Musée d'Orsay, Paris

4 more images

d'Orsey Museum is situated in a building of railway station which was constructed to the World's fair of 1900, but almost was completely thrown to the beginning of the Second world war and prepared to destroy.
In 1973 president Pompidou declared a station as a national monument and decided to create a museum, capable to contain half a century of art as a part in a circuit the Louvre (classical art) - the Center Pompidou (modern art). Works of art created from 1848 till 1920 are presented there.
The greatest interest causes the top floor of a museum - twenty halls where the most significant assembly of products of impressionists is collected. The exposition is presented so: Degas, Monet, Renoir, Pisarro, Sisley, Sesann, Degas, Van Gogh, Manet, Gauguin, Serro, Toulouse- Lotrec.

You can watch my 4 min 53 sec Video Paris Musee d'Orsay out of my Youtube channel.

2 more images

I have to admit: this is by far my favorite museum in Paris! It felt so cozy to me and so welcoming that I could easily see myself going back there on my next trip to Paris. I liked it way more than the Louvre, who seemed a little bit too commercial at times. And what a good and unique idea to turn an old train station into a museum!

Musee D'Orsay is so welcoming and so amazing that you will definitely loose track of time. Start your visit from the 5th floor, it will be much easier on you and on your feet. They may be hurting by the time you finish visiting the Impressionism gallery!

There is an extensive collection of sculptures by Rodin that will take your breath away. And you will also see the "Small Dancer" sculpture that Degas is well known for.

I was in awe the whole time I was inside the museum. I was planning a visit to the Rodin Museum afterwards, but I was so overwhelmed by the art I have seen here that I have decided to skip the Rodin Museum and let the art of D'Orsay Museum sink in.

One tip: since you are here, make sure you stop by the amazing clock on the 5th floor. Take a picture and lose yourself in the beauty of Paris and the Seine that you will have from the window.

4 more images

At the back end of the ground floor of the Musée d'Orsay there is an interesting exhibit on the building of the "new" (meaning new in the 19th century) opera house which was ordered by the Emperor Napoleon III and designed by the young architect Charles Garnier (1825-1898).

This model shows a cross-section of the opera building, with its entrance hall, grand staircase, auditorium with crown and the stage and backstage areas. Today this opera house is known as the Opéra Garnier or Palais Garnier, after its architect. It is one of five opera houses currently operating in Paris, the others being the Opéra Bastille, the Théâtre du Châtelet, the Opéra Comique (Salle Favart), and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

Second photo: L'escalier de l'Opéra, a painting of the Grand Staircase of the then-new opera house, painted around 1980 by Victor Navlet (1819-1886). The French State bought this painting directly from the artist in 1881 and displayed it for six years in the French Embassy in Berlin.

Third photo: This is the definitive sketch for the ceiling of the opera house, by the painter Jules-Eugène Lenepveu (1819-1898), who proceeded to paint exactly this on the round ceiling of the auditorium. Lenepveu's ceiling paintings are still there, but they are no longer visible because they have been covered since 1964 by the new ceiling paintings of Marc Chagall (1887-1985).

Fourth photo: Portrait of the architect Charles Garnier, painted in 1868 by Paul Baudry (1828-1886).

Fifth photo: Under a glass floor there is a model of the opera house and the entire district around it, as it was in the early years of the 20th century.

2 more images

NEW. Since 12 October 2011 new exhibition surfaces (2000 m2) have been opened after renovation works.
Unfortunately some guards went on strike so that the Museum was closed for 6 days at the end of October!

NEW: On 9 August 2011, the Musée d'Orsay unveiled the first of its newly renovated spaces with the opening of the Post-Impressionist galleries. The rooms of the Françoise Cachin Gallery on the Level 2 have been redesigned, and now accommodate the paintings of Gauguin, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec, Neo-Impressionists like Seurat and Signac, and Nabis such as Vuillard, Bonnard, Vallotton and Denis.

The years 2010 and 2011 were years of frustrations for tourists coming from far away countries. They might not have seen a number of highlights of impressionnism.
Indeed the Musée d'Orsay underwent as from 7/12/2009 till the autumn 2011, important alterations on a third of its surface.
The museum remained open but the entire 5th floor i.e. that of the impressionists and postimpressionists was closed for redecoration.
The visit started with level 0 (works of Courbet, Manet, Monet and Cezanne, sculptures and painting from the years 1850 - 1860 (Ingres, Delacroix, Degas ...) and continued to level 2 with the masterpieces of French and Belgian Art Nouveau, symbolism and Naturalism.

A large number of paintings left for exhibitions all over the world. The incomes of the world tour of the highlights of the museum of Orsay make it possible to finance the transformation. The remainder will be reframed or restored.

NEW: After the Manet special exhibition there is a new one "Beauty, Morals and Voluptuousness in the England of Oscar Wilde" from 13/09/2011 to 15/01/2012.
This exhibition explores the British "aesthetic movement" from the second half of the 19th century. Admission with the museum ticket.

A point that amateurs of paintings might not like is the new interdiction of photos and films since the year 2010 (all my photos are from 2009 and before):
Hereafter the official text:
It is forbidden to take pictures and to film in the museum.
In the interests of the safety of works and visitors, and to ensure a more pleasurable visit, photography and filming are no longer allowed in the museum galleries. This measure has been introduced in view of the increased number of visitors taking photographs “at arm’s length” using mobile phones. Reproductions of most of the works in the collections can be downloaded from the website (catalogue of works, works in focus in particular).

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.

