after a decade the Museum of decorative arts reopens on Friday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/ar....html?ref=arts

It's been on French TV all day. Museums are always big news.

And what they've been showing looks great!

Hi--went to this new museum on Sunday. 9 floors, each displaying a different decorative phase (e.g., top floor is 40s). One fun floor (50's?) displayed lots of chairs, and when you are just wondering whether they are confortable to sit in, you turn a corner and they have several set out for you to try. Relax and watch clips from French tv/movies about chairs. Kids might enjoy the display of toys on one of the lower floors. Great views from the topo floors. Since it had just opened, the museum was open for free. It is included in the museum pass.

Very good news--this was always one of our favorite museums.

ttt

Lacontessa and others, was there a long line to buy tickets? I know you had a museum pass and zipped right through, but was the line long for those who had to buy at the door?

We went in the afternoon with no advance tickets (or museum pass this time!) we waited maybe 20 minutes to get in, the museum is fabulous!

We were there a week or so ago. I really enjoyed it. I have already posted that I was 'museumed out' after just a day, but this was one that was fun - maybe it's because it was so much more contemporary.

What I did find odd was that we had to line up for a few minutes to get into the place. Then we had to line up to 'buy' a ticket. Since we had the museum pass, they just gave us the ticket and we went in. I don't know why we had to go through the exercise of lining up twice!

About how long did you spend here? I can't quite figure out if it's a huge museum or a smaller one.

ttt

I was at the Musee on the Saturday after the Friday-and the ticketing was pretty disorganized, but once you got in, it was very interesting-particularly their medieval section-a complete bedroom from the Middle Ages of a wealthy family-well, I wouldn't have a bit of problem having that bedroom exactly as is!

I found the Italian Renaissance art collection at the Musee (yes, they have this too) to be stunning, rivaling some of the best art in the Uffizi- and you are able to stand right in front of this priceless 14th, 15 century artwork -which really surprises me-no barriers whatsoever, it is as if it's hanging in a private home!

There is of course rooms of furniture from the 50's, 60's and 70's which is kind of fun, a collection of computers, a toys room, a collection of jewels and ballgowns from the Balenciaga collection through the years, an extensive gift shop-I enjoyed it, although I didn't have the time to laze through it in as leisurely a fashion as I would like, since I was rushing around trying to get back and get ready for a party I was going to with my friend later on.

The Musee is definitely a must-see for Paris museums. It's located on the Rue di Rivoli, just down from Angelina's cafe (speaking of which, I gave Angelina's another chance, and it was much better than the last time I was there some 4 or 5 years ago, when I vowed I wouldn't go back there again).