While most people think of France when they think of Paris, there are many unique and exciting things to do in Paris. Some are so well known they need no introduction while others might surprise you with their existence. Here is a top ten list of museums that you should visit on your next trip to Paris.
1. Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre, located in Paris, France, is one of the best museums in the world. It contains artwork from some of the most famous artists in history, including Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh.
The museum has a collection of over 35,000 pieces of art and artifacts. The origin of the museum dates back to 1793 when it was first opened to the public as an art gallery by Louis XVIII during the French Revolution.
In 1989 it became a public institution under the name Musée du Louvre and since then it has been visited by over 8 million people each year from all over the world.
It has been said that this museum is one of France's most important cultural centers because it holds some of its most valuable works of art including paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn and Pierre-Auguste Renoir as well as sculptures by Auguste Rodin.”
2. Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a top museum in Paris. The museum is located in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built for the 1900 World's Fair. The building was converted into a museum in 1986 and houses an impressive collection of impressionist and post-impressionist artworks.
The Musée d'Orsay has a collection of more than 35,000 works of art and is one of the largest collections of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings in the world. The museum exhibits works by Monet, Renoir, Manet, Degas, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Cézanne and more than 300 other artists from the 19th century.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions on different topics such as photography or architecture. The most recent exhibition on display was “Les Arts de l'Islam” which featured arts from various Islamic cultures on loan from museums around France and abroad including Egypt's Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
3. Musée Picasso
It is located on the Left Bank of the Seine River in Paris, France. The museum opened in 1963 and was dedicated to Pablo Picasso, who lived in Paris from 1905 to 1937.
The museum houses many of Picasso's works including paintings, sculptures and ceramics. Some of these include “La Lecture” (The Reading), “Mademoiselle de Maupin”, “Maternité” (Maternity) and more. There are also several sculptures that are displayed throughout the museum including “Le Baiser” (The Kiss) and “Le Repos”.
The museum has several rooms that display various themes including “Les Cerfs-Volants” (The Kites), “Les Demoiselles d'Avignon” (The Young Ladies of Avignon) and more. There is also an area where visitors can view some of Picasso's early art work as well as his later pieces such as those done after World War II.”
4. Musée du Quai Branly
The Musée du Quai Branly is a museum of art, archaeology and ethnography located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. It has hosted outstanding exhibitions from all over the world since 2006.
The museum was created by Jacques Chirac, President of France from 1995 to 2007 and opened to the public on June 9th 2006.
It is named after Pierre Boulle, an author who wrote the novel Le Pont de la rivière Kwaï which was made into a movie in 1957 by David Lean. In his book, he describes an imaginary civilization in New Guinea that was destroyed by an invasion of French soldiers. The museum's architecture reflects this cultural heritage as well as its mission statement: “to explore all forms of artistic expressions”.
5. Musée Rodin
It was built in 1919, after the death of sculptor Auguste Rodin, to house his works and memorabilia. The museum is located near the Seine River and has a beautiful garden that is open to visitors, as well as a cafe for those who wish to enjoy refreshments while taking in the sights.
The Musée Rodin is home to over 6,000 works by Rodin himself along with other artists like Matisse, Picasso, and César. There are also many sculptures on display from various periods of history as well as ancient artifacts from Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
The museum's permanent collection includes some pieces that were originally created by other artists but have since been acquired by Rodin or donated by family members (such as his wife). The museum also hosts special exhibitions throughout the year–some of which feature works by international artists who are not yet well-known but may be soon due to their exposure here!
6. Musée Marmottan Monet
The Musée Marmottan Monet is one of the top museums in Paris. Located on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, it's a beautiful space with an incredible collection of works by Claude Monet. The museum was established in 1899 and features works from Monet's different periods, including his early work, his later work, and his paintings of water lilies.
The museum is housed in a mansion that was built in 1852 by Louis Visconti, who was an architect who had worked with Charles Garnier on the design for the Opera Garnier. He had the house built as a summer home for himself and his family while they were living in Paris. It has been private property since then—and now it's open to visitors!
The museum itself isn't huge; it has only three floors—but there are several rooms on each floor that feature different types of art from Monet's life: paintings, sculptures, drawings, and more. There are also rooms dedicated to other artists from this period who influenced Monet—like Edgar Degas and Paul Cézanne.
7. Musée Guimet des Arts Asiatiques
It offers visitors an opportunity to explore the vast world of Asian art with over 40,000 artifacts from China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. The museum was established in 1889 by Émile Guimet, who donated his entire collection to France. He wanted to share his love for Asian art with the rest of the world, so he created the museum that still bears his name today.
This museum holds many unique pieces of art such as sculptures and paintings from all over Asia. Some pieces are made from bronze or stone while others are made from silk or paper. There are also many historical artifacts on display here including sculptures from different eras such as Ancient China or Medieval Japan. You can also find some items from present day countries like Thailand or Vietnam if you look hard enough!
Another thing that makes this museum so special is its location within Paris itself! You will find it located near Les Invalides Metro Station which means it's very easy for tourists visiting Paris to find when looking up directions online before arriving at their destination city.”
8. Musée Jacquemart-André (Jacquemart-André Museum)
The museum was founded by Edouard André and his wife Nélie Jacquemart. The museum is located at 6 place des États-Unis, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was designed by Victor Laloux and built in 1881. The building is made up of a main building, which houses the exhibition rooms, and an annexe which houses the offices, library and other administrative areas.
The museum's collection consists of over 10,000 works of art, including paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn, Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet; sculptures by Auguste Rodin; drawings by Pablo Picasso; furniture by Charles Garnier and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc; oriental art objects from China, Japan and India; antique clocks from Europe and America; enamels from Limoges (France).
9. Musée Nissim de Camondo (Nissim de Camondo Museum)
It's located in the 16th arrondissement, and has a collection that includes paintings, sculptures, furniture and other decorative arts from the 18th-20th centuries.
The museum was established in 1913 by Nissim de Camondo (1860-1941), a banker and philanthropist who grew up in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He moved to Paris with his family when he was 13 years old. His father bought an enormous mansion on rue Monceau that had previously belonged to Napoleon III's finance minister, Jacques Laffitte. The house had been built in 1788 and was originally owned by the Duchesse de Berry.
The museum's collection includes works by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin. It also has furniture designed by Charles Percier (1764-1838) for Napoleon I's palace at Malmaison; some of these pieces were designed for Empress Josephine's bedroom there.
10. Musée de l’Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP Museum)
It is located in a beautiful space, with a variety of exhibits and events. The museum features an impressive collection of works from both famous artists and lesser-known individuals.
The AP-HP Museum has been open since 1996, and it showcases the work of artists who have contributed to the history of medicine and healthcare. The museum has over 2,000 works in its collection, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, photos and prints. The pieces are displayed in chronological order so visitors can see how medical treatments have changed over time.
Visitors can also take advantage of special programs offered by the museum that include lectures on health care topics like mental illness or cancer treatment options. There are also workshops where children can learn about how their bodies work or make art with materials like clay and paint while learning about anatomy at the same time!
These are just ten of the museums that are truly worth visiting in Paris. There are also a lot of smaller museums and galleries which you can also choose to visit while you're there. If you're planning a trip to visit France, be sure to give Paris a try and make it to one of these museums while you're there!
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