I've been to Musée d'Orsay twice over the years and have left both times feeling awed by what I saw…read moreand rueful of all I'd so obviously missed. You can't even speed run the place in two or three hours, and you probably need days or a lifetime to appreciate it in full. My more recent visit was earlier this month, with my husband and kids and other sundry family members, who spread out and explored the museum on their own. The d'Orsay opens at 9:30 in the morning and we booked tickets in advance for 10:00 entry. Getting in was quick and easy, and the crowd was pretty reasonable for the first hour or so, which we spent on the fifth floor. By the time we got to the special exhibit on the ground level, around noon, every room was thronged. We didn't make it to the second floor at all. The museum is a global treasure, a beautiful place with a staggering collection of French art, including the world's largest trove of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. The d'Orsay was once the Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. It would be worth visiting for the architecture and use of space and light alone. The art, of course, is genuinely amazing. If you have even a passing familiarity with paintings as a genre, you will walk around the d'Orsay going, "Oh, THAT's here?" I saw multiple paintings I'd encountered in jigsaw puzzles, or on the covers of Debussy piano books. Manet, Cezánne, Gauguin, Degas; a whole room of Van Gogh, including one of his most recognizable self-portraits and his "Bedroom in Arles" (a very enjoyable 2,000-piece puzzle). Monet everywhere--I guess the d'Orsay owns 86 of his paintings. I loved the mini-exhibit of five paintings of the Rouen Cathedral, and even my six-year-old appreciated, if purely for subject matter, "The Saint-Lazare Station." Our kids, it turns out, do not yet appreciate art, and were in ragged form for much of our visit. Our three-year-old demanded to be carried at all times and kept insisting he didn't like "these pictures." (He also objected to his first nude, "The Bathers" by Renoir: "Why aren't they wearing any clothes, even? They can wear pants. They can cover themselves.") We had to take a breather in the underground cafe, with water and snacks, and this gave us enough steam to make it back out to the main floor. We managed to zip through a few of the many rooms lining the main corridor on our way up to the Renoir exhibit at the front of the museum. This part of our visit could not have been more cursory, and yet we stumbled upon Courbet's self-portrait, "The Desperate Man"--a cool painting I'd never seen before--and Millet's "The Angelus," a painting I'd learned about at the d'Orsay many years earlier. The Renoir exhibit (Renoir and Love: A Joyful Modernity, apparently just ended) was spectacular, an expansive collection of iconic paintings displayed for maximum impact. It was also jam packed and slightly unpleasant to navigate with two children on the verge of meltdown. I'd love to go back to Paris and explore the d'Orsay at my leisure. I'm sure it'd also be worthwhile to go with a guide, and perhaps two older, well-behaved children who might get something out of the experience. In the meantime, I'm grateful I've been able to see the place at all. It's a marvelous museum, one of the greatest in the world.

One visit is not enough…read more When you learn to swim. One lesson is never enough. The more you dive into the depths and emerge for a breath of air, the more you enjoy. The more rapturous moments are grasped. Ah, so is the Musee d'Orsay. It is not a museum to plunge to once. One must visit multiple times. Otherwise, it is impossible to swim between exhibits, paddle through the intentions of artists. Be sure, you don't need to swim to enjoy the galleries. Even dog paddling between famous works is enjoyable. However, to truly move through exhibits with ease takes practice. You will thank yourself.

We got a bit lost in getting to the castle (not expecting it in the centre of town) but a nice…read morelocal helped us as we tried to locate the closest drop off point for a person with mobility issues. That unknown stranger actually crossed the street with me in an extra effort to be helpful. That experience was quickly followed by three more good luck happenings. 1 we found handicap parking FREE (Mondays ) directly in from if the front palace gate as in cross street you are at the palace. 2. Then when I went to buy our admission tickets I discovered that the palace loaned wheelchairs at NO charge. 3!!! Expecting a half price reduction (cause in the last hour admission is reduced 50%) was told that 'Des personnes handicapés ET LEUR ASSISTANT sont gratuit ' we were Both FREE. Now none of this is directly related to the beautiful experience of the Francois I 'hunting lodge' palace. Each room has a different theme and colour palette. The tapestries and grands salons are AMAZING. I couldn't help but marvel at the size of the royals entourage made clear by the many many additional chairs and stools in various rooms you might otherwise think a bit private. You could also see their stations given the height of chairs and proximity to the royals. Some things were highly valued like the council room and others not so much like the teeny tiny bath room (a closet) that housed an extra small muslin lined copper tub (1/2 size of a modern tub) and a bowl-basin- toilet. The gardens were a bit disappointing in that they were not wheelchair accessible and I was expecting an English garden filled with assorted flowers but it was a big expanse of grass with a few nice sculptures. All in all a lovely castle to explore.

