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.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
An interesting visit with my friend who understand art much more than I do. A lot of painting to be seen but the showcase is the Monet Waterlilies where people just sat and looked at the 8 huge murals. Reportedly this room was built for the purpose of holding these murals and it seemed like an almost religious experience with the people sitting and soaking it all in.
Graham Tranter - 2 weeks ago
Musée de l'Orangerie is a perfect place if you're a fan of Monet and other artists. It's not as big as the Louvre, but it's the ideal spot to appreciate Monet's Water Lilies. The intimate setting allows you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the artwork. Highly recommended for art lovers!
Yong Choi - 2 weeks ago
What a special museum! The size is perfect. Took us about an hour to do the whole thing. The Monet rooms were just spectacular. Loved the exhibit on the art collector as well. Definitely get reservations and book for early in the day for less crowds.
Lauren Koff - a month ago
The Orangerie is too easily overlooked by visitors to Paris who are keen to 'do' the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and other major attractions, which is a great shame, because this unassuming building houses some of the art world's great masterpieces. Even if you only go to see the eight monumental waterlily paintings by Monet, the visit will be more than worth it. However, before viewing the Monet paintings, I recommended heading downstairs to see the fantastic collection or works that include Picasso, Manet, Matisse and other great luminaries of art.
Jim Lesses - 2 months ago
It was a very beautiful museum. Monet's Water Lilies evoke such wonderful emotions. They even placed seating areas in the middle of the rooms so you can sit and admire the paintings for a long time.
Burcu Durmaz - a month 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: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: liakada-web - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Andy Hay - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Andy Hay - cc license via Flickr
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