Musée de l'Orangerie
If you have a special love for impressionist works of art, especially Monet, Musée de l'Orangerie is a must see
There are many wonderful art museums located in and around Paris but if you have a special love for impressionist and post impressionist works then you should most definitely do everything you can to include the Musée de l'Orangerie on your itinerary.
Located in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the museum houses an impressive collection of works from Monet in the form of no less than eight of the famed Water Lilies collection as well as works by artists such as Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and many others.
The gallery is located along the banks of the Seine River in the old orangery of the Tuileries Palace which is situated on the Place de la Concorde which is conveniently located near to the Concorde Metro station. The museum building was originally built in 1852 by famed architect Firmin Bourgeois. It is interesting to note that the original intention of the building was to provide shelter to the orange trees of the Tuileries garden. Throughout its history the building was used for many different purposes including housing soldiers as well as hosting various sporting and cultural events, music concerts and even events of patriotism.
The Musée de l'Orangerie is most famously known for being the place where one can view the entire collection of Monet's Water Lilies known as the Nympheas. The story is that Monet had agreed to donate the entire collection of eight Water Lilies panels to the French government and they were to be housed in the Musée de l'Orangerie. The ground floor of the building was in fact redesigned specifically for this purpose but after completion of the renovations to the building Monet could not bear to be parted from these works and it was only after his death in 1926 that they could be displayed in the museum. Such dedication and love of the work should be enough to entice anyone to go see the collection.
Nearby attractions: Jardin des Tuileries, Musée d'Orsay and Musée des Beaux Arts
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes, except free on the first Sunday of every month.Musée de l'Orangerie Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France
Phone: 01 44 50 43 00
Official Website: Musée de l'Orangerie
Musée de l'Orangerie Reviews
Rated out of 5
It's a really good museum to see the paintings of Claude Monet. This museum has the great Water lilies painting.
It has a permanent exhibition of many great painters like PABLO PICASSO.
If you're in Paris you must visit this museum.
Rahul Agarwal - 3 weeks ago
We had a wonderful visit here last week. It started on a rough note as there was a strike with workers in the museums. My timed entry and tickets were not honored. But we were soon inside and here I’ll mention that I went to reception and requested a refund on my tickets and I received that today. The display of Monet’s Water Lilies is simply extraordinary. The art will take your breath away and the large oval-shaped display rooms are perfect for this art. I enjoyed the visit immensely.
Gary Rogers - 2 months ago
An incredible museum that houses many outstand works by Picasso and other masterpieces. The main attraction is two large oval shaped room that present Claude Monet's Water Lilies as he wanted them presented. The flow and layout of the displays are outstanding. Easy to follow maps and directions because the building is just about perfect in size and the audio guides were very informative.
Rick Kim - a month ago
L'Orangerie offered an excellent museum experience. Monet’s water lily panels are worth the price of admission. Very elegant and understated collection. Well worth a visit!
Jeb Maloney - 2 weeks ago
What a unique museum that allows you to see Monet’s classic works the way he intended it. The murals of water lilies are like windows looking out onto Monet’s pond, you feel transformed from a museum to a veranda. If you are a lover of the water lilies, this is a must see experience.
Timothy Carmon - 3 weeks ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M1, M8 or M12 | Concorde Station | 4 minutes |
How to get to Musée de l'Orangerie by Metro / RER
By Metro: Exit Metro Line 1,8 or 12 at Concorde Station and walk south along the eastern edge of Place de la Concorde to the museum entrance on your left at the far end.
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Photo Gallery
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Viewing paintings by Monet inside the Musée de l'Orangeriein cc licensed photo by Allie_Caulfield -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Gael Varoquaux - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dalbera - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Andy Hay - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Andy Hay - cc license via Flickr
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