Musée d’Orsay: 5 Reasons Why This is the Best Museum in Paris

The Musée d’Orsay is my favorite museum in Paris.

And I can’t imagine traveling to Paris and NOT visiting this amazing place and seeing the stunning artwork.

Now, I have to admit that if you’re not into art at all, then this may not be for you.

Or if you don’t like Impressionism art then it might not be for you.

But hear me out if you’re not an art fan.

Because you may still want to visit Musée d’Orsay even if museums are not your thing.

Let’s get started.

 

Where exactly is Musée d’Orsay?

This incredible museum is located in the 7th Arrondissement which is known as the home of Les Invalides, the Eiffel Tower and … the Musée d’Orsay.

The museum actually sits right along the River Seine — well, technically on the other side of the street that runs along the Seine.

So it is on the Left Bank.

Directly across the river is the Jardin des Tuileries.

It’s not far from the Jardin du Luxembourg or the Eiffel Tower.

Okay.

So now we know where this fabulous museum is located.

Now let’s dig into WHY it’s the best museum.

 

5 Reasons why the Musée d’Orsay is the best museum in Paris

It’s all about Impressionism…

This museum is known to have the most extensive collection of Impressionism artwork.

And I happen to love Impressionism — and post Impressionism too.

Impressionism began in the mid-1800’s but really hit its stride in the 1870’s and 1880’s.

This was a completely different way and style of painting that many conventional artists at the time poo-pooed.

Why?

Well, you can actually see the brushstrokes in the works.

The subject matter was every day life versus grand ideas or people.

These paintings showed movement.

Also these works of art were not such exact and precise depictions of a person, place or thing.

Impressionism also emphasized light — in particular, changing light.

Claude Monet is the one who kind of started it all and is one of the most famous Impressionist artists.

Paris was the epicenter of this new style.

And today, the Musée d’Orsay has one of the best collections.

You’ll find Monet’s works here for sure — although you’ll find some of his works also in the little sister museum —Musée de l’Orangerie.

Plus you’ll view the works of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Frédéric Bazille who, along with Monet, are the original 4 Impressionist painters.

These artists were soon joined by Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, and Armand Guillaumin.

I’ve become a fan of Pissarro.

And I’ve always loved Monet.

*Sigh*

These artists took a lot of criticism.

And some strayed away from Impressionism over their careers.

Monet is probably the one who remained the most loyal.

The Impressionism collection at the Orsay is worth every euro cent.

 

And Post-Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism

The Post Impressionism years began toward the end of the 1880’s and into the early 1900’s as did Neo-Impressionism.

Paul Cézanne — known as father of Post-Impressionism — Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Georges Seurat are the main painters behind the beginning of the Post-Impressionism movement.

While Georges Seurat and Paul Signac along with Camille Pissarro are the main artists of Neo-Impressionism.

This style emerged — as so many new art styles do — as a reaction against Impressionists’ concern for the natural depiction of color and light.

So Post-Impressionism is a bit more abstract and symbolic in its style.

And Neo-Impressionism is the beginning of the use of dots (pointillism) and blocks of color as these artists wanted to convey a sense of organization and permanence.

Neo-Impressionism is often considered to be the first true avant garde painting movement.

Personally, I prefer Impressionism, but I do like some of the Post-Impressionists’ works such as those by Van Gogh, Cézanne and Pierre Bonnard.

And I like some of the Neo-Impressionist works by Paul Signac and Pissarro.

Although my favorite Neo-Impressionist painter is Henri Matisse.

Anyway…

Musée d’Orsay has a wonderful collection of Post-Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist works.

And it’s interesting to see the progression from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism.

 

There are some cool sculptures

But it’s not all about paintings.

In fact, the Musée d’Orsay has a wonderful collection of sculptures.

You’ll find many in the main area, the atrium, when you walk in the entrance.

While most of Rodin’s sculptures are at his museum, there are a few in the Orsay.

There are some big-ass sculptures all through the atrium area.

I found a few sculpture that I love.

Although nothing will ever compare to Michelangelo’s David.

But I do find the Musée d’Orsay does have a nice collection of sculptures.

 

And other art forms

This wonderful museum also contains other types of art.

Decorative art such as ceramics and furniture are typically on display here.

