Musée d'Orsay

More than a century of art in a single museum (1848–1914)
The world’s largest collection of Impressionist art
3.5 million annual visitors

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Ticket to the Orsay Museum with Audio Guide

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Orsay Museum

The Orsay Museum, one of the most emblematic museums in Paris, houses a large collection of Impressionist art. It is located in the former Gare d'Orsay, designed by Victor Laloux and inaugurated for the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition. Its architecture, innovative for the time, became a landmark, and today the museum still preserves this original design.

It houses a comprehensive collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and architecture from the 19th and early 20th centuries, with a particular focus on Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Additionally, since the museum’s inception, there has been a room dedicated to the birth of cinema, where films or excerpts from various thematic programmes are projected.

Within this vast collection, we can find masterpieces such as Poppies by Monet, The Dance Hall in Arles by Van Gogh, Bal du Moulin de la Galette by Renoir, and The Romans in Decadence by Couture. Each of these works reflects the artistic transformations of the time, from Impressionism to Realism.

In addition, the museum houses more than 2,200 sculptural works that offer a unique opportunity to continue discovering works such as Edgar Degas' 14-year-old Ballerina or Pompon's White Bear.

From station to museum, a great transformation

The Orsay Museum is housed in what was once the Gare d’Orsay, a majestic railway station inaugurated in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. Designed by the architect Victor Laloux, the station was notable for its monumental architecture and its glass and steel roof, making it a symbol of the modernity of the time.

The station closed in 1939 and, after years of neglect, the station was renovated and transformed while maintaining the original structure of the station. In addition, the station’s large glass roof and monumental station clock are key features of the museum today. Today, visitors can walk through the corridors of what was once a luxury train station and see how impressionist art and 19th century sculptures intertwine with the architectural elements of its industrial past.

The Belle Époque Museum

The Belle Époque was a period of great prosperity and creativity in France from the end of the 19th century until the outbreak of the First World War. Paris became the cultural centre of the world.

The Orsay Museum houses an outstanding collection of works from this period, with paintings by artists such as Monet, Renoir and Manet, who captured everyday life and landscapes with their innovative Impressionist approaches. Other highlights include Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s illustrations, which depicted Parisian nightlife, and Rodin’s sculptures such as The Thinker. In addition, decorative art and the Art Nouveau style developed during this period with designers such as Alphonse Mucha.

The Pont des Arts

The Orsay Museum and the Louvre are two of the most important museums in Paris, and one of the best ways to visit them is to cross the Pont des Arts, which connects the two buildings.

This bridge, which crosses the Seine River, has become a symbol of the relationship between two great cultural centres. The connection between the two museums is not only geographical, but also historical. While the Louvre Museum houses art from antiquity to the early 19th century, the Musée d’Orsay focuses on art from the 19th and early 20th century. This allows visitors to explore two complementary perspectives on art.

The Hall of Monet's Water Lilies

One of the most emblematic works in the Orsay Museum is Claude Monet’s series of Water Lilies paintings. Some of these paintings are exhibited in their own room, offering visitors a unique immersive experience.

In this series of paintings, Monet not only painted lilies floating on water but also explored the interplay of light and colour in water, creating compositions that evoke calm. These works are not only representations of nature, but also a reflection on the passage of time and the constant change of the landscape. The room that houses these works allows for an immersive experience, with the paintings arranged in such a way as to create the sensation of being inside Monet’s own garden, surrounded by his famous water lilies.

The largest clock in Paris

One of the most distinctive and admired elements of the Orsay Museum is its enormous glass clock, which is housed in the original station building.

The clock’s design is a classic example of late 19th-century industrial architecture, a key element reflecting the building’s history. With a diameter of over 2 metres, this clock has become one of the most photographed sights in the museum. Looking through its glass, you can admire the Senna River and city landmarks such as the Opéra de Garnier and the Eiffel Tower. This clock, which originally marked the hours for the station’s travellers, is a testament to industrial history and represents the fusion of art, history and architecture.

Wear comfortable shoes

Due to the size of the museum, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for your visit.

Passing through security

Security checks are carried out to enter the museum and you may be required to leave your backpack or bag in the cloakroom if it exceeds the permitted size.

The visit to the museum can last 3 hours

The tour of the museum depends on the time spent in each room. Following a minimum tour of the museum’s most important galleries and works, your visit can take up to 3 hours.

Keep in mind the latest time for access

From Tuesday to Sunday, the last admission to the museum is at 17.00h and to the temporary exhibitions at 17.15h. On Thursdays, last admission to the museum and temporary exhibitions is at 21.00h.

Take a themed tour

The museum is very large, so to make the most of your time and enjoy your visit, it’s a good idea to follow a route based on your interests. You can take a thematic tour and visit the works of a specific artistic movement or visit the most outstanding rooms such as the Salle des Nympheas.

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At the top of the museum there is a terrace from where you can take stunning photos of Paris, the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the view.