When will the Orangerie open again?

According to a note on Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door, the museum will not open until early in 2004.

Let us hope that the reworking does not "Pompidou" the place. Anybody read any sneak previews as to what they have done to the Water Lillies and the surrounding structures?

I have read that they are spending 25 million to do this renovation. And I think where the water lilies will be displayed will have a natural lighting.

Okay...it is now "early 2004." Any idea of when Musée de l'Orangerie is to reopen?

Good question. I just goggled it, and found three websites, including one that appears to be the museum's own, that would indicate it's up and running.

Then I tried a fourth and it said the renovation work had been extended until Fall 2004.

Any Parisian here who knows for sure?

According to Agence France Presse on Nov 28, work was stopped at the museum in September as a result of an archealogical find, "two metres sticking out of the ground of a fortified outer wall almost three metres thick that is 59 metres long and a total seven metres high", pending a decision by year-end (ha) on the future of this wall. If the decision is that the wall must be retained, the completion of the renovation of the museum will be delayed for at least two years. <If this posts twice, sorry.>

here's an update link as of 10/03:

http://www.construction.com/NewsCent.../20031008r.asp

Questions on the reopening have been posted on various sites for over 2 years now, and the museum has still not re-oppened. Is it the entire museum that's closed or just the downstairs room that held the Nymphéas? I suspect it's going to be a case of its being reopened when it's reopened.

Not open because of the archaeological find. Probably several more years.

I am really confused as I just read the latest Discover France Travel News and its first article was on the Orangerie as if it were open. I will be there 20 May and I will find out for myself.

I WAS IN PARIS MID MARCH AND THE MUSEE WAS DOWN TO THE BARE WALLS NOWHERE NEAR READY TO BE OPEN. IT WILL BE AWHILE.

There really never was a museum called "L'Orangerie". It was just a marketing idea, congured up by the French subsidiary of Walmart, to start a buzz. It will be a new place, opening up in the spring of 2008. It will be the first store in Paris to feature clothing goods and food in one place.

If you vist the site next to the gardens, you will see that it is a cleared site, with no building, but just an area that is being readied for construction.

I think I've read in various places that the current projected date is Fall 2004, definitely not early (well, I guess that's over anyway).

As for Discoverfrance, I think they are mainly in the business of selling tours and frequently use old and canned articles in their newsletter. I think their newsletter is mainly a marketing tool, not really very accurate. I wouldn't trust them for up-to-date information on what's going on in Paris.

I think the projected date is now 2006. As someone on another board (who also posts here) said, it is too bad they have not arranged for the collection to be on display elsewhere since this has been so delayed.