Al_Godon

I think the Musee Marmottan is a must for Monet lovers. There are some other good works of art there as well by other Impressionists.

The most interesting part for me was a display of several version of the same painting. It was like peering into the artist's mind while he was putting the final painting through multiple drafts.

The viewer could see where Monet was playing with light, shade, color, scope, etc. As the different versions came into view, I could see why he settled on the final version. I wish I could recall the name of the painting!

The other aspect of the visit is to see that part of Paris. The park near the museum is interesting, and pretty.

Now for the other side of the coin. If you don't care for Monet, although people have been committed for lesser offenses, then there are other places to visit in Paris.

But until the archaelogists quit excavating that old wall, or what ever it was and the Water Lillies at the Orangerie reopen, I think Musee Marmottan goes up the scale a ways.

Last I heard, the Orangerie might reopen it 2005; it might not. Anyone have any recent information on this subject.

After years of closure, I bet the place will be swamped with visitors when it finally opens its doors again.

LarryJ

Another thing I like about the Marmottan that can not be found at any other museum is that you can see the transformation Monet made from his popular impressionism to abstract painting late in his life. A lot of the painting done late in his life of the garden and lilly pond at Giverny is abstract.

Larry J

JudyC

For going to Marmottan, perhpas it would be more fun to take Bus #63, as the museum is less than 5 minutes walk from the final stop. #63 goes through many interesting streets and sites in Paris. I have enjoyed traveling the route for my 5-6 times museum visits.

KathrynT

111op,

The Caillebotte painting you referred to is called The Floor Scrapers -- one of my favorites. We had a print of it over our fireplace for years. I was hoping to see it at the Orsay last time we were there, but it wasn't on display

I love the Marmottan and think you've gotten lots of good feedback, JMK38. Have a great trip!

LVSue

Some of my fondest memories are "on-the-way-to" discoveries. On the way to the Marmottan in the Jardins de Ranelagh is a wonderful statue of La Fontaine with a fox and a crow. Here also is a great market street idea from an earlier post by BTilke:

if you'd like to find a more authentic, less touristed street market. If you are near the number 10 metro line, you can go out to the Michel-Ange Auteuil metro stop and catch a vibrant, untouristed market Wednesdays and Saturday (mornings, I believe) in an upscale residential neighborhood of the 16th. There is also a LeNotre just off the market square. Or you could stroll down the rue Fontaine about a block to the little street of food shops (fromagerie, poissonerie, boucherie, boulangerie, etc.). Or walk up the Ave. Mozart, more food shops and cafes (we like the Royal Mozart for lunch, the cafe dog's name is Snoopy, FYI) and then continue over toward the Marmottan museum.

AGM_Cape_Cod

Another plus for the Marmottan is that, at least when we were there in March, it wasn't very crowded. So it was possible to see the paintings from various distances relatively unobstructed by other visitors. We sat on the bench in front of the water lilies and looked down the room at other paintings and the difference in perspective was amazing. The problem with the Orsay is that when you step back to view a painting someone either moves to stand in front of you or the masses start passing through.
One side note-the Musee Marmottan is a private museum and therefore does not accept your museum pass. At least when we were there lines weren't a problem .

SUNSHINE1223

I agree with what everyone has said. It is a very very small museum. The basement as I will call it has Monet down there. The circle room with his huge paintings is awesome. I could have sat there all day just looking at all his paintings. We probably were there less than 2 hours spending most of it where Monet paintings were. We took the Metro there and walked all the way back to the 1st Arr. It was an awesome walk to see the other areas that we have not seen on our other trips to Paris.
JUST REMEMBER, YOU CANNOT SEE EVERYTHING YOU WILL WANT TO IN 3 DAYS. GIVES YOU A REASON TO GO BACK AGAIN!

HowardR

I guess it's all a matter of taste. We didn't think the Marmottan could come close matching the d'Orsay, even in the restricted criterion of just Monet's work.
And, as a whole, spending an entire day at the d'Orsay, including lunch in its most elegant dining room, was indeed in the top 3 of experiences during our 2-week stay in Paris. (Giverny was also among the top trio.)

JMK38

After all of this time, I am reviving this thread because on our most recent trip to Paris (this past weekend) we finally made it to the Marmottan and found it to be one of our favorite things of the whole trip. (Full disclosure: we also
fit in yet another visit to the Orsay....)The Marmottan was lovely in so many respects: the building itself is beautiful, the taxi ride there through the beautiful section of the 16th was a treat and the collection was, I thought, wonderful. The opportunity to see "Impression Sunrise" alone made the trip worthwhile. Also really enjoyed seeing the
Caillebotte and the Morisots. There was a temporary exhibit of Henri Cross works in the ground level space which were worth seeing, but those did not really speak to us the way the impressionists' works on the 1st floor did.
Per Elaine's old suggestion, we had lunch afterward at La Rotonde de Muette, which provided an opportunity to see many fashionable Parisians eating a leisurely lunch on a sunny (but cold) Saturday.
Long-winded way of saying, thank you to all of you who
opined about the Marmottan. Your comments, observations, even
the sidetracked art criticism, really helped. I (and my husband) would say the Marmottan definitely is worth it.

