A/C in Paris
 

Does anyone know if the museums in Paris-specifically the D'Orsay are aircondtioned? Also is the Musee Marmotton (?spelling) worth a trip from the ST.GERmain area-? how much a taxi would cost? Also are the taxis usually airconditioned. We are traveling with a very heat sensitive child. Thanks for any information

I can't be certain about whether the museums are air conditioned but they must be climate controled because the paintings couldn't stand extreme temperature changes. The Marmottan is will worth the trip from St. Germaine - especially if you like Monet. Again, I can't remember if cabs are air conditioned.

The D'Orsay was not air conditioned two summers ago when we were last there. There were fans in quite a few of the rooms. The cabs we took were not air conditioned either.

Good luck!

I was there in the heat wave of late June (which I gather had returned) and also thought museums would be a good idea to escape the heat. They are better than a lot of places because often they are large stone buildings. However, none of the ones I was in were air conditioned. I did not go to the biggies this trip -- I was in the main fine arts museum of Reims, however, which is their big one, as well as several of the smaller ones in Paris, as well as seeing the Chagall exhibition at the Grand Palais. no AC anywhere.

I don't think temps of 90-95 can harm paintings or other works of art, so I imagine they don't invest in AC as it seldom gets that hot, anyway. It probably wouldn't reach 100 in there even if outside due to the stone or brick buildings. I really wouldn't count on taxis being air conditioned, but don't take them a lot, so am just guessing.

Yes, the Musee Marmottan is worth the trip from St-Germain; it's not that far, maybe a couple miles. There is a nice little park your child might like as you walk to it from the Muette metro stop. You could make a trip of that entire area which I like. First, get off at Passy stop (which is easier to get to from St-Germain). Then maybe visit Balzac's house (which is free) and go west and shop on the street market on rue de l'Annonciation which is right there. That leads directly towards the place de Passy and shortly along that main street is the Muette stop and then beyond that is the park and finally museum.

There is also a wine museum near the Passy metro which I have never been to so am not sure how good that is. YOu could also take a slight detour at place Passy and go south on ave Mozart which there are some nice shops and look at the beautiful buildings built during the Art Nouveau period.

Christina

Thanks for the detailed suggestion on the Musee Marmottan area. Good insight into what places/activities can be easily combined on a trip out there. Educated exploring beats aimless wandering when time is short.

Just returned to hotel from Musee D'Orsay 30 minutes ago after spending the day there. I am happy to report it is air conditioned and very comfortable, in spite of the insufferable heat outside.

A bigger threat than heat is moisture, particularly for works on paper or wood. Any climate control in a museum is designed to maintain a humidity level as well as temp. Amazingly, they are more concerned with the art than the patrons.