So you’ll see vases, figurines, chairs, tables and writing desks.

Sometimes there are exhibits of medals or jewels as well.

It’s not all painting and sculptures.

There are also photography exhibits (yay!) and an area to watch short films.

This is fabulous as you can see all mediums of art at the Orsay.

 

All in an old train station

One of my favorite aspects to the Musée d’Orsay is that it used to be an old train station.

And they have kept that feel to the building.

Here’s a bit of history on the building.

The Paris-Orléans Railway Company acquired the site of the former Cour des Comptes, which is the court of auditors.

This site was left in ruins after being burnt down during the Paris Commune in 1871.

The railway company worked like mad to complete the extension of the lines from the Gare d’Austerlitz and to finish the building — the train station.

The builders wanted to maintain architectural integrity so put a beautiful façade while ensuring that underneath it was structurally sound.

It was started in 1898 and opened in July 1900.

People loved it as it really was the most beautiful train station in Paris.

It was also a station that served electric trains so you didn’t have to deal with all the steam and smoke.

Nice, right?!

Unfortunately because the platforms were too short it soon became obsolete.

By 1939 it only served the trains to and from the Paris suburbs.

But the Parisians loved the building so it was used for other events in the years after WWII.

The late 1960’s/early 1970’s almost saw this building demolished and replaced with a hotel.

Thankfully that was stopped.

And in the late 1970’s it was placed on the Historic Landmarks and the plans to turn it into a museum were taking shape.

The city officials had a competition to redesign the building and a team of three young architects from A.C.T. Architecture (Pierre Colboc, Renaud Bardon and Jean-Paul Philippon) were entrusted with the job of transforming the former train station into a museum.

Then in 1980 they decided to get a wee bit more help.

This came from the famous Italian architect and interior designer Gae Aulenti who converted the interior.

She is the one who designed the two towers at the end of the central aisle which really gives the Musée d’Orsay that grand feeling.

The Musée d’Orsay was inaugurated on December 1, 1986 by President François Mitterrand.

The idea of the Orsay is to bring together all the artworks from a very short, but extremely important and productive period of time — 1848-1914.

This is why you see painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts and photography all on display here.

Interestingly, many of these artists were often discredited or poo-pooed as I say, by the “establishment.”

Now these artists have a home.

The Orsay was renovated between 2009 and 2011.

I had visited for the first time in 2008 and I knew when I began wandering around that it had changed.

The walls were now painted in darker colors such as dark grey or green to help make the colors of the paintings pop.

And new lighting was installed.

It’s a great update for sure.

 

Why I love this museum

The Musée d’Orsay is my favorite museum in Paris — at least so far.

There are many small museums I haven’t visited.

But I love the Orsay because I love the art work and I love the building.

So together, it’s the perfect museum for me.

I like that it is big enough to hide from the crowds, yet small enough to not be overwhelming — like the Louvre.

If I spent a month in Paris, which is something that’s on my list, I’d visit this museum each week.

 

Tips for visiting the Musée d’Orsay

Visiting in off season will help avoid the large, maddening crowds for sure.

But even on my recent January visit to Paris, the museum was still somewhat busy.

However, in summer, it would have been packed!

Here is some general info and some tips:

• Open from 9.30am to 6pm daily, except Mondays
• Open until 9.45pm on Thursdays 
• Last tickets sold at 5pm (9pm Thursdays)
• The museum is cleared at 5.15pm (9.15pm Thursdays)
• Group visits must be booked in advance, Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm (Thursdays until 8pm)
• Closed on Mondays and on May 1 and December 25
• The first Sunday of the month is FREE
• Others who can visit for free include:
  • Under 18 year olds
  • 18-25 year olds who are citizens or long-term residents of an EU member state
  • Disabled visitors with one extra person
  • Unemployed visitors
  • Holders of a Paris Museum pass
  • Carte blanche cardholders
  • Members of the Barnes Foundation
  • Members of the Louvre Abu Dhabi
  • Members of the Société des Amis du Musée d’Orsay or of American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay
• Tickets are €14/adult
• You can buy a combined ticket for the Orsay and the Musée l’Orangerie for €18 or for the Orsay and the Musée Rodin for €21
• Do buy your ticket in advance online to avoid waiting in line at the museum. You simply print it out at home and you’re all set!