Less Known Museums of Paris
 

Having been to the d'Orsay, the Louvre and the Jacquemart Andre, I was hoping to go to the Monet-Marmottan on my next visit to Paris. But now I'm reading about the Petit Palais. Since I especially love 19th century art--impressionism and post-impressionism--which of the two is better for that? Also, anyone been to the Maison de Balzac or the Musee de la vie romantique? Any thoughts?

Since you are mainly interested in impressionism and post-impressionism, the Marmottan is by far the best of the four you mentioned. I am fortunate enough to get to Paris two or three times a year and always go to the Marmottan. Unless the Petit Palais is having an exhibition of impressionism, I don't think you will find any of those paintings there. It is an interesting building; I have not been in it since the recent refurbishing. It has been many years since I was in the Balzac museum, but unless you are interested in his works, I don't think this is worth a trip. The same goes for the Musée de la Vie Romantique. I was very disappointed in that one, but if you are a George Sand fan, perhaps you will have a different opinion. Put the Rodin and the Orangerie at the top of your list with the Marmottan.
Enjoy.
Boots

I've been to both the Balzac and le vie romantique..both okay..have you looked at the Nissam de Camondo? We loved it!What about the Carnevelet, the Picasso, the Orangerie...there are just toomany to list! You can't miss the Marmottan!

Check out the Gustave Moreau!

We loved the Petit Palais!!

Thanks for the very helpful replies! Yes, been to the Nissam Camondo and loved it. And to the Carnavalet and, to be honest, was dissapointed. Please tell me more about the Orangerie...

Marmottan, of course. The Orangerie has been closed for renovations for many years and would never be lumped into "lesser known museum of Paris" category. It is a much beloved one that has been eagerly awaited reopening for its display of Monet's Water Lilies. The Carnavalet is one of our absolute favorites. YOu do realize it is a history of the city of Paris in art, don't you? If you look at its paintings from that point of view, you will see the timeline of Paris depicted by artists of the day. But everyone doesn't have to like the same thing, of course.
We also love the Cluny.

And for the Carnavalet, my absolute favorite floor is the French Revolution and particularly the "cartoons".

The Orangerie is closed? Everything I can find says it reopened in May of last year. Can anyone confirm?

Cimbrone, l'Orangerie is alive and well -- and open.

The Marmottan and the Petit Palais are both excellent.

Musée de la Vie Romantique - the house is charming and gives a view of George Sand's life. There are numerous rooms devoted to Ary Scheffer paintings. There is a garden and tea room open during warm months. It's located in a very 19th Century neighborhood (get off at Métro Saint-George).

You might also enjoy the Musée Antoine Bourdelle. It is located in his former home/studio, and the gardens are lovely. It is interesting to see the evolution of his work. His earlier works recall Rodin, with whom he worked, and his style develops over time.

The Orangerie was closed for so long that it was about to become one of the lesser known!!

It is really well laid out and the lighting is excellent..there were long lines even in November so buying your ticket in advance at FNAC saves a lot of time.

At someone's recommendation I am going to try the Musée de la Marine at Palais Chaillot in Trocadero. I grew up on the ocean so will be interested in seeing all the nautical and maritime items. I've had enough of paintings.

beaupeep, we loved the musee de la Marine ..some of the figureheads are amazing. They also have a great gift shop there.

Given that many 19th century artists were influenced by the strong interest in Japan and China, it might be worthwhile to check out the Guimet Museum in the 16th (metro: Iena).

Also, there is a fun guidebook on Impressionism that does "face to face" comparisons of Impressionist paintings of places in Paris against modern photos of the same.

Actually it was because of the gift shop that I will go in May. I am trying to replace an old Hermes scarf that got stained badly and I was told it was an exclusive from their gift shop. I took a look at their website, liked what I saw and plan on going even though when I called they told me that they no longer sell this scarf (Jacques Eudel Compass for anyone who might want to sell one!)

