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Les Arts Decoratifs Review

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Les Arts Décoratifs

Fodor's Review:

Sharing a wing of the Musée du Louvre, but with a separate entrance and admission charge, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is home to a stellar collection of decorative arts. Spread across nine floors, the vast holdings include altarpieces from the Middle Ages and furnishings from the Italian Renaissance to the present day. Renovated in 2006, the museum has period rooms reflecting the ages, such as the early 1820s salon of the Duchesse de Berry, who actually lived in the building, and several rooms reproduced from designer Jeanne Lanvin's 1920s apartment. Don't miss the gilt-and-green velvet bed of the Parisian courtesan who inspired the boudoir in Emile Zola's novel Nana. You can hear Zola's description of it on the free English audioguide, which is highly recommended. Don't miss the impressive jewelry gallery on the second floor.

The arts center comprises two other museums—more aptly called departments—which play host to temporary exhibitions. The Musée de la Mode et du Textiles (Museum of Fashion and Textiles), for instance, recently hosted a Sonia Rykiel retrospective. The other department is the Musée de la Publicité, dedicated to advertising and publicity. There is also a quiet restaurant, Le Saut du Loup, with an outdoor terrace that serves lunch even on Monday when the museum is closed. If you're combining a visit here with the Musée du Louvre, note that the museums close on different days, so don't come on Monday or Tuesday.

  • Cost: EUR 8-EUR 16.50, depending on which museums you wish to visit
  • Open: Tues., Wed., and Fri. 11-6, Thurs. 11-9, weekends 10-6
  • Metro: Palais-Royal
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