4 more images

Update: There is serious renovation going on 2010 and 2011 so many works are touring and you won't see them during this time period. Also, and importantly, the museum has changed its policy on photography. No photos are allowed in the museum. Here is my "rough" translation of why: "It is forbidden to photograph and film in the Museum. To preserve the comfort of visit and works as security, it is now forbidden to photograph or film in the rooms of the Museum. This measure is particularly linked to the proliferation of the "end of arm" shots via mobile phones. Reproductions of most of the works from the collections can be downloaded from the site (catalogue of works, including commented works)." In English: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/individuals/copying-filming-photography.html

Regarding the renovation time span: "In 2012, further small galleries will in turn be transformed. We will then tackle the spaces on the median level on the Seine side. All the renovation work should be finished around 2015."

Original Tip:
The Musée d'Orsay is a transformed train station and the architecture is nearly as fascinating as the art collection inside. The former Gare d'Orsay, closed to trains in 1973, was inaugurated as a museum in 1986 by then-President Mitterrand.

This is where the Impressionists are exhibited, where you find Van Gogh, Pisarro, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Millet, sculpture by Rodin and the list goes on.

Many people expect these paintings to be in the Louvre and are disappointed when they don't see them. If you are looking for them, be sure to visit the d'Orsay and enjoy. Be sure to climb to the top floor and view the inside of the museum. Also view Sacre Coeur from behind the very large window clock facing the basilique on a hill. It's a magnificent view of Paris.

It can get very crowded inside the museum so we like to go a bit later in the day and start at the top floor and work our way down. One of my husband's favorites is "The Angelus" by Millet and we always visit that before we leave.

Last visit September 2011

The Musee d'Orsay is my favorite art museum in Paris, perhaps even in the world as it features my favorite period for art, impressionism, the collection covers the years between 1848 and 1914 and I believe it is the best impressionist art collection in the world. I think we have visited on each of our 5 trips to Paris, c'est magnifique!

The building itself was built as a train station for the 1900 World's Fair and was opened as the Musee d' Orsay in 1986.

The line for the museum is usually long, I kissed my museum pass as we strolled up to the special entrance and waltzed right in. Worth the price just for that!

If I had just a short period of time I would walk to the opposite end of the museum from the entrance and take the escalators straight up to the 5th level to the impressionist and post-impressionist collection including many works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas and all of the other famous impressionist painters. You'll also find many of these same artisits on the ground floor in the pre-impressionist collection. In September 2011 most of the impressionist works were on the ground floor due to the remodel, not sure where they will eventually end up, grab a map at the entrance

Closed: Monday
opening hours 9:30am-6pm, Thursday until 9:45pm
included on museum pass (make sure to go to special entrance C to skip the ticket queue), discount rate after 6pm on Thursday, 4:15pm other days

4 more images

I have to admit that i was a little disappointed by the Musee d'Orsay. there was quite a lot to see, but there were many rooms closed and those that were open were either very crowded or had little of interest to view.

Art is very personal, but I found that the offering here was a little limited. Additionally they did not permit photographs of any kind to be taken.

I queued for some 57 minutes to get into the museum.

TIP: buy a joint ticket with L'Orangerie, there is a second entrance with a very much smaller queue.

1 more image

TRANSFORMATIONS IN 2010 and 2011 ! SEE MY NEW TIP
LEVEL 5 IS CLOSED.

You will have understood from my comments on Orsay, that this is my preferred museum for the quality of the exposed works but also for the architecture of the former station of Orsay. I like the complexity of the plan, the level differences, the big clock, the views.
But the museum is also a victim of its success (3 million visitors in 2006). To avoid crowds I arrive at the opening at 09.30h at the entrance for the museum pass holders; from there I walk directly by the central aisle of the ground floor to the bottom of the museum on the left side. Behind the wall is an escalator which rises directly to the level 5 so that I start my visit in an almost empty part (for some time at least - photo 1).
Another pleasure with this museum is the restaurant at the median level (restaurant from the former station hotel, photo 2).
Magnificent decor, correct food, efficient often kind service, normal prices for Paris. The painted décor of the ceiling and walls is of Benjamin Constant and Gabriel Ferrier. I advise you to arrive at the opening at 11.45 am. Tearoom in the after noon and dinner on Thursdays evening.

Open 9.30 - 18 h (on Thursday 21.45 h). Closed on Monday.
Tickets can be bought from 9 h on.
Price 8 €. Reduced 18 - 30 yr 5,50 €. Free less than 18 yr or 18 - 25 yr from the EU .
It is now possible to buy a combined ticket Musée d'Orsay and Musée Rodin at 12 €.
It is also possible to get a combined ticket Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie at 13 € valid from Wednesday till Sunday.



=======================================

Mon musée favori.

NOUVEAU: TRANSFORMATIONS EN 2010 et 2011. Voir mon nouveau commentaire.

Vous aurez compris, si vous avez lu mes commentaires, que c'est mon musée préféré à Paris, pour la qualité des œuvres exposées mais aussi pour l'architecture de l'ancienne gare d'Orsay. J'aime la complexité du plan, les différences de niveau, la grande horloge, la salle des Fêtes ou le restaurant.
J'apprécie l'éclairage diffus et naturel venant du plafond au niveau 5 qui permet de bonnes photos.
Pour éviter les foules je monte directement par l'escalator au fond du musée au niveau 5 des impressionnistes. Je commence ainsi la visite par une partie presque vide (pendant quelque temps - photo 1).

L'autre plaisir est le restaurant au niveau médian aménagé dans l'ancien l'hôtel de la gare. Cadre splendide, nourriture correcte, service efficace souvent aimable, prix normaux pour Paris. Le décor peint est de Benjamin-Constant et Gabriel Ferrier.