Musée d’Orsay

Tim and I were feeling much better today, but we still didn’t make it down to breakfast until 10:30 am! I think we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re only going to do a few things in Paris this time. Luckily, I’ve been here multiple times, and Tim is fine with whatever we’re able to do.

We decided that today would be a good time to visit the Musée d’Orsay, since timed entries were not required. We walked across the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, the pedestrian bridge that links the Jardin des Tuileries with the Musée d’Orsay, and here, we noticed love locks on the bridge railings. Has this become the new location for a tradition that refuses to die, despite the efforts of the city? A vendor was even selling locks.

The Musée d’Orsay is located in the former Gare d’Orsay, a magnificent Beaux Arts railway station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The station was almost demolished in the early 1970s, but a decision was made in 1977 to create a museum within the space. Today, the Musée d’Orsay houses the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world.

A Visit to the Musée d'Orsay

Luckily, with our Museum Passes in hand, Tim and I didn’t have to wait to enter the museum, and I was immediately drawn to the incredible space within. I could appreciate the architecture almost as much as the art housed inside.

What an Incredible Space - Looking Out through the Clocks Is Quite Popular

We decided to start at the top with the Impressionist collection. The museum was so crowded that it was difficult to see some of the more famous paintings, and I accepted the fact that I would need to be patient.

If It's This Crowded in May, I Can't Imagine What It Will Be Like Later this Summer

Because of our recent visit to Giverny, I tended to focus on paintings by Monet. It was especially fun to see some of the paintings that he had produced there. I also enjoyed spotting paintings of other places we had visited, and I included examples of those in the earlier posts on those locations.

A Few Paintings by Monet

Other Important Impressionist Paintings 

We moved on to the post-Impressionism collection, where we found several of van Gogh’s paintings from his time in Arles, as well as one by Gaugin after he had arrived in Arles at the invitation of van Gogh.

Post-Impressionist Paintings by van Gogh and Others

Tim and I was so surprised when we stumbled upon the Accro-Chat-Ge Exhibition, a temporary exhibit all about cats! Although we knew that cats had been represented in art for as long as art has existed, it turns out that in the nineteenth century, they occupied a supreme place. No one else seemed interested in the exhibit, so Tim and I were able to enjoy the various representations of cats at our own pace.

We Loved the Cats

I also enjoyed the expansive views of Paris from the windows throughout the top floors before we made our way back to the lower level. By this time, Tim and I were both tired and decided to call it a day.

Views to the North

Views to the West

We Enjoyed Our Visit

We walked back across the Seine and had a late lunch of quiche at one of the cafés in the Jardin des Tuileries. After Tim found a place for ice cream, we returned to our hotel.

A Late Lunch in the Jardin des Tuileries