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 – 6:00 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
This was hands down my favorite museum in Paris. I didn’t even have to wait in line to get in—maybe I just got lucky, but it made the experience even better! The highlight was, without a doubt, Monet’s Water Lilies. Standing in those oval rooms surrounded by his massive, serene paintings was absolutely breathtaking. The atmosphere was calm, the layout beautifully curated, and the overall experience unforgettable. I 100% recommend visiting—especially if you appreciate impressionist art or just want a peaceful, inspiring break from the city buzz. If you are a student the museum is free.
deniz alaaddinoğlu - a week ago
Museum is quite smaller compared to the other big ones we’ve been to in the city. The Claude Monet exhibits are quite beautiful.
The other exhibits were good but not overly as impressive in my opinion. As we all know though art is unique to each individual.
There is an accessible elevator for people who need help with stairs. We found that really helpful.
The cafeteria was nice. Coffee was good and prices were reasonable.
Overall the museum was clean and easy to enjoy.
Parking was easy to navigate across the square underground.
Lindsey Marion - a week ago
Beautiful water Lily from Monet. Other collections about painters of Impressionism are also worth a visit. I loved the collection of Renoir before. Now they have a small family room for little kids to appreciate paintings by small games. Very recommended.
Ching-Yen CHENG - a month ago
A serene gem in the heart of Paris! The Water Lilies by Monet are simply breathtaking — you feel like you’re stepping right into the painting. The museum is smaller and less crowded, perfect for a peaceful art experience. A must-visit for Impressionist lovers!
Tiffany Tan - a month ago
As a huge Monet fan, I absolutely loved this place. What made it especially magical was Monet’s contribution to the interior design; you can really feel his spirit there. However - because it is a very touristy place, it gets really noisy, which goes against Monet’s original wish for the museum to be a soulful sanctuary.
Zuzia Pietrzak - 3 weeks 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: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr
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