{"id":16185,"date":"2015-12-21T15:11:34","date_gmt":"2015-12-21T19:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=16185"},"modified":"2019-03-19T11:34:11","modified_gmt":"2019-03-19T15:34:11","slug":"top-10-museums-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/21\/top-10-museums-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Museums in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Louvre offers the best of France\u2019s historic and modern art and architecture!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

While some French people deride Paris<\/strong> as a ville mus\u00e9ifi\u00e9e<\/em>, or \u201cmuseified\u201d city, the variety of museums in the city is one of the biggest draws for its many visitors. With scores of museums packed into the city\u2019s small area, there are plenty of options from which to choose! To help cut through the noise of the multitude of museums and help you prioritize, we\u2019ve put together a list of the Paris’s 10 best. Whether you\u2019re an art lover, a history buff, or simply seeking shelter on a rainy day in Paris<\/a>, our list of the city\u2019s best museums is a great place to start planning your trip!<\/p>\n

1. The Louvre<\/strong><\/p>\n

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You\u2019ll enjoy great views of this historic museum from our Louvre-facing apartment.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The quintessential Paris Mus\u00e9e du Louvre <\/strong>grew out of the French Royal family\u2019s collections and was bolstered by Napoleon\u2019s conquests across Europe. Nowadays, the museum\u2019s pieces are on display to more than 9 million visitors per year. That’s more than any museum in the world! The museum itself is housed in a palace that was first built in the 12th century and renovated by generations of French royalty over centuries. The Louvre is located in central Paris and is a must-see destination<\/a> on any tour of the city. It\u2019s also an unbeatable view to wake up to, as our 1-bedroom rental<\/a> right across the street shows!<\/p>\n

2. Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay was once a train station, but now it accommodates museum crowds.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/strong> was adapted from an older structure and is second only to the Louvre in both visitor numbers and grandeur. However, instead of having a palatial past, the museum formerly functioned as a train station. The stunning renovation of the building showcases unique elements from its past, is flooded with natural light from above, and has a clever design on the ground level to perfectly frame the work of France\u2019s Impressionist artists. Plan your visit ahead of time\u2013the lines for entry can be hours long. Check out our tips and etiquette guide<\/a> for more useful museum-going pointers!<\/p>\n

3. L\u2019Orangerie & Le Jeu de Paume<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just across the Seine River from the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay, the Jardin des Tuileries<\/strong>, the former royal garden of Marie de M\u00e9dici and first on our top 10 list of Paris parks<\/a>, is home to two unique museums. Flanking the Place de la Concorde on the Seine side of the park is L\u2019Orangerie<\/strong>, a former greenhouse custom-designed to house Claude Monet<\/strong>\u2019s famed Water Lilies series (painted at Giverny<\/strong> in northern France). At the northwest corner of Tuileries is the Jeu de Paume<\/strong>, named for the Second Empire-era tennis courts that house France\u2019s national photography gallery. Its rotating exhibitions combine France\u2019s important historical role in developing the field of photography and the contemporary work of artists from around the world.<\/p>\n

4. Centre Georges Pompidou<\/strong><\/p>\n

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One of the unique features of the Pompidou Center is its outdoor escalator.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Centre Georges Pompidou<\/strong> (known as ‘Beaubourg’ to locals) is much more than just a museum, it’s a work of art in itself! The large and architecturally groundbreaking building is home to a number of partnered institutions: the Biblioth\u00e8que d\u2019Information Publique (Public Information Library), the IRCAM (Center for Music and Acoustic Research), and, most importantly, France\u2019s National Museum of Modern Art. Like the Eiffel Tower<\/a> and the Louvre\u2019s pyramids, the innovative design of the center initially did not sit well with Parisians upon its completion in 1977. However, Place Beaubourg<\/strong>, the large public plaza laid out as a massive calendar, and its unique public art pieces like the famous Stravinsky<\/strong>-inspired fountain and the stories-tall Alexander Calder<\/strong> sculpture out front have helped locals warm up to the institution.<\/p>\n

5. Palais de Tokyo<\/strong><\/p>\n

The works held at the art-deco Palais de Tokyo<\/strong> are paired with the Centre Pompidou\u2019s essential early 20th-century modernist collections. The structure faces the Seine River, like many of Paris\u2019s major destinations<\/a>, and hosts two institutions: the City of Paris\u2019s Modern Art Museum and the Site de Cr\u00e9ation Contemporaine. The latter is a unique contemporary arts center where all the works on display were created onsite and is at the forefront of artistic innovation, having hosted a number of groundbreaking exhibitions since opening in 2002. Be sure to check what\u2019s on display before your trip\u2013you may catch the next big trend in the art world!<\/p>\n

