Menu
At Our Age Travel
  • About Us
  • Our Views on Travel
  • Our Top 5
  • Port of Call
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Solo Travel
  • Visit us on Facebook
At Our Age Travel

Paris for the Art

Posted on January 19, 2020January 19, 2020

Paris has so much to offer any traveler, but for us one of the biggest draws were its two renowned art museums, the Louve and the Musee D’Orsay.  We took some courses in art history at our local university, poured over the recommendations in travel guides and spent the time to plan our visits to ensure we saw the best each one had to offer.  We were not disappointed.  A photo of Winged Victory does little to convey the depth of feeling the actual work evokes.

As we have recommended in the past purchase your entry tickets in advance and print them at home.  The Louvre offers timed entry tickets that guarantee very little wait time.  Go to https://www.louvre.fr/en/hours-admission-directions/admission for more information on hours and admission prices.  The cost of advance tickets is actually €2 more than the usual admission fee of €15 but the cost is small compared to the convenience.  The entry fee is also included in the Paris Museum Pass if you have purchased that for your visit.

We went on a Friday evening when the museum was open late and although it was still busy it was not crowded.  Early mornings are also a good choice. Also of note the museum is closed on Tuesdays.

The Louvre is massive.  It was formerly the palace of French monarchy before they moved to Versailles.  Be sure to take the time to admire the architecture of the building itself.  The museum is divided into three wings all radiating from the Grand Pyramid main entrance; The Richelieu, the Sully and the Denom.  The Denom wing houses the Mona Lisa and other masterpieces so is the most popular.

The map provided is an essential guide to help you get around.  If you have certain works you plan to see and know where to find them you can do the condensed tour in about 2 hours.  If you plan to wander you can easily spend a day.  Plan for lots of walking and lots of stairs.

For lovers of modern art, from Impressionism to contemporary, see the paintings, statues and furnishings at the Musee D’Orsay.  Offering the most complete collections from all the Impressionist and Post Impressionist painters this is a must see site for art lovers.

We did buy tickets in advance from https://musee-orsay.fnactickets.com/place-spectacle/ticket-evenement/search-lt.htm?q=MUSEEORSAY2018.  The D’Orsay is only €12.40 but you can add admission to the Rodin Museum for only €22.40 or combine it with a visit to the Orangerie for €19.40. This museum is closed on Mondays so be sure to plan in advance to make sure you do not miss your opportunity.

There are three main floors to wander through, the top floor housing the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, most of which you will recognize whether your follow art or not.  The main floor displays statues and furnishings as well as special exhibits.  Allow yourself at least 1.5 to 2 hours to visit this museum, more if you are a fan of Impressionism.

We took advantage of the combination offer to visit the Rodin Museum as well.  Located near the Eiffel Tower this former home of Auguste Rodin offers a personal insight into his works. Rodin is best know for his sculpture The Thinker which is beautifully displayed in the manicured gardens and my personal favourite, The Kiss, presented in one of the main floor rooms.  The home also contains Rodin’s collection of paintings from his Impressionist contemporaries such as Monet and Van Gogh.

The real draw with this site was the gardens, a peaceful oasis from the hustle and bustle of Paris, and a welcome change from the crowds at the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay.  We spent the better part of an hour on one of the shaded benches, watching other tourists enjoy their day.

Paris is a mecca for lovers of art.  Whether you prefer the old masters or have developed an appreciation for the modern, you will find your favourite work of art in one of the beautiful museums in the City of Lights.

 

 

Recent Posts

  • The Fascinating Culture of Lombok
  • The Reality of Shore Excursions
  • Icons of Indonesia
  • Bali Heritage
  • Jakarta, A City of Millions

Recent Comments

  • Judy Pineau on Tuscan Wine Tours
  • Jude and Bill on The Culture of Greenland
  • Helen on Our Top 5 Archaeological Sites in Greece
  • Renee Borg on The Grand Tour
  • Renee on Historical Israel

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018

Categories

  • Our Top 5
  • Our Views on Travel
  • Port of Call
  • Solo Travel
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Random Quote

To travel is to take a journey into yourself.

— Danny Kaye

To travel is to take a journey into yourself.

— Danny Kaye
©2025 At Our Age Travel | WordPress Theme by Superb WordPress Themes