Small Paris Museums
 

Trying to add a few smaller, less well-known museums to my next trip to Paris. I?ve found a few that look interesting, but might not have time to get to all of them. Would appreciate your feedback and recommendations. I know its very subjective, but my initial thought was to rank order them based on price, ease of access, size of collection and ability to combine a visit with other nearby attractions. Additional suggestions welcome.

Musée Cognacq-Jay

Nissim de Camondo Museum

Musée National Eugène Delacroix

Museum of Romantic Life

Musée de Montmartre

Costume and Fashion Museum

Musee Grevin

Musee de la Monnaie

I am not sure if the Rodin Museum fits the criteria. It is nice place to visit,both house and gardens.

The Jacquemart - Andre Museum on Boulevard Hausmann is definitely one to add to the list.

I was not impressed with the Musee Picasso. I did not think the museum had much of his best work, the gallery itself struck me as drab, and I think, at the base level, Picasso is not my cup of tea.

If you buy the museum pass you won't have to think about cost. Don't know if you have seen the Marmottan but it is a must see. We enjoyed the Musee Montmartre. Also Cluny (not small). Carnavalet is now free and one of our favorites.

Another vote for The Jacquemart - Andre Museum. The Carnavalet is nice but not as elegant or beautiful as the Jacquemart. The Carnavalet has a lot of French history but everything is in French and the docents won't speak English.

If you go to the Jacquemart be sure to have a snack or lunch in the dinning room. Very beautiful - you will feel transported back in time.

Sorry - I should have said up front that I planned to go to the Cluny, Rodin, Carnavalet, and Marmottan. The pass would give me the ability to pop in and out. My plan was to group several new and old places together as part of a series of long walks if the weather was nice. If it rains, then I would add more museums or linger as required. I hope that makes sense.

Musee Guimet has a wonderful collection of Asian art, especially some notable pieces from Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Metro stop Iena.

The Jaquemart Andre is my personal fvorite. Gorgeous interior decoration in the mansion in addition to the art dispayed there. Nice tea room. Open daily.

Combine the visit to the Nissim de Camondo with a walk through Parc Monceau.

If you visit the Musee Grevin {Grands Boulevards Metro], there is a nice walk down to the Palais Royale. Start at the Passage de Panoramas across the street, exit right, then down Rue Vivienne seeing Galerie Viviemne and Galerie Colbert on the way. Le Grand Colbert is a nice lunch spot.

Leaving the Marmottan, go right to the boulevard. You can catch a bus there and save a longish walk back to the Muette Metro.

Does anyone know if the The Jaquemart Andre is on the Paris Museum card? I'll have a couple of teens in tow part of the time and I guess I let the high entrance fee scare me off.

Don't miss the Musee Maillol--former residence of Maillol and mistress filled with beautiful sculpture, painting and interesting artworks. Very enjoyable.

Jacquemart-Andre is not on the museum pass. :-(

There are 15 municipal museums (Musées de la Ville de Paris) that are free: Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Maison de Balzac, Musée Bourdelle (sculptor), Musée Carnavalet, the Catacombs, Cognacq-Jay, Musée Galliera (fashion), the Leclerc Memorial and Jean Moulin Museum (resistance), Romantic Life, Victor Hugo's house, the Zadkine museum (sculptor).

A couple of them are being worked on (the museum card said Zadkine was, but there is a Vincent and Theo exposition there till 9-21 (he did the sculpture of Vincent in the garden at Auvers-sur-Oise).

And it is only the permanent collections that are free; special expos cost some, but not too much. I think it is funny that they are on the museum pass list because you can get in free anyway.

Another vote for the Maillol, the work is beautiful and it's very close to the Rodin.

If you like Asian art the Musee Guimet, on Pl d'Iena (16th) has one of the finest collections in the world

http://www.museeguimet.fr

I can't chose my favorite as it changes with each I see!

Finally made it to the Marmottan in May. If you like Monet you'll love the Marmottan as I did. Didn't want to leave. Very nice part of town also. Not covered by the museum pass. Cost was 6.50 euros. Going back in September. The Rodin is also a great way to spend part of a day. The gardens and the sculptures there make it a nice change from the usual indoor museums.

Larry J

The Carnavalet would be all French since it is the museum of the history of Paris as depicted in art. I particularly like the floor dedicated to the French Revolution--particularly the room of "cartoons" of the time.

Thanks for all the feedback, but I've added even more to my initial list. Guess the only decent thing to do is extend my stay!

I'll add the Jewish Museum to the list, a fascinating experience for Jew and non-Jew alike.

What a great thread!

I forgot another one we enjoyed. and it is very near the Carnavalet...Musee de la Chasse. The building itself is worth a trip!

I am glad to see that someone else enjoyed the Musee De la Chasse. If you like hunting and guns you will like it. The guns were so ornate and the building is beautiful. Be sure to look down into the courtyard garden. One side of the building is still used as a private hunting club. We were surprised to find that hunting is very big even in the city of Paris. The Musee de Cluny if one of my favorites! The tapestry room with the Dame and The Unicorn is a place I could just set in all day and enjoy! If you are into medival art and objects that is one not to miss.

