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

From the owner: Le musée des amoureux de la nature de tous poils Le Muséum des Sciences Naturelles alloue pour les…read moreamoureux de la nature cinq étages d'exposition. Le rez-de-chaussée est consacré aux expositions temporaires savamment mises en scène, le premier étage aux insectes, vivariums et aquariums, le second aux mammifères et oiseaux, le troisième aux sciences de la terre et enfin le dernier aux serres tropicales et méditerranéennes. Les mises en scène ludiques le rendent très accessible aux enfants. D'autres prestations telles des visites guidées sur rendez-vous ainsi qu'un large panel de conférences (sciences de la terre et sciences humaines) sont également proposées.

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.

From the owner: Faïences en stock Dans le cadre intimiste d'un hôtel particulier du XVIIIème siècle légué à la…read moreville en 1927, vous pourrez découvrir une impressionnante collection de tapisseries de Beauvais du début du XVIIIème siècle retraçant "l'histoire de l'Empereur de Chine". Le musée présente aussi d'importantes collections de faïences révolutionnaires, régionales et nationales, de grès de Puisaye, des meubles, la collection Garnier et des peintures.

From the owner: À Vierzon, dans le Cher, le musée de Vierzon, liée à l'histoire industrielle de la ville, et le…read moremusée Laumônier, liée à l'histoire du chemin de fer en France propose au public de découvrir, sur plus de 1000m², deux siècles d'histoire industrielle et cheminote de la ville. Le musée de Vierzon possède une collection qui permet de retracer l'histoire industrielle de la ville aux 19ème et 20ème siècles dans les domaines de la porcelaine, du verre, du grès, de la confection et du machinisme agricole (tracteurs société française, locomobile, batteuse). Les collections du Musée Laumônier invite petits et grands à découvrir le monde de la locomotive à vapeur, les métiers de roulants, taupiers... Carrefour ferroviaire depuis 1847, Vierzon rend hommage à la locomotive à vapeur. Ce musée initié par un passionné, Raymond Laumônier, autrefois ancien roulant et ancien chef du dépôt de Vierzon, retrace l'épopée de cette fabuleuse mécanique et des "gueules noires" à travers dessins et photos, lanternes, pièces en bronze, affiches, modèles réduits. Visites guidées toute l'année sur réservation : * pour les groupes à partir de 8 personnes * pour le public en situation de handicap * gratuits 'les individuels'

Decided on a night visit to enjoy the outer architecture of the structure, and the quiet ambiance…read moreof the museum without the millions of patrons standing outside waiting to enter. Hopefully I captured its essence in my photographs!

Musee du Louvre in Paris is the world's largest art museum and is considered a historic landmark…read morethat housed the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci and a whole lot more. Been here 2 times and for recent times, purchasing a ticket on their official website is preferred. It is timed entry but no limit for you to explore the museum. On our 1st visit back in 2019, we did it for 3 hours focusing on the important and famous paintings. They do have brochures/maps detailing suggestions as to what to explore best. Definitely recommend to take the 1st entry, upon opening time and head straight to the Mona Lisa, to get a very good view to beat the crowd. The Mona lisa is the most famous art piece in the Louvre so everybody just wants to be there. On our 2nd visit in 2023, we did the 2nd timed entry but stayed longer. Yes, we still went to the Mona Lisa first. It was an unforgettable (in our bucket - list) experience and will never get tired of visiting it. Hubby ended up staying the whole day on our 2nd visit. There was just so much to see and a feeling that there's not enough time. I can just get lost and be happy to where I end up. Must see when in Paris! August 2026

From the owner: La représentation animalière Ce château du XVe siècle fut édifié par Anne de Beaujeu, comtesse de…read moreGien et fille aînée de Louis XI. Son style architectural préfigure les évolutions à la Renaissance. En 1952, le Musée International de la Chasse s'y installe et présente à travers différentes formes artistiques, peinture, sculpture et arts décoratifs l'évolutions des pratiques cynégétiques et l'histoire de leur représentation.