An essential location for culture and discovery
Published on 9 May 2016, dans Exhibitions and Museums
If you like art, and especially the Impressionists, you have an appointment not to be missed during your stay at the Hôtel Université in Paris. It’s a rendezvous with the Musée d’Orsay, one of the largest art museums in Europe!
A historical cultural museum
Situated not far from the Hotel Université, the Musée d’Orsay is a flagship museum for the artistic creations of the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries, with a particular emphasis on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. This remarkable Beaux-Arts style building was originally a railway station opened for the Universal Exposition in 1900. By the 1930s, however, it was becoming obsolete and experienced a slow decline through the middle of the 20th century. The decision to save the building by turning it into an art museum that would bridge the chronological gap between the Louvre and the National Museum of Modern Art was made in the late 70s, and the new Musée d’Orsay opened its doors in 1986.
Discover a rich artistic period
The museum houses many masterpieces representing the major artistic currents of the time period in which it specialises. Impressionism, of course, but also Symbolism, Romanticism, Neoclassicism and Realism. Here you can discover the major works of Claude Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Manet, Courbet and more. The museum is ideal for a family visit, and there are workshops for children. Concerts and exhibitions are also offered regularly. Until July 17th, the flamboyantly exotic and charmingly naïve paintings of Henri Rousseau are the focus of the exhibition called The Douanier Rousseau.
In the vicinity of the Museum
Within walking distance of the Musée d’Orsay is a wealth of cultural interest. Just across the Seine, the Louvre awaits you to complete your artistic initiation. You might also take a stroll to the Jardin des Tuileries. Behind the Orsay is the Palais Bourbon, seat of the French National Assembly, with its striking neoclassical facade. Serge Gainsbourg fans will have to make a turn onto the Rue Verneuil, where the star once lived. The School of Fine Arts, the Jeu de Paume Museum, the Orangerie and the Petit and Grand Palaces are also easily accessible. Truly, a rich cultural holiday awaits you in the capital!
******
Learn more:
• Orsay Museum
• Louvre Museum
• Tuileries Gardens
• Palais Bourbon
Hotel Université
Distinguished hotel at the heart of Paris Saint-Germain-des-Prés