If you love culture and spending hours staring at works of art of all kinds, the Musée d’Orsay is the place for you. With paintings, sculptures, photographs and caricatures, it offers the perfect overview of artistic life from the 19th to the 20th century, with masterpieces by Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet.
But you can’t take on a monument that easily, and it’s best to be well-informed. We give you our best tips and information on this former railway station, now a museum, so you can make the most of your visit. And if you want to take advantage of it before it gets a makeover now’s the time!
Table Of Contents
What can you expect when you visit the Musée d’Orsay?
Exhibitions
At the Musée d’Orsay, our focus is on the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. This period, so rich in artistic movements, social upheavals and renowned artists, is perfectly represented in the permanent exhibition of the museum. From the hyper-realism of Edgar Degas ‘s“Petite Danseuse de 14 ans” to Impressionist Edouard Manet ‘s“Olympia “, not forgetting Gustave Courbet ‘s controversial“Origin of the World“, which took a long time to be fully recognized.
And until July 14, 2024, the exhibition “Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism” takes you on the trail of this important artistic movement. With over 130 works by Monet, Renoir and other artists, embarked on a journey celebrating innovation 150 years after the first Impressionist exhibition. And for the first time, it’s a virtual reality exhibition and a special night that will accompany this anniversary.
How to avoid the crowds?
As you can imagine, more than a few people are planning to visit this Parisian must-see. And like all great museums, we don’t recommend weekends if you like to be left to your own devices. What we do recommend, however, is that you get there early in the morning, as soon as it opens at 9.30am. You can also visit in the evening, but your visit may be cut short by closing time. And here’s our little tip: take advantage of the Thursday night openings, when the museum closes at 9:45pm.
How long does it take to visit?
For a quick visit to the Musée d’Orsay, allow around 2 hours to discover the essentials. For a more complete and enjoyable visit, we advise you to allow half a day.
What else can we do there?
The old railway station that houses the Museum is itself a work of art that we recommend you admire. Its architecture, with its Beaux-Arts façade, is well worth a visit! What’s more, you’re just a stone’s throw from major monuments such as the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde for a 5-star experience.
Ideally located, you can admire the architecture and works of art, then relax in the historic gardens and enjoy delicious food in renowned restaurants. We particularly recommend Les Deux Magots, the famous Parisian café.
The history of the Musée d’Orsay
1900 World’s Fair
For the 1900 Universal Exhibition, architect Victor Laloux built a state-of-the-art station: Orsay station. It remained a station for almost 40 years, but with the industrial revolution in full swing, it closed, no longer keeping pace with the evolution of rail technology.
From train station to museum
During his presidential term, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing has the idea to transform the station into a museum, bringing together the national collections of 19th-century art, which until then had been dispersed among various Parisian museums. It was under President François Mitterrand that work began, culminating in 1986, when the Musée d’Orsay opened to the public. It has since become one of the world’s most popular museums, attracting millions of visitors every year, with masterpieces by Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir and many others.
Recognizing photography
When the Musée d’Orsay was created, it was decided to create a section dedicated to photography, a first for a fine arts museum in France. Today, the museum’s Photograph collection numbers over forty-five thousand works.
Where is the Musée d’Orsay and how do I get there?
Located on the banks of the Seine in the 7th arrondissement, it faces the Jardins des Tuileries on the other side of the river, and the imposing Louvre Museum. In this historic heart of Paris, with its many monuments, you can easily explore the surrounding area.
By metro : The nearest station is Solférino, line 12
By RER : Musée d’Orsay station, line C
By bus : Several lines serve the museum: 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, and 94
The Musée d’Orsay is a Parisian treasure trove, offering visitors a cultural experience like no other. As guardian of a part of France’s history, it bears witness to the country’s artistic wealth, and continues to offer ever more innovative temporary exhibitions.