Can someone provide information about FNAC? Best method of buying tickets in advance for the Orangerie and the Marmottan? I couldn't find the proper website. Can someone provide a link?

Thanks again to all!

Why hasn't any one mentioned the Pompidou? It's open late, has a great permanent collection and lot's of interesting temporary exhibits. It can be a breath of fresh air at the end of a long (and glorious) day of Paris museum touring.
Bon Voyage

Since no one has mentioned them..Musee de la Moyen Age (Cluny) is nice, small, with art and objects of middle ages, built around roman ruins. I'd also add Picasso Museum, and, if it interests you, the Musee Militaire.

Cimbrone: you don't need advance tickets to the Marmottan. It doesn't get that busy. I walked right up to the ticket window the day I went last May. At the Orangerie, on the other hand, I waited in line 2 hrs!!

If you like 19th century art, you will want to visit the Musee Rodin, which is just delightful. Nearby is the Musee Delacroix also.

Making notes for my May trip. Thanks!

FNAC website is in French and if you're unsure about ordering there, you can just go into one of their stores in Paris to buy your tickets. There are several. I know the ones on rue de Rennes , Pl. de La Bastille and Blvd St Germain near Pl St Michel.

Also there is a ticket counter at the Virgin Megastore in the Carousel de Louvre where you can buy advamce tickets

Thank you, jody. By searching on Fodor's, I found something called www.ticketnet.fr but there was an 8 euro per ticket delivery fee. So I didn't buy. And I'm not sure I trust the mail. (There was some talk on the thread about having tix delivered to your hotel.)

Do you think tickets for a Sunday in June will be available the day before at the locations you mention?

Two questions:
1. Is Chaillot pronounced "Shay-Low" or "Shay-yo"? I'm working with about three different French language self-study resources, but I still can't figure it out!
2. I believe the Paris Museum Pass covers the Orangerie, but I read somewhere that you still needed reservations...I'd be most grateful if someone could please clarify that for me.
Thanks!

Musee du Luxembourg often has fascinating exhibitions. One on Titian closed last month. I saw a terrific one three years ago on self-portraits by various masters, Degas, Picasso, Matisse ... It’s going to feature the work of Rene Lalique, a major glass maker and jewelry designer, from March 7 through July 29.

Chaillot is pronounced Shi (rhymes with buy) --owe (just like the word of the same spelling).

Merci beaucoup, Cimbrone!

I might suggest that the Chaillot is pronounced "Shy-yo" , with "yo" instead of "owe"

When people want an unknown museum, I always recommend the Musée de la Vie Romantique. It isn't much, but it is charming and often you have the entire place to yourself. And it's free.

We like to get the Carte Musee. It can be purchased anywhere. It helps you avoid long lines to purchase tickets at each museum. It also includes many small museums that can be real treasures that may otherwise be missed.

I like the Marmottan, but think the Petit Palais is a superior museum. Of course there are Impressionist works in the Petit Palais, they have a very famous Monet in there, among other Impressionist works. It was stunning as I'd never seen it before except in photos (Soleil Couchant sur la Seine a Lavacourt), and you can only see so many water lilies before they are kind of a bit less stunning IMO. They have art from many different periods, from antiquity through at least the beginning of the 20th Century, which is why I like it. I love that museum since the re-opening. They have some paintings by Manet, Corot, Ingres, Renoir, Sisley, Cezanne and Vuillard,m for a few famous names.

I don't love the Marmottan, but I visit it very few years. I don't think the Monets in there are his best works, and the rest of the collection isn't that impressive to me there. It just takes more time to get to/from that, also, so I don't go there as often. Even if you love Monet, I would go to the Orangerie and Petit Palais before the Marmottan myself.

The Maison de Balzac is interesting if you are over that way and like him. I thought Victor Hugo's apt. on the Place des Vosges was more interesting, actually.

