two rooms of the panorama monet lilies and a downstairs exhibition and gift shop) but i could stare at the water... Read More

Mira D. Apr-28-2023

5 Star Rating Went in the morning a half an hr after opening. Got in line to go through security then we paid at the desk to the right. Backpack wasn't allowed in so... Read More

Carmen C. Dec-27-2022

4 Star Rating This museum is the home of Monet's water lilies. If you want to see the spectacular drawings with Monet water lilies with long and wide painting, this is... Read More

Boon C. May-18-2022

Accommodations near Musée de l'Orangerie:

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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Photo Gallery

Video


Video slide presentation showing some of the many impressionist paintings on display in the Musée de l'Orangerie

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