Musée d'Orsay, Paris

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Favorite thing: This is my favorite paintings museum in Paris, for the quality of the works on display but also the architecture of the former Gare d'Orsay. I like the complexity of the plan, the level differences, and the great clock.

At each of my visits to the Musée d'Orsay - I am fortunate to live at 1h20 from Paris by the fast Thalys train - I stop a long time in front of some of my favorite paintings, my "coups de cœur" which make my hart bounce and my eyes shine with pleasure.
One of them is a rather large winter landscape called "La Pie" (the magpie) from Claude Monet.
Further I admire "Country Dance" and "Dance in the City" by Auguste Renoir.
Followed by the twenty excellent Van Gogh paintings with "l'Eglise d'Auvers-sur-Oise", "La nuit étoilée sur le Rhône" and "Les Roulottes".
Then there are these remarkable academic, impressionist or realistic nudes about whom I wrote a complete review in "things to do" (not yet censored!).

Furthermore in addition to the paintings the Musée d'Orsay presents nearly 200 sculptures from the 19th century many from Rodin. My favorite piece is a wonderful bronze statue of Albert Bartholomew "Little girl crying".

The Musée d'Orsay is undergoing important transformation works until the end of 2011. I'm eager to see again all my beloved works of art in their new presentation.
I did so in March 2012 - ref my new review in "Things to do"

Open: 9.30 -18 h from Monday till Sunday (21.45 h on Thursday).
Closed: Monday.
Price (2012): 9 €, reduced 6,50 €, free 18 yr or 18 - 25 yr from the EU.

Fondest memory: Discovering wonderful paintings at the Musée d'Orsay.

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Favorite thing: look into the museum pass; it is well worth it!
it must be used consecutively (and includes versailles).
this museum is magnificent and i would advise you to begin on the top floor (impressionists) and work your way down but don't forget to check out the view from the roof off the cafe!!! you can get a sandwich outside.
the longest line will be up and down the eiffel tower (advise walking down -it's fun) or possibly st chapelle (near notre dame) which is not included.

Fondest memory: the scale of all the famous buildings and lovely fluidity of the most beautiful walking city!

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Favorite thing: The Orsay is possibly my favourite gallery in France with the Picasso a close 2nd. I really love the art here and the building layout that has everything from huge spaces to intimate rooms depending on what is being displayed.

Being an old train station the Orsay has its own querky appeal when standing on the level 5 viewing platform. You can imagine the trains coming through here though they haven't been about for many years.

The clock in the level 5 cafe is a great centrepiece (though you're looking at the back of it) and the small courtyard to the side of this has good views down the Seine.

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Favorite thing: I love the art at the Orsay. Up on level 5 there seems to be one masterpiece after another including those from master born in the countries surrounding France. With works by Van Gogh, Rembrant and Klimt plus locals Monet, Manet, Renoir and Toulouse Latrec this is my favourite gallery in the world. There may not be the wealth of Italian masters here as you find in the Louvre but it is certainly a place with outstanding art in an excellent setting (the old Orsay train station).

Favorite thing: It's definitely worth your while spending time checking out some art at the excellent Musee D'Orsay. If your time is limited and you know you love Impressionist painting, go there first! The paintings are just amazing, and the building (a converted railway station) is cool too. This place is definitely somewhere I'll visit on every trip to Paris.

A must for Van Gogh fans in particular - the collection of works here is small but first-class - and there are many other famous artists represented here as well.

A museum card is highly recommended if you're paying a visit - you get to skip the main queue for tickets. If you don't have one, adult entrance is 7 Euros, and don't forget it's closed on Monday. There's late opening on Thursday evenings.

For more information, check out the excellent museum website at www.musee-orsay.fr.

Favorite thing: You will probably love this museum, most everyone does, but I however could not stand it. The building itself is very interesting and was originally a train station built for the 1900 Paris Worlds Fair. The art Nouveau building is definitely one of the best aspects about this museum. The collection is nice, but how they have decided to showcase the artwork is an abomination. Really horrible. I felt claustrophobic due to the way they created compartments within the museum. They went with some weird, out of context, Sumerian designed large off white cubicles that bisect the interior space. They look like dressing rooms. It is so awful. Plus some of the paintings on the second floor are so poorly lighted, it was hard to view them. Maybe they did that for preservation purposes, but I've never seen that done before. This museum really bothered my sensibilities.

Fondest memory: One of the nicer things about this museum is the upstairs restaurant with a gorgeous clock and very nice open space. They also have some beautiful art nouveau french furniture that is lovely and exhibited in a much better way than the rest of the museum. Their American Impressionist wing is also pleasently displayed. I think i would only go back for the upstairs restaurant.

Check out their webstie for more info:
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/ORSAY/orsaygb/HTML.NSF/By+Filename/mosimple+index?OpenDocument

Favorite thing: If you love impressionism, this is your place.
Originally it was a train station and then it became a museum in 1977. The museum displays 19th and 20 th century art, including statues and impressionist painting, like: Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degass, Van Gogh, Cezanne (See my travelogue)

Si eres amante del impresionismo, este es tu lugar. Emplazado sobre una antigua estación trenes, conserva mucho de su arquitectura original. Posee colecciones de Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Toulouse Loutrec. También pueden apreciarse obras del post-impresionismo, naturalismo, simbolismo y art-noveau. (ver mi travelogue)

Fondest memory: The collection of impressionist painting is great and the main gallery has beautiful sculptures.-
You shoud stop for a while to admire the clock, which is situated in the main gallery.-
There is a café on the sky-lit upper level, where views of Paris can be enjoyed from behind the original station clock.-

La colección de pintura impresionista es grandiosa y en la galería principal se pueden admirar bellísimas esculturas.-
Vale la pena detenerse a admirar el reloj que se encuentra a uno de los lados de la galería principal. Sugiero asimismo visitar la terraza del segundo piso - al lado de la cafetería - , donde se puede apreciar una buena panorámica de los tejados de París y del Sena.-

Favorite thing: This clock is one of many reminders that the Musee d'Orsay building was once a train station. Today, the only lines coming through are queues of tourists wrapped the block, waiting for hours to get a glimpse of the world's finest and most comprehensive collection of Impressionist paintings.

Favorite thing: See the Musee D'Orsay (Orsay Museum). Many times it gets looked over because of the popularity the Louvre, but the Orsay has some of the most recognizable work. It is known especially for its Impressionist collection. Come here to see Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, and Monet.

Fondest memory: Taking Mike's Bike Tours. We did the day and the night tour and had a blast! The tours got us oriented around the city very well. The guides were spoke American english and were a lot of fun. Included on the night tour was a trip down the Seine on the Bateaux Mouches and free red wine! But a WARNING: Be prepared to be sore and tired the next day if you push yourself through two tours at a time!

Favorite thing: Museum d'Orsay

Fondest memory:
If you visit only one art gallery during your stay, make it the Museum d'Orsay, a feast of 19th-century art and design, including a hugely popular collection of impressionist paintings.

It is hard to believe that it was a former Industrial Age railway station.

Personally, I think its expansive dining room belle epoque is the best one in Paris.