In this article, I will provide you with a list of the best impressionist museums in Paris and tell you why they are so great.
Impressionism is a style of art that has been around for over 100 years because it utilizes new techniques, such as the use of a non-traditional brushstroke. It blurs the line between what is considered traditional artwork and abstract art.
Impressionism was started in 1874 by a group of French artists who wanted to break away from the traditional rules of art. They wanted to change the way paintings were made and create something new. The movement became popular because it was seen as a new way forward for art and this is why it is still talked about today.
The main and most well-known impressionist museums in Paris are the Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, and Musée Marmottan Monet. As a result of the Impressionists’ influence on French culture, these museums have been established to showcase their works.
I’ll also share with you some of the maybe less-known museums in Paris and if you read until the end, I’ll even share a bonus place you MUST visit if you are an impressionist paintings lover.
Read-on!
The Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is a museum of Western art located in Paris in a former railway station. The train station was first opened during the Universal Exhibition of 1900. It was during that same event that the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated, what a year for Paris!
Trains were used to make the trip from Paris to Orléans. It was only in 1986 that the building was officially transformed into a museum and opened to the public.
It now houses some of the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist painting and artworks from other schools as well. You’ll find the paintings of artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Edouard Manet.
The quality of the impressionist collections is really amazing. You really get to see some of the most famous works of these painters.
The museum is home to many famous paintings including: “The Swing” or “Au Moulin de la Galette” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “La Gare Saint-Lazare” by Monet, and “Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe” by Manet.
The museum is within walking distance of the Louvre in the heart of the city. However, I would not recommend trying to squeeze both in one day, as these are some of the largest museums in Paris. You could spend 3 full days in the Louvre only, that how big it is!
The Orsay museum is very popular among tourists, so be sure to book your tickets in advance on their website. You’ll have to select a date on time on which you will get in. Once inside you’ll be able to enjoy the full museum for as long as the museum is open.
Like many of the other museums in the city, Orsay is closed on Mondays and closes later on Thursdays (9 pm).
Audioguides are available both for permanent collections as well as for temporary exhibitions.
Once you’re done with the museum, you should definitely go for a walk in the Tuileries Gardens, which is just on the other side of the river Seine.
The Musée Marmottan Monet
We have been discussing the Marmottan Monet museum quite a bit lately, especially when we were discussing all the best museums located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
So you should definitely read this post to learn all the things you need to know about this place!
It has one of the world’s largest collections of Claude Monet’s paintings and his water lilies. Monet is not the only painter showcased in this museum. You can also experience the works of Paul Gauguin, Alfred Sisley, or Paul Cézanne.
A must-see for any impressionist movement lover.
The Musée Rodin
A museum you might not necessarily have on your list of places to visit is the Rodin museum. It is a must-see for travelers to Paris.
The museum is located in a private hotel with a beautiful garden à la française that Auguste Rodin chose himself before donating all his masterpieces to the French government. In fact, he loved the place so much that he lived there from 1908 until the opening of the museum in 1919.
You’ll be able to experience all the work of the artist in 18 rooms with give a lot of natural light with the huge windows of the private hotel. These are the perfect conditions to enjoy the sculptures.
There are also many other sculptures by other artists on display here. Discovering this museum will give you a glimpse into one of the most influential artists of the 19th century and his impact on modern sculpture.
The museum is located in a park in the 7th arrondissement with is a great representation of the French art of gardening. The art of Rodin is fully immersed in the garden. You’ll see some of his sculptures behind the rose garden or a shrub.
This museum houses the largest collection of Rodin’s work, including his famous sculptures such as “The Thinker” and “The Kiss.”
Rodin’s private hotel is located very close to the Invalides and Napoleon’s tomb. It is also within walking distance of the Orsay museum. But then again I would not visit both in one day, you might experience an impressionist overload!
Be sure to add it to your list of places to visit during your Paris trip!
To get there, get off at the metro station “Varennes” on line 13. Beware, the museum is closed on Mondays.
The Musée de l’Orangerie
The Orangerie museum is located in the Tuilerie gardens, only a few steps away from the Musée du Louvre. It is quite a small museum.
The building was constructed in 1852 and its primary purpose was to keep the oranges trees of the Tuilerie gardens warm during the winter times. When you look at the building you can see all the huge windows, which purpose was to allow the winter sun to shine on the trees, even inside the Orangerie.
