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How the First Sunday Free Museum in Paris Program Works

Each first Sunday of the month, the French authorities and Paris open lots of the metropolis’s high museums for gratis to guests. Free museums in Paris on the primary Sunday is a good alternative to discover world-class artwork, historical past, and tradition with out worrying about entry charges. Some places like Versailles and Rodin restrict free entry to off-season (November–March), so all the time verify earlier than you go.

Prime Museums You Can Go to for Free

Central Paris: Massive Classics & Ornamental Arts

Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum, a former royal palace within the 1st arrondissement, is the world’s largest artwork museum and a historic monument. Its huge assortment spans historic civilizations, Renaissance masterpieces, and world artwork historical past. Strolling its halls is sort of a journey via human creativity and energy throughout centuries.

• Don’t miss: The Mona Lisa and Napoleon III’s lavish flats.
• Metro: Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre (L1, L7)

Musée d’Orsay

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Housed in a grand Beaux-Arts railway station in Paris’s seventh arrondissement, the Musée d’Orsay focuses on French artwork from 1848 to 1914. It holds the world’s largest Impressionist and post-Impressionist assortment, that includes Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir. The constructing itself, with its iconic clock faces, is a masterpiece of adaptive structure.

• Don’t miss: Van Gogh’s self-portraits and Monet’s “Saint-Lazare Station”.
• Metro: Solférino (L12), RER C Musée d’Orsay

Musée de l’Orangerie

Set within the Tuileries Gardens within the 1st arrondissement, Musée de l’Orangerie is an intimate museum is known for Monet’s Water Lilies murals and a powerful assortment of early Twentieth-century artwork, together with works by Cézanne and Picasso. The museum’s structure invitations quiet contemplation amidst pure mild.

• Don’t miss: Sitting quietly with Monet’s Water Lilies.
• Metro: Concorde (L1, L8, L12)

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Positioned within the Louvre’s western wing, Musée des Arts Décoratifs showcases ornamental arts and design from the Center Ages to at the moment, together with furnishings, jewellery, ceramics, and vogue. The gathering highlights inventive craftsmanship and types in day by day life.

• Don’t miss: The historic and trendy furnishings shows.
• Metro: Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre (L1, L7)

Paris museums actually maintain among the world’s biggest artwork collections—discover extra inspiring museums globally in our publish 30 Inspiring Museums To Go to in The World.

The Marais & Proper Financial institution: Historical past & Trendy Artwork

Musée Picasso

 In a historic Seventeenth-century mansion within the Marais district, Musée Picasso presents an intensive view of Picasso’s ingenious profession via work, ceramics, and sculpture. The setting itself displays Paris’s vibrant artwork historical past and aristocratic previous.

• Don’t miss: Picasso’s “Portrait of Dora Maar” and his ceramics.
• Metro: Saint-Sébastien – Froissart (L8)

Musée Carnavalet

Positioned within the Marais, Musée Carnavalet is Paris’s devoted historical past museum, telling town’s story with artifacts, artwork, and recreated interval rooms. From medieval instances to the Revolution and past, it immerses guests in Parisian life’s evolution.

• Don’t miss: The galleries on the French Revolution.
• Metro: Chemin Vert (L8)

Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou within the 4th arrondissement is thought for its radical inside-out structure and huge collections of contemporary and modern artwork. It’s a hub for cutting-edge exhibitions and presents sweeping metropolis views from its rooftop.

• Don’t miss: The rooftop views and the Stravinsky Fountain.
• Metro: Rambuteau (L11), Hôtel de Ville (L1, L11)

Musée Cluny

Nestled within the Latin Quarter, Musée Cluny (Nationwide Museum of the Center Ages) combines a medieval mansion with Roman baths and homes vital artifacts just like the Girl and the Unicorn tapestries. It presents guests a uncommon glimpse into the Center Ages in Paris.

