Favorite Smaller Museum in Paris
 

We are thinking of returning to Paris. I want to gauge what fodorites consider as their favorite smaller museum.

I read about Musee Marmottan Monet with Impression Sunrise and Musee Jacquemart Andre. What do you think of these two?

What are your favorites and why?

My favorite small museum is arts-et-metiers - kind of an engineering and scientific museum with old inventions dating from its 1789 start as such a museum - one of Focault's Pendula hangs in a nave of the former church and all kinds of gadgets and famous scientific advances on display. Nice little snack room. I am always mesmerized by the tiny train tracks in the wooden floor that were formerly and maybe still are used to move heavy exhibits around the older part of the museum.

It's not far north of Les Halles and has a metro stop of the same name.

https://www.arts-et-metiers.net/muse...or-information

https://www.google.com/search?biw=10...39.YwmJzzy713U

If wanting to go to a lot of smaller museums and major ones be sure to check out the Paris Museum Pass that covers most major and minor sights and provides preferred entry at the Louvre, Versailles, etc. sold at participating museums.

https://en.parismuseumpass.com/

allows multiple entries - I loved going to smaller museums so would buy a pass and then for the length of the pass (2- 4- 6- days) would hunt down practically every museum in central Paris area. Even things like les egouts or the Paris sewer system near the Eiffel Tower: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museu...gouts-de-Paris - near road tunnel where Princess Di died.

I also liked the Catacombs, Conciergerie (Marie Antnette held here before beheading - can see her cell. Close to Notre Dame. But do not order online as there will be a hefty hefty mailing charge - rather just buy at CDG and Orly Airports or at any museum - pick a small one to avoid lines.

Pantheon is also a neat one - Ecole Militaire has Napoleon's stuffed dog.

The Grand Biblioteque (dubbed TGB for 'tres grande biblioteque) was one of Mitterands Grands Projects - creating new modern edifices like the Pompidou Center and Les Halles and Parc Citroen, etc. It's more than a library with an art museum part - but it's known for its weird design - four corners being stacks of books rising around a big square.

Into wines? Then head to the old wine warehouse district where trains once brought in wines from all over France. The old warehouses have now been converted into a myriad of uses - some being wine bistros for tastings - old cobblestones everywhere with rail tracks still there though not used -

https://www.google.com/search?q=berc...w=1097&bih=554

http://www.secretsofparis.com/bercy-district/

Prost as they say in France for a toast.

Here's a brand new book for you...

The Little(r) Museums of Paris. (sorry, tried to do a link but it didn't work)

It comes out tomorrow.

My favorites - Montmartre Museum (used to be Suzanne Valadon's home and has a lovely garden), Romantic Museum in the 9eme.

Or wander through the Montmartre Cemetery and see the graves of the famous.

Depending upon the season and the exhibit, The Musee de la Vie Romantique. Lovely setting in the 9th. Delightful attached cafe. Just saw the Hammershoi at the Jacquemart-Andre. Too crowded to enjoy an exhibit that was hung in far too small a space. The house is probably interesting to some, but I find the setting not a proper art venue. But the restaurant is lovely, if that interests you. Also Musee Bourdelle and the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, a Jean Nouvelle masterpiece, Good website

woops, saw Belinda's post after I posted mine. I think she too is talking about the Musee de la Vie Romantique.

Musee Marmotan was terrific. I love the Orangerie and the Rodin Museum. The Jacquemart Andre was not as interesting to me.

In addition to some mentioned, I made a point of visiting one that sounded fascinating to me and it was. It's surrounded by beautiful unusual gardens and is the life's work of one man. I find that aspect is often the genesis of particularly interesting ventures, one person's vision often being far more interesting than anything conceived by a committee. Work was going on while I was there so I'm due for another visit.

Here is my report on the Albert Kahn Museum & Gardens: https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/the...-gardens-paris

If you decide to go to the Kahn which is supposed to open again September/October of 2019, you could make a nice day for yourself away from the crowd by visiting, in addition to the Kahn, numerous Art Deco buildings (the tourist office has maps and there's much on the internet) in Boulogne-Bilancourt and the museum there:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3...C3%A9es_Trente

I second the recommendation for the Nissim de Comando, both for the superb furnishings (there's a carpet I plan to steal) and the sad history of the house and its owners.

The Carnavalet is my all-time favorite (do note it's not open right now). Jaquemart-André for Sunday brunch.

The Carnavalet is set to re-open beginning next year after a 5 year overhaul. Should be very interesting to see.

Thanks about the Musee Arts et Metiers--sounds interesting and I never heard of the Nissim de Comondo also sounds very interesting for both the arts and its sad history.

We loved the Rodin museum and gardens. Hopefully will return to it but interested in checking out some new hidden gems.

We saw the Conciergerie as well when they did show Marie Antoinette's cell. Do you know why they don't show it anymore? Next door Saint Chapelle is marvelous.

Yes love impressionist paintings so looking forward to seeing Marmottan Monet.

Keep the ideas coming. Thanks all!

Marmottan is terrific. While not a museum, if you have never been to St Denis, it's worth the Metro ride. When we went it was not crowded and I think very interesting as the burial place of French kings. If you like crystal there is a small Baccarat museum:

https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museu...Musee-Baccarat

The museum of decorative arts is located in part of the Louvre but a separate museum (I think you can buy a combo ticket for it and NIssim de Comando). They had a great exhibit on the history of fashion a few years ago that we loved.

https://madparis.fr/

Below is a link to our morning at Musée Nissim de Camondo. Well worth it. Not too far away are Église Saint-Augustin de Paris and the Chapelle Expiatoire. We saw them both this day ... lots of photos, too. Later in the afternoon we stopped in the Louvre and Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Ended the day with a fantastic dinner at L’Estrapade. No wonder we have no time to nap.

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/cha...nt-perfection/

Chapelle Expiatoire

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...dd64cae47.jpeg

https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-wo...r%20Newsletter

Got this from current thread in case you did not see it!

I'm glad Musee Marmottan Monet is getting a number of good reviews here as well as Musée Nissim de Camondo.

Maitaitom--I love all your trip reports and pictures!

Pal--that new museum seems rather interesting.

Is it possible that the Nissim de Camando now has toilettes? I do hope so.

We have enjoyed visits to many of the City of Paris museums. There is no admission charge for their permanent collections. The Carnavalet is currently closed for renovation and the Museum of Modern Art (Palais de Tokyo) is undergoing extensive work and many areas are closed.

Discover | Paris Musées

In Invalides, there is a special museum in museum that shows military "maguettes" that were used for tactical planning. Fascinating.

I also like the temporary exhibits and shows that Institut du Monde Arabe does over summer.

Jeu de Paume (opposite Orangerie in a twin building) for photography, for which MEP in the Marais is also an excellent place.

A surprise of few years ago, the Ceramics Museum (also a Ville de Paris museum)

https://www.sevresciteceramique.fr/