The space was transformed into a museum in 1927, with an extraordinary exhibition of Claude Monet’s 8 Nympheas panels. The panels were gifted by Monet to the French state after World War I. Unfortunately, the painter did not get to experience his painting in this setting, as he passed away only a few months before the inauguration.
Since that date, the museum was transformed and remodeled to house more art pieces. In 2010 it was placed under the management of the Orsay museum.
Even after the renovations, this art museum still displays the masterpiece of Claude Monet (the Nympheas).
If you want to learn more about Claude Monet, and better understand how he became the flagship of the impressionist movement, you need to take the day trip to Honfleur. It’s in Honfleur where the painter met his mentor, Eugène Boudin. He was the one who introduced the concept of sitting in nature to paint nature and transcribe his impressions on the canvas.
You can go and visit these impressionist masterpieces every day except on Tuesdays. Get off at the metro station “Tuileries” on line 1 and enjoy!
The Petit Palais
The Universal Exhibition of 1900 was a huge event in Paris. The Petit Palais (literal translation being: the Small Palace) came to be during that time. It’s located just opposite the Grand Palais, near the Seine river and the Alexander the 3rd bridge. It’s a prime location just at the bottom of the Champs-Elysées. You’ll b sure to be in the area at some point during your visit.
Nowadays it houses the city’s museum of Fine Art. The building is magnificent. You have the high ceilings, the huge windows, the beautiful paintings on the ceilings. It’s a sight you should experience! In addition, a lovely garden is surrounding the main building.
The whole thing gives a very cozy atmosphere to this museum.
The purpose of the museum is to showcase all of the artwork that the city of Paris is purchasing since the second half of the 19th century. Over the years art dealers have also enriched the collection of the Petit Palais by gifting some masterpieces.
Henri Matisse even gifted the painting “Les Trois Baigneuses” from Paul Cezanne.
Impressionism is not the only art type you’ll be able to experience here. Since 2018 the museum has expanded and added a dedicated room for sculptures. In the paintings department, you can also enjoy art pieces from the romantic period (18th century until 1850).
Be sure to check out their website to find out what temporary exhibits will be on during your visit!
The wonderful thing about this museum is that the permanent collections have no admission fees! You only have to pay for the temporary exhibits.
You can come and visit the museum every day, except Mondays.
To get there, take metro line 1 or 13 and hop off at the station “Champs-Elysées Clémenceau”.
Musée de Montmartre
The final museum we’ll talk about today in this roundup is the Musée de Montmartre.
It is located in the very popular and touristic neighborhood of Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur. So if you are planning a visit to that area, you should definitely add this place to your list of places to visit.
The House of Bel Air was chosen to house the museum. It is one of the oldest buildings of the Butte, going back to the 17th century.
Many artists such as Auguste Renoir lived and painted in this house from 1875 to 1877. This is where he painted some of his most well-known works like the “Bal du moulin de la Galette”, “la Balançoire” or “le Jardin de la rue Cortot”. He gave his name to the museum’s gardens.
The museum is not just about painting but also focuses on the life and highlights of the neighborhood: the French cancan, the Moulin Rouge, and the cabaret life.
You can come and visit this place every day. It will take you about 1 hour and a half to visit it all.
If you are planning on visiting the museum and more globally all the beautiful monuments and landmarks in the area, get off at the metro station “Anvers” on line 2 or “Lamarck-Caulaincourt” on line 12.
Bonus 1: Giverny and the Impressionist Museum
If you want an even deeper immersion into the impressionist movement, you should go take a day trip to the Giverny village. This is a wonderful little place that was the home of Claude Monet and where many of his artist friends came to visit.
You’ll be able to enjoy some of Monet’s art pieces, but also Gustave Caillebotte or Pierre Bonnard.
I tell you all about how to get there, and what to do in this post! Go check it out!
Bonus 2: Barbizon
Here is another day trip idea for you: Barbizon, known as the village of painters. This little town has seen many different waives of painters coming, and interacting with each other, including some of our French impressionists’ painters.
You could have met Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, or August Renoir. They learned from each other and planned exhibitions together.
As time got on, a train made the village more easily accessible and lots of artists came and set up their workshops.
Today it is a very quaint little place. The city hall has invested a lot in the upkeep of the place. They regularly organize guided tours to follow in all those painters’ footsteps.
Barbizon is about 1 hour away from Paris by car. It is the most direct way to get there. A perfect little weekend trip!
These were the best places to enjoy French impressionist art in Paris!
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