The enchanting, romantic world of Paris welcomes you with open arms. While the Eiffel Tower might be the star, the city’s soul lies in its museums. And the Louvre isn’t the only museum deserving your attention in Paris (but you must definitely not miss the Louvre!).
In 2024, embark on an artistic odyssey through the heart of this cultural mecca. It is a journey that will transport you deep into the essence of Parisian life. As you step into each museum mentioned below, you will travel through history, witness tales etched in artifacts and sculptures, and savor the strokes of legendary artists.
Paris beckons and these museums promise you an immersive and extraordinary gateway to the adventure of a lifetime. Let’s go!
The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum in Paris stands among the Met in New York and the British Museum in London as one of the three greatest art museums in the world. Hence, you simply cannot miss visiting the Louvre.
This museum has an enormous art collection of over 400,000 exhibits and pieces that span a period of over 1,500 years. The collections of works are from the ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptian civilizations, including Antioch’s “Venus de Milo,” da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and “Winged Victory of Samothrace.”
The famous films “The Da Vinci Code” and “Phantom of the Louvre” were filmed here.
The Musée De L’Orangerie
The Musée de l’Orangerie is located in the heart of the Tuileries Garden and is one of Captain Ulysses’ favorite museums in Paris, France. The museum houses a magnanimous collection of impressionist and post-impressionist works by Monet, Le Douanier Rousseau, Renoir, Picasso, Cézanne and the like.
As you walk into the museum, it will feel like you are in a greenhouse. There are glass walls on the southern side along the river, and the museum is nestled in the former orangery of the garden. It is within walking distance of Paris’ emblematic monuments and sites, such as The Louvre Museum, the Place de la Concorde, and the Place Vendome.
The first donation received by this museum was the ongoing Water Lilies murals painted by Claude Monet.
Musée De L’armée
The Army Museum or Musée de l’Armée is located in the Invalides. The museum displays military technology, tactics, and war history from across the globe, with over 500,000 exhibits.
The rich war relics, such as the leather coat of General de Gaulle, continue to cause strong waves of shock in the hearts of visitors.
The museum is divided into five sections: Pre-Revolutionary and 19th Century, Weapons and Armor, Emblem and Artillery, First World War & Second World War, and The Great War: Free France and Fighting France.
On the top floor, you will find exquisite models of ports, cities, and fortresses that used to be essential tools in the study of military strategy. If you are an admirer of flags, you can head to Saint-Louise Church before ending your museum tour and look at the colored military flags captured by the enemy.
Musee D’Orsay
Musee d’Orsay is located across the river from the Louvre, and it showcases interesting masterpieces. It was formerly known as the Orsay train station or the Gare d’Orsay. In the museum, most of the architecture from the original structure remains. The museum is famous because it was the world’s first electrified urban train station in 1900.
You will witness over 80,000 works of art in the museum, mostly dating from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. This museum is not as intimidating as the Louvre and also has fewer crowds.
Rodin Museum
Auguste Rodin is one of the most famous French sculptors, and his popularity remains unchanged. His most famous sculpture, “The Thinker,” is located at the Rodin Museum. The museum is next to the Invalides metropolitan station, and there’s a cute little cafe plus a gift shop called Boutique du Musée Rodin.
The main structure is a mansion called Hôtel Biron, named after the owner, Louis-Antoine de Gontaut-Biron. The mansion is nestled in a well-manicured garden dotted with gorgeous sculptures created by the master himself. You will also find sculptures from other artists, including Camille Claudel. Camille was Rodin’s prize student.
The Palace Of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is incredibly rich in history. It is a must-see when you are visiting Paris. It is a short ride on the RER and a ten-minute walk to the golden gates of Versailles. The beautiful structure is a massive estate and a museum. And the Palace of Versailles could have been the greatest museum if the Louvre didn’t exist.
The museum is full of history and art, and the garden is immense. Most visitors only get to see a tenth of the estate because the palace is spread out across a sprawling estate. You must find out how long it takes for a complete tour of the Palace of Versailles before making your way here.
Musée Du Parfum – Fragonard
The Fragonard Perfume Museum is located near the Paris Opera House in a Napoleon III-style mansion. The building retains the style of the time, allowing visitors to enjoy the 300-year history of perfume in all its classical splendor.
The entire process of the evolution and development of products, such as essential oils and perfumes, is recorded in the museum. There is even a mini perfume processing factory within the premises, showcasing the 19th-century copper distillation filter and how it extracted essential oils from the raw materials. Moreover, exquisite perfume bottles, incense burners, sachets, and perfume waterfalls from the 17th to 20th century are displayed in the museum. You can witness the extraordinary talents of crystal carvers, glass craftsmen, and goldsmiths through these exhibits.
Wrapping Up
In the city of light and love, where art and culture dance harmoniously, our journey through the top seven museums has ended. Each museum is a treasure trove of emotions, stories, and creativity and has left an indelible mark on the history of Paris.
