Also known as the City of Lights, Paris is full of culture, from the intricate churches to the expansive museums. Covering art, sculpture, and history within its walls, the best museums in Paris feature pieces from around the world. If you have a trip planned to see Paris or want to learn more about the numerous museums located within its borders, check out these six best museums in Paris and what they are known for.
6. Musée de Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac
Sixth on our list of best museums in Paris is the Musée de Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. The museum features indigenous art and cultures from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Each section comprises an extensive collection of artifacts and artworks, showing the diversity of non-Westerners. The outside of the museum was created by architect Jean Nouvel, who incorporated many themes into his work, including a lush vertical garden and innovative architecture.
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5. Palais Garnier
While most of these buildings are exclusively museums, there is one building in particular that breaks the mold. The Palais Garnier is primarily known as a historic opera house, rather than a museum. The building inside and out gives a glimpse into Parisian opulence and stunning architecture. Guided tours provide background on the ornate interior, grand staircases, and the rich history of the Paris Opera.
4. Musée de l’Orangerie
Our fourth selection for the best museums in Paris is known for its display of Claude Monet’s Water Lilies series. The Musée de l’Orangerie is located in the Tuileries Garden and has two oval rooms specifically dedicated to Monet’s masterpiece. Along with Water Lilies, the Musée de l’Orangerie features works by other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists, such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Rousseau.
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3. The Centre Pompidou
Ranking third on the best museums in Paris list is The Centre Pompidou, one of the most unique-looking museums from its exterior, which encapsulates modern architecture with exposed pipes and colorful finishes. The inside of the museum is home to a plethora of art, and houses the Musée National d’Art Moderne, boasting one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe. Artists within The Centre Pompidou include Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Henri Matisse.
2. Musée d’Orsay
Reaching our second spot in the best museums in Paris list is the Musée d’Orsay, which is housed in a former railway station. The museum is recognized for its impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist pieces throughout the spaces. Notable works in the Musée d’Orsay were created by Claude Money, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The collection features art from 1848 to 1914, a striking contrast to the classical art in the Louvre.
1. The Louvre
Earning the first spot for best museums in Paris is of course the Louvre, which is the world’s largest art museum and a historical monument in Paris. The extensive collection of sculptures, paintings, and artifacts spans thousands of years, including pieces from the Egyptian, classical, and Renaissance eras. Featured works within its walls include Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People. It could take weeks to venture through all the various hallways and sections in the Louvre, but it is totally worth it.
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