Musée d’Orsay, Paris. Where Gumbo was #108

Art near the Entrance to the Orsay Museum

Gumbo was visiting one of Paris’ greatest museums, the Musee d’Orsay.  Congratulations to TravelGirlJenn who recognized it, with minimal clues!  If any one else figured it out, they did not let us know.

The Orsay Museum

(One of the Orsay’s exterior clocks, viewed from the bank of the Seine)


Entry to the Orsay galleries

(Interior, entry to the Orsay)

The Orsay Museum is one of my favorite places in Paris!  It has a great location, situated on the Seine River in central Paris across from the Tuileries Garden.  The museum was built as the Orsay railway station (Gare), opening in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition.   By 1939 the station’s short platforms had become unsuitable for the longer trains that were then being used and it was largely abandoned.  In 1970, permission was granted to demolish the station but it was saved with the hope that it could be converted to a hotel.   The need for an art museum to house Paris’ extensive collections of Impressionist art sparked the idea to convert the Orsay into a National Art Museum.  It was remodeled and successfully re-opened in 1986, now hosting almost 3.5 million visitors per year.

Art near the Entrance to the Orsay Museum

Art near the Entrance to the Orsay Museum

(Exterior art, Orsay Museum)

The MusÉe d’Orsay showcases a large variety of art created between 1848 and 1914.  This art was transferred to the Orsay from the Louvre museum, the MusÉe du Jeu de Paume, and the National Museum of Modern Art.  As such, the Orsay is home to the world’s largest and most prestigious collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist works including dozens of canvases each by Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, CÉzanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and many more.  These are just two samples….

Vincent van Gogh-Self-Portrait. Courtesy of Wikimedia(Van Gogh self-portrait, part of the Orsay’s collection.  Courtesy Wikimedia)

Pierre Auguste Renoir-Country Dance. Courtesy of Wikimedia

(Renoir’s Country Dance, part of the Orsay’s collection.  Courtesy Wikimedia)

Photography is not allowed within the museum proper, so I have few photos except some long shots of the central gallery, wherein you find an amazing collection of 19th and early 20th century sculptures. These are largely housed in the portion of the museum where trains rolled through a century ago….

Main hall of the Orsay Museum

Main hall of the Orsay Museum

Main hall of the Orsay Museum

Main hall of the Orsay Museum

The Orsay also has a number of beautiful clocks, including this one magnificient one viewed from the central gallery…..

Clock at the Orsay Museum

and several others can be viewed adjoining the painting galleries….look at the great views of Paris in the lower panel….

Clock overlooking the Seine at the Orsay Museum

Clock overlooking the Seine at the Orsay Museum

You can gain access to the roof-top terrace of the Orsay and enjoy memorable views of Paris, especially of Seine and distant Montmartre….

View atop the Orsay Museum

View atop the Orsay Museum

View atop the Orsay Museum

View atop the Orsay Museum

A few final views of the Orsay, including some side galleries on the second level…

Some of the displays at the Orsay Museum

A walkway connecting two halves of the building….

The Orsay Museum

The Orsay’s Grand Ballroom….

Ballroom at The Orsay Museum

Ballroom at The Orsay Museum

And one of its fine cafes….

Dining Room at the Orsay Museum

I’d recommend spending at least a half day at the Orsay even if you have little interest in art, and a full day if you wish to explore its treasure of Impressionist paintings.  For years I had trouble understanding what’s so special about the Impressionist movement, but it took only an hour at the Orsay to “get it”.  It will be one of the first places I return to the next time I visit Paris.

Share the Post:

Comments

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Admin
9 years ago

One of my favorites, too…and after about 10 visits over the years, it’s still a highlight of every trip…and I find more hidden gems every time.

 

And while the cafe, with its roof views over Paris, is very pleasant and reasonable, once in a lifetime it’s worth making a reservation for the restaurant in the former ballroom and feeling a bit of the Belle Epoque (without reminders of how badly things went after)

Featured Destination

recommended by Travel Gumbo

Gumbo's Pic of the Day

Posts by the Same Author