Orangerie Museum
Musée de l’Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie, located overlooking Place de la Concorde, is a world-renowned art sanctuary famous for housing Claude Monet's ultimate masterpiece, the Nymphéas (Water Lilies). This monumental series, consisting of eight panels with a total length of 91 meters, has been on public display in two elliptical rooms since the museum's opening in 1927. Beyond Monet, the museum preserves the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection, featuring 148 works by masters of the School of Paris such as Renoir, Matisse, Cézanne, Picasso, “Douanier” Rousseau, Modigliani, and Soutine. Spanning 6,300㎡, the Orangerie attracted nearly 1.2 million visitors in 2024. The itinerary is further enriched by an exceptional loan of African and Oceanian sculptures from the Musée du Quai Branly.
Visitor Informations
📍 Paris, France
Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris – France ↗
🌐 Official Site
https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en ↗
ℹ️ Information
Plan your visit and book your tickets. Getting Here ↗ Book Your Tickets ↗
🕘 Opening Hours
9 am ~ 6 pm
Tue Closed / Fri until 9 pm Visit Official Site ↗
Must-see Artworks
The Musée de l'Orangerie’s collection reflects a specific moment in modern art in Paris, characterized by the transition from Impressionist masters to the avant-garde School of Paris. Essential highlights include Claude Monet’s Nymphéas (Water Lilies), a monumental cycle of eight panels described as the "Sistine Chapel of Impressionism" that creates an "illusion of an endless whole" across two elliptical rooms. Chaïm Soutine’s expressive canvases, such as "The Village", are vital as the museum (alongside the Barnes Foundation) holds the world's largest collection of his work, defined by violent distortions and expressionist power. Henri Matisse’s radical works, notably "The Three Sisters", demonstrate his mastery of light and decorative intensity from his Nice period. Lastly, the museum features the African and Oceanian sculptures from the Paul Guillaume collection—on exceptional loan from the Musée du Quai Branly—which served as a crucial source of inspiration for avant-garde artists like Picasso and Derain to overturn traditional codes of representation.
Select an artwork to explore more.
Claude Monet
A monumental set of eight compositions designed as a unique environment in two elliptical rooms. Gifted to the French State as a symbol of peace after the 1918 Armistice, it is described as the "Sistine Chapel of Impressionism.”
Location📍 Two elliptical rooms
Chaïm Soutine
This painting is Soutine's most radical landscape, featuring dramatic distortions of houses and trees that eliminate perspective and balance. Modeled after La Basse Gaude, a village near Cagnes, it reflects the artist's tormented and subjective view, placing his work within the tradition of Expressionist painting.
Location📍 Level -2, Room 15 (Niveau -2, Salle 15)
Chaïm Soutine
A portrait of a pastry cook with an elongated face and distorted features, holding a vivid red cloth. This work, acquired by Paul Guillaume in the early 1930s, is one of six known versions and showcases Soutine's strong expressive power and the influence of Jean Fouquet’s Portrait of Charles VII.
Location📍 Niveau -2, Salle 9
Henri Matisse
One of Matisse’s masterpieces, this portrait depicts three young women against a bistre background, balancing discordant colors and multiple levels of perspective. Inspired by sources ranging from Manet to Japanese engraving, this version is unique to the Musée de l'Orangerie, while other versions are held at the Barnes Foundation. Paul Guillaume purchased this work at a public sale, likely as a tribute to the versions he previously helped acquire for Doctor Barnes.
Location📍 Level -2, Room 11 (Niveau -2, Salle 11)
Historical Overview
The Musée de l'Orangerie was built in 1852 to accommodate the orange trees of the Tuileries Palace's garden. It opened as a museum in 1927 to exhibit Monet's masterpiece. The collection was enriched by the acquisition of the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection in 1959 and 1963. Notably, the museum survived the 1944 bombings, which damaged the roof of the second room and one composition, while other panels remained unharmed. A 2006 renovation restored the rooms to their original state, re-establishing the natural light flow that had been obstructed in the 1960s.
Architecture
The museum’s structure features two elliptical (egg-shaped) rooms designed by Monet in conjunction with architect Camille Lefèvre and Clemenceau. This unique layout, symbolizing infinity, was specifically created to house 8 compositions made of various panels. The space is flooded with natural daylight from above, allowing the paintings to resonate according to the weather. The orientation follows a continuum in time: sunrise hues are placed to the east and sunset hues to the west, covering a surface area of 200㎡ and nearly 100 linear meters.
- Architectural Significance: Yes (Originally built as an orangery in 1852)
- Museum Founded: 1927 (as exhibition space)
- Key Architect: Camille Lefèvre (working with Monet and Clemenceau)
When to Visit
For more details, visit the official website ↗
General Hours
9 am ~ 6 pm
Monday, Wednesday ~ Sunday
Late Nights
6 pm ~ 9 pm
Friday
Last admission: 8:15 pm
Rooms close: 8:45 pm
Closed
Tuesday
Special Notes for Visitors
- Friday Late Night: A paid (reduced rate) ticket applies from 6:00 pm on Fridays.
- ⚠️ Fraud Warning: Be vigilant against fraud; only purchase tickets through official channels. Avoid street vendors and mirror sites offering "skip-the-line" tickets to ensure entry.
Admission
Admission Fee
- Permanent Collections: Paid Admission
- Temporary Exhibitions: Paid Admission
- Admission Policy: Tickets grant access to both permanent and temporary exhibitions (subject to availability). Re-entry is not permitted.
- Check the official website for detailed rates ↗
⚠️ Admission varies by exhibition and visitor category. ⚠️ Rates and conditions are subject to change. Please visit the official website for current information.
Complimentary Admission
- Under 18s: Free for all visitors under the age of 18.
- 18-25 EEA Residents: Free for European Union citizens and long-term residents (>3 months) under 26 (Valid photo ID required).
- Special Free Access Days: Free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month (Mandatory online reservation required, except for members).
Special Rates & Information
- Enfant & Cie (Child & Co): Paid (reduced rate) for a maximum of 2 adults (EU residents) accompanying a young person under 18.
- Friday Late Night: Paid (reduced rate) applies from 6:00 pm on Fridays.
- Tours & Workshops: Guided tours, family visits, and workshops are paid activities.
- Carte Blanche: Paid annual pass for unlimited access.
⚠️ Mandatory Reservation Notice Online reservation is required for certain entries, such as the first Sunday of the month. → Book your tickets for free
💡 Pro Tips for Your Visit
- You can use the elevator to access all museum levels, exhibitions, and shops with strollers or for reduced mobility.
- A free cloakroom is available for personal items like coats and small luggage, but you must store large backpacks, motorcycle helmets, large umbrellas, and carry-on suitcases (up to 56x45x25 cm) there.
- Borrow wheelchairs, folding seats, or canes free of charge at the coat check with a valid ID.
- Little blue bags with sensory items like noise-canceling headphones are available for free to enhance your visit.
- Connect to free Wi-Fi throughout the museum by selecting the "Musee_Orangerie_Public" network.
- The Café-Librairie is accessible to museum admission ticket holders every day except Tuesday, opening from 9:00 am (bookshop) and 9:30 am (café) until 5:45 pm, and it extends its hours on Fridays until 8:45 pm during temporary exhibition periods.
- Carte Blanche members receive a discount on all boutique products and books at the Café-Librairie.
You May Also Like
#Claude Monet #WaterLilies #Musée de l’Orangerie #Impressionism #Tuileries Garden #Paris Museum #Monet Nymphéas #Musée Orsay #Louvre Museum
All Museums
📍 Orangerie Museum, Paris
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