6. Mus\u00e9e Picasso<\/strong><\/p>\n

It takes a great artist to have a whole museum dedicated entirely to his or her work. Pablo Picasso<\/strong> has not one, but seven<\/em> spread across Europe! Paris\u2019s Mus\u00e9e Picasso takes a uniquely French spin on the Spanish-born artist\u2019s oeuvre, displaying his works in a 17th-century h\u00f4tel particulier<\/em> in the artsy Marais<\/a> district of the Right Bank<\/strong>. Created as a bequest from the artist\u2019s estate after his death, the collection includes over 5000 works in total, not including complementary pieces by C\u00e9zanne, Degas, Matisse, and traditional works from Africa that inspired Picasso. Art lovers can immerse themselves in Le Marais\u2019s cultural scene with local apartments like our two-bedroom vacation rental right on Rue de Rivoli<\/a>!<\/p>\n

7. Mus\u00e9e du Quai Branly<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Mus\u00e9e du Quai Branly\u2019s unique collections are complemented by its innovative architecture.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The last art museum on our top 10 list, the Mus\u00e9e du Quai Branly<\/strong> offers a different perspective from most French cultural institutions. France\u2019s colonial exploits across the world brought back a rich trove of what was once called \u201cprimitive art:\u201d tribal cultures’ crafts and ceremonial objects ranging from Tasmania to northern Canada. The colorful, undulating museum located on the Quai Branly just down the block from the Eiffel Tower has given this art a home in a truly unique space since 2006. An eye-opening experience for families visiting Paris<\/a> and locals alike, the museum is worth a visit for its creative layout and innovative design, beyond its fascinating non-Western art.<\/p>\n

8. Institut du Monde Arabe<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The fa\u00e7ade of the Arab World Institute is inspired by traditional Arab latticework designs.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Arab World Institute is another cultural institution reflecting on France\u2019s colonial past, occupying a prime Seine-side location just east of Notre Dame<\/strong> and the \u00cele Saint-Louis<\/strong>. While many floors of the space are dedicated to private use as research centers and libraries, there are several stories of exhibitions at any given time. These exhibitions bring Arab culture from prehistory through the 21st century to the heart of the French capital. Perhaps the most unique feature of the building is the use of shimmering apertures on the exterior wall that are inspired by traditional Islamic architectural features known as mashrabiya<\/em>. This latticework combines French engineering with Arab design, as it opens and closes dynamically to adapt to Paris\u2019s changing daylight. Don\u2019t miss the terrace caf\u00e9 on the roof where you can sip Moroccan mint tea and watch the sunset over the Paris skyline<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Arm\u00e9e<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Army Museum is housed in Les Invalides<\/a>, known for its glittering golden dome and for being one of the most recognizable buildings in Paris. The museum examines French history in a different light, and one of its main draws is the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte<\/strong>. The French emperor was laid to rest directly underneath the dome in a red quartz sarcophagus decades after his death when his body was repatriated in 1840. The museum also has a spectacular collection of historic weapons and war trophies that are worth exploring even if you\u2019re not interested in the tomb. Check out our guide to living like a local in the surrounding area: the 7th Arrondissement!<\/a><\/p>\n

10. Catacombes de Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Parisians of a past era inhabit the underground world of the Catacombs.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

While most of Paris\u2019s museums allow you to immerse yourself in history, none does so as literally as the Catacombes de Paris<\/strong>, the underground ossuary that holds the remains of roughly six million Parisians from centuries of the city\u2019s past. The entrance to the subterranean network is off the Place Denfert Rochereau<\/strong> in the 14th Arrondissement<\/a> at one of the former southern gates to the city, the Barri\u00e8re d\u2019Enfer<\/em> (Hell Gate). Since 1874, visitors have been welcomed into this unique attraction by a set of spiral stairs that descend into the earth. Beyond just being \u201cthe world\u2019s largest grave,” the Catacombs feature sculptures made from the masses of bones that occupy the space as well as poetry inspired by them.<\/p>\n

Even with this brief sample of Paris\u2019s myriad museums, it\u2019s difficult to see everything you\u2019d like in one trip. Why not plan to return to Paris and stay in one of our fully-furnished vacation rentals<\/a>? Or, consider a longer stay for a semester abroad or an internship in the City of Lights. We can help you find the perfect place close to whichever of the city\u2019s museums attracts you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While some French people deride Paris as a ville mus\u00e9ifi\u00e9e, or \u201cmuseified\u201d city, the variety of museums in the city is one of the biggest…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[28],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16185"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16185"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19738,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16185\/revisions\/19738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}