I very much like the Musee Maillol, for smaller museumse, and it sounds like something you would like.

The Marmottan and the Petit Palais are both excellent. I also enjoyed Arts Decoratifs (i'm sure I've mis-spelled it).

The Marmottan is lovely and the walk through the park, seeing the children riding the old fashioned merry go round is charming - if it a nice day, pick up a sandwhich and drink and have a pcinic before or after the museum.
The Oragnerie is a must see if you love impressionist art - but it is very busy.
The Rodin museum is great - but I think the sculpture garden is almosy better than the museum itself - it is cheaper (and no lines) to buy a ticket for the garden, again, pack a picnic, and you can spend a lovely relaxing hour or so having lunch and weandering through the garden (my idea of Paris - food and art!).
As a side trip the Jardin de Plant (boy, my spelling is bad) is also lovely - a wonderul small zoo and lovely gardins, and a terrific natural history museum to boot.
enjoy

Lisa

The Marmatton houses Monet's seminal work, "Impression: Sunrise." That alone is worth the trip. I have to say, I like the progression of waterlilies paintings in the Marmatton and don't find them repetitive at all. On the contrary, you can really see the development of Monet's thinking over the two decades or so that he was working with that subject at Giverny. They have several of the later ones which are really, really interesting in their abstraction.

On my trip last May, I went to Giverny the day before I went to the Marmatton, and that proved to be an excellent decision--I enjoyed the paintings in the Marmatton all the more having been to the gardens just before. You may want to think about that, Cimbrone, if you have the time!

I like the Institute du Monde Arabe. I love to go to the terrace (great view of Paris, particularly of Notre Dame), to the beautiful museum shop, and love to see the shutters move according to the sunlight.

The Institute is on the 5eme, near the Sorbonne (more or less).

I appreciate all of the replies! Jody, or anyone else, still wondering if buying an advance ticket for the Orangerie the day before a Sunday in June is advisable or if they might be sold out.

Been to Giverny, dejavu. LOVED it! Hope to return someday.

Hi There!

Spent quite a few months living in Paris and visited almost all the museums there.

My personal favorites:
-Musee Rodin - excellent collection of the 19th century sculptor's work. The house it's in is pretty, as are the gardens and grounds surrounding the house

-Musee de Cluny - excellent small museum if you like medieval stuff. Some 19th century painters were inspired by medieval times, so that might interest you. The famous lady and unicorn tapestries are there.

Musee de Luxembourg puts together wonderful exhibitions. If you can get to the Lalique jewelry exhibit mentioned in an earlier post - do it! He was active during the late 19th and early 20th, so that might fit into your 19th century art interest as well (he was inspired by Japanese artists, like the impressionist painters)

-It's not exactly a museum, but if you haven't yet been, I think everyone should get to the Sainte-Chapelle and see it's stained glass. It is one of the most underrated sights in Paris. If you appreciate the impressionists - who love color and light - then you will enjoy this gem - it's one of the most extraordinary places I've visited - on a sunny day, it's like an impressionist painting blown up!

Cimbrone, if it's Impressionism that you're interested in than IMO you must visit the Marmottan. There is a room of works by Berte Marisol - one of the fioe artists that founded the movement and the only woman. The works were donanted by her grandson. And, as previously mentioned, Monet's "Impression, Sunrise" which named the movement.

We were really taken with the Rodin museum. Some of his lesser known sculpture is really gorgeous. The grounds are nicely laid out as well.

nolefan1: This thread is more than a year old (Leclerc registered to top it and others to advertise websites)

Well, serendipitously, I was just deciding which museums to take my 13-year-old to this weekend...

Marmottan topped my list but now I'll look into the musee de la Marine and Institute du Monde Arabe.

So thank you Cimbrone and all who contributed.

gruezi

Musee de la Moyen Age is one of my favorites ... it was a surprise to me, especially the Lady and the Unicorn tapestry room.