Hunting Museum (Musée de la Chasse)

60 rue des Archives, 3E in Hotel Guénégaud

Métro: Rambuteau or Hôtel de Ville

Monday closed. Open 1100 to 1800, Tues - Sun.

4.55E admission for adults.

Has anyone been to the Musée Cognacq-Jay and/or Nissim de Camondo Museum?
Are they very similiar in appearance and focus? Too much duplication to do both on the same trip?

I was a little disappointed in Camondo (maybe it was an off-day for me), but the story of the family is fascinating and sad. I also went to the Parc Monceau; it was a Sunday and the place was packed! But for private house museums, I much prefer Jacquemart-Andre. Never been to Cognacq-Jay.

Been to all 3 ..Jacquemart-Andre would rank #1, of the camondo and Cognacq-Jay, I would go for Camondo, more displays, good furniture, if you are intersted in that and a more personal "feel". The galleries at C-J are quite small and ovr-filled for my tast, though they sometimes have good temp. exhibits on.

Marmottan and Jaquemart Andre are two favorites of mine listed thus far.

I've also enjoyed a couple of the smaller museums which are affillated with, but separate from, the main Louvre building. The Musee des Arts de la Mode et du Textile has lovely displays of fashion and fabrics through the ages,(http://www.paris.org/Musees/Arts.Textile/info.html) and the Musee de la Publicite has great old advertising posters (www.ucad.fr/pub/)

For any Edith Piaf fans out there, there is a small museum dedicated to her; not sure where it is and think it is by appt. only. Probably could find it online. I've been meaning to go to it for years.

The Edith Piaf Museum is at:

5 rue Crespin du Gast
Tel: 43 55 52 72
Closest Metro sta: Menilmontant
Hours: Mon-Thurs 1PM-6PM by apptmt.

You can find her grave at the Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise. She has a very modest grave site.

Larry J

I agree the the Jewish Museum is interesting. Be aware, however, that it is not included on the Carte Musee.

My wife and I visited the Baccarat Museum the last time we were in Paris. She enjoyed it, and I enjoyed that she didn't buy anything.
((H))

It's not everyone's cup of tea but I liked the Musee de la Serrure (Lock Museum) in the 3rd near the Picasso Museum at 1 rue de la Perle.

It has a small, interesting collection of old locks and keys. I found the metal working and intricate engraving patterns fascinating.

Interested in the Jean Moulin Museum (WWII resistance.) Has anyone been and/or know where it is located?

It's right behind the Montparnasse station, in the Jardin Atlantique. Be sure to go to the Leclerc Memorial next door. Upstairs they have a panoramic multimedia presentation of the occupation and liberation of Paris. Very moving to say the least.

It is on an upper level, so you take an elevator from the sidewalk outside the station (or at least that's what I did).

RE: RonZ & LV Sue

Thanks for the info on the Jean Moulin Museum.

ttt

Musée de Montmartre - this is a small museum with some fairly interesting exhibits relating to early Montmartre. Any explanations were in French only, as I recall. It was pleasant enough, but not 'unforgettable'. Just one of the stops during our meandering of the area.
- doubt it's on the pass, but if you like Salvador Dali, the exhibit at Place du Tertre is pretty cool (a lot of pieces are on loan from a Sarasota, FL museum).

Musee Grevin - kind of fun, lots of wax figures, enjoyed the Hall of Mirrors or whatever they called the special theatre where the 'special effects' show was presented. Could combine this with some Passages explorations as well.

I believe the Basilique de St Denis is on the pass - have you been there?

I have not been to the Basilique de St Denis, but you reminded me of some previous good comments about it.

Have not gone since it looked like it would take some time to get to it, thought it might be in a questionable are, and didn't know if it was a "stand-alone" attraction.

I haven't yet been, but Musee de la Orangerie has found its way onto my list of sites to see. Has anyone been there?

The Metro station(line 13 terminus?) is maybe 1/8 mile from the cathedral, and there is a tourist office and a corner cafe in the block across from the cathedral. We also just walked up/down a couple of streets, popped into local stores, generally poking around, had baguette lunch etc. The ladies at the TI were very friendly and loaded me down with beaucoup brochures about St Denis, the stadium, etc.
I don't think there is anything too seedy or ominous about the cathedral area. Maybe people wouldn't want to spend the nights there and return late on the Metro, but absolutely fine for daytime activity.
I rcall that the carving of St Denis holding his own head is over a side door on the 'garden' side, rather than over the main entrance.

but to finish the thought, I would say the cathedral is the draw - the immediate area is an average working class kind of environment, not charming but not scary, either. I haven't tried seeing if you can 'view' over PagesJaunes, maybe you could do that...

Travelnut, thanks for all the good insight - think I'll give it a try on the next trip. Might be able to combine it with something else on the same metro line or general area.