Carlux

Definitely worth it.

kat12

I was there for the second time last October. I just love this museum. But I felt that many paintings I had seen on my first visit were not on display that day. Someone in the gift shop said that paintings were out on exhibit somewhere in Switzerland. Still an amazing collection, and I couldn't get enough of the sunrise painting either. It takes your breath away.

Michel_Paris

Hey, you ate at Rotonde de la Muette!!

I did so my last time in Paris, I've recommended it here, but seesm too far away for most people. I was staying in the 16th near Seine and wandered up to the area looking for something.

Had a wonderful potage and sole meuniere.

As a note, could take metro and walk to Marmottan, nice park nearby.

ellen75005

I'm a fan of impressionism and I love the Marmottan. I love the area surrounding it (as I recall, there's a little park in front of it) and I love the building itself. I also love that it's not huge and overwhelming; very easy to visit in a couple of hours. I haven't been there in several years, and it's on my list to visit again the next time I'm in Paris.

Michel_Paris

The 16th has some interesting things to see. If you like Guimard (Art nouveau Metro stations), there are some buildings designed by him, weekly farmer's market near metro Michel-Ange, a very good chocolate shop on rue Mozart,etc..

I liked the Marmottan for the waterlillies, and the fact it is not crowded so you can browse, or just sit and look at the paintings. They had a large retrospective recently.

plafield

I also love the Marmottan. To be able to sit, relaxed on a bench and be surrounded by those huge Monets in almost solitude is such a treat. At the D'orsay there are countless people packed all around so you can't clearly view any of the impressionist paintings without them being at least partially obstructed by all those bodies. The Marmottan is often nearly empty.

And yes, it's a lovely walk from the metro. The neighborhood is very pleasant and it's a great way to see some of Paris that you might not otherwise explore.

Magster2005

JMK38 -- I wasn't in on the original post, but how nice of you to come back and let everyone know your experience!

I am another fan of the Marmottan. In addition to enjoying the Monets, I gained a lasting appreciation of Berthe Morisot (a wonderful female Impressionist painter).

toupary6

I'm so glad you made it to the Marmottan. I think we are so exposed to the Impressionists -- and particularly Monet -- that we don't really "see" them. I think I saw Monet for the first time while sitting in the downstairs room, surrounded by his work.

And put me down as another fan of Berthe Morisot.

I think people often don't go to the Marmottan because it seems far out, when in reality it's really very easy to get to.

cathies

I agree with magster, it would be great if more people did this. Can I ask if you enjoyed staying in the 16th and if transport was easy into the city centre?

JMK38

We did not stay in the 16th - we stayed in the 7th and took a cab to the museum (easy cab ride through some very lovely neighborhoods). I have posted a general trip report entitled
"Paris with a Broken Leg" if you wish to read it.

Michel_Paris

When I styed in that area, I had made the decision I wanted to move away from the centre and try a different area, and also to have a bit more low-key, local vibe.

Plus, a year/two earlier, my sister was in Paris for a couple of years on an ex-pat deal, and I visited and stayed at her apartment near Metro Michel-Ange in teh 16th. That was a good experience. Farmer's market, local shops, local restos where owner knows you,etc..

So, using Expedia for a quick and cheap deal, found this one:

www.auteuiltoureiffel.com

More of a business hotel, but fine rooms, efficient staff.
My Metro was Mirabeau, about 2 blocks from hotel. Hotel on a quiet side street. Every morning, head to cafe, have petit dejuener, read papaer, plan day. Tnen, across street was Metro. It was interesting to watch the dynamics of the people coming in/out of the cafe.

Most of my touring was done in central Paris, so took Metro every day. When I arrived in Paris, RER+Metro to get to hotel (~12PM I was in my room). I took a couple of Paris Walks tours of Marais,from my cafe to there was <30 mins. Beacuse of the layout of the Metro lines, coming back home took longer. Going back to CDG, took Metro to Montparnasse, then Air France Bus.

I asked front desk for recommendations for restaurants, one I could not find, other was bit upscale, so I ended up walking about 15-20 mins to street I was familiar with from visit with my sister. Had a good choice of restos (thus the Rotonde mentioned above).

My sister also asked for some food products, so went to the Monprix that I visited when I 'lived' there. And, why not a visit to 'my' chocolate shop. I also had one evening when I decided to hang in my neighbourhood, so went to see popular french movie in Passy.

If I walked the two blocks from hotel to Seine, I could see the back of the Eiffel tower. Apart from that, my touring back in the centre.

My one aggravation, not really a complaint, is that I had a list of restos I wanted to try in the centre, but after a day of walking wanted to go back to hotel, drop stuff off, rest, then go to resto. Being out in the 16th, that ook a while.

Hope these ramblings help.