Musée d'Orsay (Art Museum)
Musée d'Orsay, located in a former railroad station, is one of the most popular art museums in Paris
The Musee d'Orsay is a magnificent art museum situated on the left bank of the Seine River running through the heart of Paris. If you are visiting Paris as a tourist, then stopping off at the Musee d'Orsay is an absolute must, in fact if you have decided that you have to visit the world famous Louvre museum then you should most definitely visit the Musee d'Orsay in order to really get the full experience of significant art works within Paris.
The Musee d'Orsay was originally a railway station known as the Gare d'Orsay, completed in 1909 and served as the main terminus for the trains servicing the railways to south western France up until 1939. The building has been used over the years for many different purposes including as a partial mailing room during the Second World War, as a backdrop and set for several films including Franz Kafka's The Trial and as a sort of headquarters for the Renaud-Barrault Theatre Company.
In 1970 plans were put in motion to demolish the entire building and the green light was given to commence demolition, however, the timely intervention of the then minister for cultural affairs, Jacques Duhamel, prevented its demolition in order to make way for a new hotel. Instead the building was added to a list of historic buildings and saved for many generations to come.
In 1974 it was suggested that the building be converted into a museum in order to create a bridge between the Louvre and the modern art museum and so the Musee d'Orsay was born and is today one of the most popular museums in Paris. Extensive work was carried out on both the exterior as well as the interior of the museum however the original railway station look was maintained in terms of the huge, rather cavernous space which provides vast amounts of light, perfect for viewing works of art.
Nearby attractions: Jardin des Tuileries, Le Musée des Arts Decoratifs and Musée de l'Orangerie
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes, however entry is free with a mandatory reservation on the first Sunday of every month.Musée d'Orsay (Art Museum) Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 9:45 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, France
Phone: 01 40 49 48 14
Official Website: Musée d'Orsay (Art Museum)
Musée d'Orsay (Art Museum) Reviews
Rated out of 5
It is definitely crowded, booking in advance is a must. The museum is very clean, spacious and grandiose. You could easily spend hours inside and if you ever get tired there are ample number of seats and even a café inside. I recommend less crowded sections and floors for rare specimens which were more enjoyable discoveries for me. It was a magical and humbling journey to witness all of the contained artifacts and artworks.
Ogeday Celep - 2 weeks ago
This is one of the best museums especially for romantic and impressionist works. The building itself is a standout and the video at the lower ground entrance worth watching to get some history. Spread over 5 levels the collection has iconic works by well known artists; Degas, Manet, Monet , Van Gogh and the list goes on. The sculptures are amazing and the art nouveau rooms and furniture a real knockout. The Clock Cafe on level 5 has amazing decor and the clock of course. The coffee was absolutely awful. Weak watery and only warm. The tart was good. I think this museum is second only to the Louvre.
G Mac - 3 weeks ago
Excellent museum within an incredible building to house it all. Beautiful and extensive impressionist collection. It was enjoyable to see so many important works in one spot. The building itself is worth the stop with its clocks and windows.
BKV - 2 weeks ago
I could spend days here just like at The Louvre. We had a guide and it made a big difference. He pointed out several art works that had just gone on display. They loan them
Out to other museums in trade for new ones. I really like the chronological approach to the art work. It lets you lead and see how the art changed over time due to politics, governments, social norms and previous artist’s works.
Chris P. - 4 weeks ago
I had a lovely visit to the museum. I would recommend purchasing the audio guided tour. There is signage throughout the museum indicating when there is an audio file associated with a painting. I particularly enjoyed this on the top floor (Impressionism, Van Gogh, etc). This was likely off season, but the museum was still busy. Be prepared to compete with crowds. I recommend buying tickets to any museum/attraction in advance, as those with and without tickets enter through different lines.
Liz Fochtmann - a month ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M12 | Solférino Station | 4 minutes |
| RER-C | Musée d'Orsay | 0 minutes |
How to get to Musée d'Orsay (Art Museum) by Metro / RER
By Metro: Exit Metro Line 12 at Solférino Station and walk north on Rue de Bellechasse to the museum entrance.
By RER C: The exit at Musée d'Orsay Station is located right in front of the entrance to the musum.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Musée d'Orsay (Art Museum):
Photo Gallery
-
Ornate clock inside the Musée d'Orsay cc licensed photo by Eurapart - stoked to get 100,000 views! -
Photo Credit: Rob Oo - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Pierre Blaché - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Eric@focus - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Pierre Blaché - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr
Video
Please provide consent and/or disable ad blocker to view the video.
