Famous Art Museums in Paris
Paris has long been considered as the perfect destination for couples wanting to escape from it all. However, this beautiful European city is not only a place of romance but offers so much culture and art. In addition, as for handling your money right, with so many flights to Paris from other European cities such as flights Edinburgh-Paris, this beautiful European city is well connected making it easy for visitors to make trips all round. That said, here’s a list 5 famous art museums in Paris you need to visit.
The Louvre
When think about the city’s numerous museums, The Louvre is the best place to start with. It is the oldest and biggest museum in the world. It was built as fortress in the early twelfth century, and was used and transformed periodically as a noble residence over the few centuries that followed. It was not until in the late 1700s during the French Revolution, that it was transformed into its present-day use: an art museum, housing 35,000 objects as well as some of the most revered artistic treasures on earth.
It would take approximately nine months to have a look at every single object in the museum. However, don’t be overwhelmed as there are many fascinating self-guided tours available including Da Vinci Code masterpieces.
Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais
The Grand Palais was built in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle. It was designed by three architects, with each of them designing a facade. During WWII, the museum housed Nazi tanks. The magnificent glass roofed central hall was closed in 1994 after bits of metal began falling off, even though exhibitions continued in its other wings. It was later reopened in 2005, and is one of the best art museums today.
The Centre Pompidou
The primary colors, exposed air ducts and pipes make this museum one of the best known sights in the French capital. The then unknown British-Italo architectural duo of Richard Rodgers and Renzo Piano won the competition with their “inside-out” boiler house approach that put lifts, air-conditioning, escalators and pipes on the outside, thereby leaving a flexible space within. The Centre Pompidou holds Europe’s biggest collection of modern art, rivalled only in its quality and breadth by New York’s MoMA.
Musée d’Orsay
Musee d’Orsay, was originally a train station built in 1900 by Victor Laloux. It is home to a large collection of artifacts spanning the period between 1849 and 1915, and also houses a profusion of works by Corot, Pissarro, Delacroix, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Caillebotte, Van Gogh, Cezanne and others.
It is a must see in Paris, particularly its celebrated upper levels that just underwent a serious brush up a few years ago. Its upper floor is still dedicated to Impressionism, while you will find decorative art, Neo and Postimpressionism art, sculpture, Naturalism and Art Nouveau on the middle floors. The Barbizon school realism sculpture and symbolism take pride of the museum on the ground floor.
Petit Palais
Ignore Petit Palais and you will miss out on one of the finest art museums in Paris. The museum features extensive art works by Dore, Courbet, Poussin as well as other 1700s sculptures and paintings. It sits on a pretty small garden (a plum spot for cakes and coffee) and is entirely lit by natural light.
Basically, visiting France is beyond seeing castles and romance.. Get the best of these art museums by taking advantage of affordable flights from Manchester to Paris as well as other numerous destinations.
