Inaugurated in 1986, the Musée d’Orsay welcomes thousands of visitors every day. But do you really know all its secrets?
1 – Before it was a museum, it was a former train station
Before it became the museum we know today, Orsay was a railway station. In fact, it was the world’s first electrified urban rail terminal. The latter was inaugurated during the 1900 Universal Exhibition and served three main destinations: Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nantes. After surviving two wars, the station finally changed function, becoming a museum in 1971. It was then classified as a Monuments Historiques on March 20, 1978!
2- The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting
Incredible, but true, the Musée d’Orsay is home to the largest collection of 19th-century Impressionist art. Its collection includes remarkable paintings such as Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait and Edouard Manet’s Déjeuner sur l’herbe.
3 – The museum has more metal in its structure than the Eiffel Tower
Who’d have thought it? The Musée d’Orsay alone contains 12,000 tonnes of metal! By way of comparison, our beloved Eiffel Tower required 7,000 tonnes of metal. That’s almost half as much!
4 – The museum has its own app to visit (and it’s free)
To make your visit easier, the Musée d’Orsay has created its own app. Available free of charge on Iphone and Android, it lets you discover the temporary exhibitions, understand a selection of 32 works with commentary, and it’s translated into 5 languages. You also have access to the museum’s diary so you don’t miss out on any news!
5 – It’s free all year round (under certain conditions)
Yes, you don’t have to break the bank to admire a Monet or a Van Gogh. If you’re under 18 and French or under 26 and European, then the museum opens its doors to you free of charge. Proof of identity is required! What’s more, on the first Sunday of every month, the museum is free for all.