Train Station Transformed (Musée d'Orsay)

Member Name: louanna8

Product:	Musée d'Orsay
Date:	29/05/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent display of impressionist art, comfortable and welcoming

Disadvantages: Occassionally crowed around more famous works

I've been living near Paris for about 10 months and each time I go into the city I try to visit a museum. The Musée D'Orsay is most definitely a favourite of mine and one I would recommend tourists in Paris to visit.

Originally it was a palace, then a hotel and train station before being opened as a museum in 1986. It is a very beautiful building and very open planned creating a relaxed atmosphere.

It's situated in the centre of Paris on the banks of the Seine and is very easy to find. It can be reached on RER line C(yellow) and the nearest metro stop is just around the corner at Solférino (line 12.)

The museum contains all forms of art including sculpture, photography and architecture but is probably most well-known for its collection of Impressionist art including work by Van Gough, Cézanne, Manet, Monet and Toulouse-Lautrec amongst others.

There are special exhibitions on throughout the year that change every two months or so. I have seen two, the first being European masks and the second Sculpture in Paris 1905-1914. The latter is currently on display but finishes in the next few days. It is worth a look though if your in Paris at the moment.


It is open everday except Monday and is free to under 18's, Euro5.50 for concessions (a concession in France is anyone 18-25) and Euro8 for everyone else so not that expensive at all.

The Musée D'Orsay would be a good choice for people with children as the atmosphere is not at all stuffy and there are lots of different things for them to see, i.e. the museum doesn't focus on just one thing. Also, in comparison with the Louvre for example it is fairly small and so you don't necessarily have to spend the whole day there to see everything. Furthermore, it isn't as busy as the Louvre so you don't feel as though you are being herded around the building. There are enough different exhibits to ensure that there will be something of interest to everyone.

Summary: A museum that is both stimulating and enjoyable without a hint of patronism.