• Don’t miss: The whole collection of Girl and the Unicorn tapestries.
• Metro: Cluny – La Sorbonne (L10), Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (RER B)

Musée Rodin

Set inside a 18th-century mansion within the seventh arrondissement, the Musée Rodin showcases the sculptor’s evocative creations, together with “The Thinker.” Its tranquil backyard setting enhances the expertise of Rodin’s masterpieces.

• Don’t miss: “The Thinker” and different out of doors backyard sculptures.
• Metro: Varenne (L13)

Petit Palais

Close to the Champs-Élysées within the eighth arrondissement, the Petit Palais, this elegant Beaux-Arts constructing homes the Metropolis of Paris Museum of High quality Arts, with advantageous work, sculptures, and ornamental arts from antiquity to early 1900s.

• Don’t miss: The ornamental arts gallery and the light-filled courtyard.
• Metro: Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau (L1, L13)

If you wish to mix your museum visits with sights across the metropolis, take a look at The Final Paris Bus Tour  for a handy sightseeing choices

Trendy & World Artwork

Musée d’Artwork Moderne de la Ville de Paris

The Musée d’Artwork Moderne de la Ville de Paris is situated close to the Seine within the sixteenth arrondissement, this museum highlights Twentieth-century trendy and modern artwork, that includes works by Matisse and Braque. Its trendy setting enhances the daring colours and revolutionary compositions inside.

• Don’t miss: Delaunay’s vivid murals.
• Metro: Iéna, Alma-Marceau (L9)

Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

Near the Eiffel Tower within the seventh arrondissement, the museum celebrates indigenous artwork and tradition from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Its placing structure and plush gardens present a singular backdrop.

• Don’t miss: The ceremonial African masks and Pacific artifacts.
• Metro: Bir-Hakeim (L6), Alma-Marceau (L9)

Past the Centre: Palaces & Retreats

Palace of Versailles

Positioned simply exterior Paris, the Palace of Versailles was the seat of French royal energy from the late Seventeenth century and a logo of absolutism. Well-known for its Corridor of Mirrors and sprawling gardens, it’s a masterpiece of French Baroque structure and politics.

• Don’t miss: The Corridor of Mirrors and the superbly maintained gardens.
• RER C: Versailles Château Rive Gauche

For a photograph essay and private impressions of Versailles, see 
Wordless Wednesday – A Go to to Versailles.

Château de Fontainebleau

Southwest of Paris, Château de Fontainebleau is a historic palace that spans centuries, from medieval instances via the Renaissance and Napoleonic eras. Its richly adorned interiors and huge parklands replicate its position as a well-liked residence of French monarchs and emperors.

• Don’t miss: Napoleon’s throne room and the Renaissance galleries.
• Practice: Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, bus 1

Château de Malmaison

Close to Paris, Château de Malmaison was the house of Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte and is famous for its intimate setting and well-preserved interiors. The château’s elegant gardens and private rooms present perception into the couple’s non-public life.

• Don’t miss: Josephine’s greenhouse and the ballroom.
• RER A + Bus 259

Suggestions for Planning Your Free Museum Sunday Go to

• Test opening hours and reservation guidelines—issues change and the most effective spots refill shortly.
• Get there early to beat the crowds, particularly for large hitters just like the Louvre or Orsay.
• Cluster museums by neighborhood for straightforward strolling and fewer time spent commuting.
• Put on comfortable sneakers and tempo your self—a few museums and a espresso cease beats dashing all day.

Above all, benefit from this Paris custom—these free days flip each traveler into an artwork lover. If you happen to solely choose one museum, go along with the Louvre for sheer scale and historical past, however d’Orsay is an unbeatable favourite if you would like Impressionist masterpieces in a extra manageable setting.

For extra concepts on exploring the Metropolis of Gentle past museums, see our information on
10+ Enjoyable Issues to do in Paris

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Margarita Ibbott is a journey and way of life blogger. She blogs about journey in Canada, the USA and Europe giving sensible recommendation via restaurant, resort and attraction opinions. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and different on-line media retailers.