Loved this place. Unlike some of the tourist traps this place was nice and peaceful. We really…read moreenjoyed the Chateau and the gardens. The little cafe in the gardens was very nice as well

Lovely little museum of Monet's art. We stopped by after visiting Monet's house & gardens. We…read moreenjoyed reading about his life and works and seeing his paintings. We spent around 30min-45min.

Free entry to the museum was all we needed to hear! After a wonderful few hours at Monet's…read moregardens, we saw the sign welcoming visitors so we went inside 3 rooms of widely spaced artworks & this exhibition was covering comparisons of Monet and Rothko. Never would have thought to compare the two but it worked! Lots of benches to sit & gaze at the masters & contemplate their works We were fans!

Orangerie Museum, Paris, France -- April 12…read more Our family of four with kids ages 9 and 10 visited after a morning at the Louvre, looking for a more relaxed museum experience. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable stops of the trip. Arrival and First Impressions The museum is smaller and much calmer than the Louvre, which made it an easy transition after a busy morning. The space is bright with beautiful natural light and a peaceful atmosphere. We arrived without reservations, and it took about 45 minutes to enter the museum. The Highlights Monet's water lilies are the centerpiece and absolutely worth the visit. The scale, color, and immersive layout of the rooms make it a unique experience. We also enjoyed seeing works by artists like Matisse and Renoir. The park outside was a great bonus and gave the kids space to run around afterward. The Challenges We waited about 45 minutes to get in without reservations, which could have been avoided with advance tickets. Final Thoughts This museum was my personal favorite and a place we would absolutely visit again. It is a great option for families or anyone looking for a more manageable and peaceful museum experience. It is definitely worth it, especially if you plan ahead

Such a lovely museum! Most famously known for Monet's Water Lilies, which are absolutely stunning…read more It's not a huge museum and can be done within an hour if needed. The art is so stunning and it has such a rich history to it. Definitely a must visit for sure.

Make a reservation ahead of time. (Preferably first thing in…read morethe morning, or the last entrance time for the day). The pyramid is the busiest entrance, there are other gates to enter from but the pyramid is the most famous. You will go thru security and bag check, and then you're down the escalators to the main "lobby" area. If you walk every corridor you would be walking 9miles, I think. The museum is massive and you will spend more time trying to figure out how to get OUT once you're entangled in the maze of galleries. Always have a vague idea of what you want to see, and more importantly, an exit plan! I've seen some people recommend the D'orsay if you only have time to go to one museum. But if you only have one chance to go to Paris, how can you pass up the Louvre? Even if you're not an art afficianado you've heard of the Louvre.

The Louvre has a ticketing system that even its own staff apparently don't understand…read more We arrived early and waited in a long line. I had already booked a valid digital ticket for free admission as an architect/designer, but a female staff member came over and aggressively told me that I could not queue without a physical ticket. Ironically, once inside the queue area, there was a dedicated ticket counter for digital tickets. So even if I had genuinely arrived without a ticket, there was a clear way to get one. The problem wasn't the long wait -- it was the unnecessarily rude attitude and incorrect information from the staff. For a museum of this reputation, this was an extremely disappointing experience.

Amazing museum with an uninspiring exterior. The painting and bust collection is awesome! This is…read morea must see in Troyes!

From the owner: Une vraie merveille Une grande place est accordée à la peinture française du 14ème au 19ème siècle…read moremais aussi à l'art italien et nordique avec des noms tels que Rubens ou Van Dyck. Sont présents aussi des sculptures, des objets d'arts et du mobilier qui ont marqués les époques. Ce musée est spécialisé dans l'archéologie de la région, présentée dans les caves voûtées du bâtiment de façon thématique et chronologique, de la préhistoire à l'époque mérovingienne. Il abrite aussi une collection américaine non encore inventoriée. Parmi la quinzaine d'objets attribuée au Grand Nord canadien et Eskimo (colliers et parures d'os et de coquillages, instruments de pêche, etc.), certains pourraient provenir du Québec méridional et Indien.

First, please excuse any mispronunciation. We came across the Musse De La Grande Guerre by pure…read morechance. It was a very pleasant surprise. The museum is enormous. With artifacts starting pre-First World War to the following years after the conflict. The museum is very interpretative with uniforms, weapons, and equipment being worn by mannequins representing all of the nations involved in the conflict. There is even tanks, armament, planes, and various vehicles. I have highly recommended this museum to all friends, family, and anyone interested in the Great War.

One of those surprising things you weren't expecting! A steampunk like museum dedicated to turn if…read morethe century motors and engines. The friendly owner often has one fired up for visitors to see. All the engines are in one big room. Placards explain their history in French and English. It won't take long to just take a look since the building is halfway between Monet's gardens and the church where he is buried. Tip jar for donations.