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-   -   Musee du Quai Branly (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/musee-du-quai-branly-340239/)

Aduchamp1 Apr 9th, 2008 10:30 AM

Musee du Quai Branly
 
Please advise as to your:

Impressions of the collection

Impressions of the building

Ease or difficulty of securing tickets.


Thank you

ekscrunchy Apr 9th, 2008 10:37 AM

I went on an October Sunday and there was a long line. Since we did not want to wait, we were able to gain immediate access for the special exhibit that was on at that time, which was marvelous.. Next time I will buy tickets in advance to circumvent waiting to enter the permanent collections...

Yes, from the small glimpse we got, definitely worthwhile both interior and Nouvel exterior.

Images2 Apr 9th, 2008 11:07 AM

I've been twice, the 2nd time just 2 weeks ago. There was no line. I think it's one of the best museums in Paris!! The collections are stunning, as is the building.

Sherbrooke Apr 9th, 2008 11:32 AM

I have heard that there is a very fine restaurant at the Branly. Hope to try it later this month when we are in Paris briefly.

Ronda Apr 9th, 2008 11:39 AM

On the website it says it is covered by the museum pass.

gracejoan3 Apr 9th, 2008 11:47 AM

If you are planning on going to other museums, you will find it is best to purchase the Museum Pass.

If you go to the official museum pass website, you will find a list of all the museums that are on the pass. It might help you decide which museums you would like to see.

Enjoy.........

MrNuke Apr 9th, 2008 11:52 AM

"If you are planning on going to other museums, you will find it is best to purchase the Museum Pass."

If we are talking purely from the aspect of skipping lines then yes. For cost maybe yes maybe no.

Michael Apr 9th, 2008 11:59 AM

We had no problems getting tickets last June. I find the building and its surrounding garden interesting, although the interior ramp is something of a conceit in my mind--the exhibit along that ramp becomes decoration. The collection is enormous when it comes to what were the French colonies and should be seen by anyone interested in <i>les premiers arts</i> as they call it. The Americas are weaker. The exhibit of similar arts in the Louvre (Pavillon de Flore) is much more limited, but the individual pieces have greater aesthetic value in themselves and are displayed as such.

There is an article in this past Sunday's NY Times Magazine on Jean Nouvel which gives some explanation of the logic of the interior of the museum.

Guenmai Apr 9th, 2008 12:08 PM

No line just two weeks ago? Oh, shoot, I should have gone. I was in Paris two weeks ago and that's the only museum I wanted to go to since I've been to the others so many times. But, when I asked my French friend if he wanted to go he just looked at me and said,&quot; I've been and I stood in line for 3 hours.&quot; So, I told him I'd try to get there on a day that he was at work, and just go on my own, but I didn't end up going because the thought of such long lines was starting to sound too Disneylandish to me. Smiles. Happy Travels!

Aduchamp1 Apr 9th, 2008 12:26 PM

Thank you all. This was most helpful.

Ackislander Apr 9th, 2008 01:55 PM

Didn't go to the collections or the restaurant, but the building is astonishing. As you no doubt know, the facade is partly screened by glass and partly composed of a vertical garden. Yes, the front of the building is planted with a lush garden that completely obscures the underlying structure. Simply wonderful.

Michael Apr 9th, 2008 02:00 PM

Here is my impression of the restaurant at the MQB:

<i>MQB: I had the African BBQ chicken, and it was the least of the lunches the three of us had both in taste and in quantity. In any case, it is expensive for what it is: $71 (this was in 2007)for three light lunches. If I had a choice, I would go into the 7th, away from the Seine and look for a restaurant there.</i>

tedgale Apr 9th, 2008 04:03 PM

Conventional opinion, as related to us by Parisian friends, then confirmed by my spouse:

1. Great building, less certain about the works displayed
2. Heterogeneous collection, displayed in sometimes rather confusing ways
3. Officialdom thought &quot;ethnic&quot; Paris would flock there but it's almost all white folk
4. Worth a visit, though -- definitely.

Images2 Apr 9th, 2008 04:06 PM

Yep, no line! We went on Tuesday afternoon (March 25) and the museum wasn't crowded at all!

Aduchamp1 Apr 9th, 2008 07:15 PM

It sounds like the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the building is interesting the collection not so interesting.

I will definitely inspect the exterior.

Thanks.

Michael Apr 9th, 2008 07:32 PM

The collection of the MQB is much larger and far more interesting than the Guggenheim's in Bilbao. It did have some strange quirks. Sometimes relevant music can be heard by pushing a button in front of a display, but not for any of the instrumental displays.

Images2 Apr 10th, 2008 04:17 AM

What a mistake it'd be to miss the interior.

Nikki Apr 10th, 2008 04:33 AM

Images, the day you were there was the day I considered going but didn't. I now am having mild regrets. I still would like to see it, but I guess you can't do everything.

Images2 Apr 10th, 2008 04:44 AM

Nikki, there will be a next time! I very much wanted to go to the Marie Antoinette exhibit, but didn't since my grandson wouldn't have appreciated it. Instead we went to the Armory museum at Les Invalides which we'd never been at. Wow, it had a extensive collection of wonderful armory. He loved it so much, and I'm gald we found another &quot;new&quot; part of Les Invalides.

Even the Orangerie didn't have a long line on Wednesday, when we went. Maybe the newer museums aren't as popular now, so the lines are down, or it was just a quiet week in Paris! I'm so sorry we missed seeing you, but it was such a joy seeing Paris through our grandson's eyes! Well, except for the part where he RAN up the steps of the Eiffel tower!

Nikki Apr 10th, 2008 04:47 AM

No long line at the Orangerie Wednesday? I can testify that there was quite a long one on the previous Friday. Timing is everything.


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