There are many trips you can make in a lifetime, including taking the time to dedicate your itinerary to visit some of the greatest masterpieces in the world in Paris. Of course, no one would tell an art collector or enthusiast to skip the Louvre, but for those wanting to explore the other parts of the city’s thriving art scene, below are five museums you definitely want to consider
The Louvre
From 20th century paintings, drawings, sculptures and art objects, the Louvre is a beautiful masterpiece in and of itself. Millions upon millions of people visit the Louvre each year to see the Mona Lisa, but there are many hidden corners around the museum apart from that, including those dedicated to Islamic and Egyptian art.
Musee d’Orsay
Located in an old Beaux-Arts train station on the Left Bank of the river Seine, the museum is home to numerous impressionist and expressionist artworks by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, and others. The museum is also home to Western artistic creation from 1848 to 1914 and represents all types of art including painting, sculpture, and photography.
Musee Rodin
Dedicated to French sculptor Auguste Rodin, Musee Rodin is Paris’s finest sculpture museum highlighting Rodin’s work and that of his students. In addition to his iconic works, the museum also has an extensive sculpture garden you can stroll in and view works such as “The Thinker.”
Musee du Luxembourg
Situated in the picturesque Luxembourg Gardens and opened in 1750, this museum is one of Europe’s oldest. In 1818, the museum was announced to be a “museum for living artists” and exhibits contemporary artworks a few times a year by artists such as Delacroix, Modigliani, Chagall, and Fragonard.
Musee d’Orangerie
Located in the beautiful Tuileries Gardens next to the Place de la Concorde in Paris, Musee de l’Orangerie is an art gallery with impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. The museum is famous for being a permanent home to eight Water Lilies murals by the famous artist Claude Monet. The museum also displays works by Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, and Rousseau.
Paris is one of the art capitals in the world and has been home to countless art movements, fairs, exhibits, and museums. There is enough to see and experience to last a lifetime, but with limited time, a weekend getaway is worth your time. Beyond the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, there is also Versailles, Reims, and Lille to name a few, but Paris, of course, is charming and the heart of everything artistic.
Airport: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)