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Musée d’Orsay
Musée d’Orsay: A Palace of Impressionism That Almost Never Was
Hard to believe, but in 1973, the future of the Musée d’Orsay hung by a thread. The grand former train station with its iconic clock faces, built in 1900 by Victor Laloux, was nearly demolished to make way for a futuristic luxury hotel along the Seine. Thankfully, good sense prevailed—and after years of renovation, the Musée d’Orsay was officially inaugurated on December 1st, 1986, in all its restored glory.
Home to the World’s Largest Collection of Impressionist Art
Here’s a quick refresher: the Orsay collection picks up where the Louvre leaves off (around 1848) and stops just before the Centre Pompidou begins (around 1914). In just over 60 years of art history, spanning Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and the School of Pont-Aven, the museum attracts more than 3 million visitors annually and occupies nearly 35,000 square meters beneath soaring glass ceilings.
Among its 150,000 works, you’ll find true masterpieces like:
- L’Origine du monde by Courbet
- Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe by Manet
- The Floor Scrapers (Les Raboteurs de parquet) by Caillebotte
Unmissable Temporary Exhibitions
The permanent collection is impressive, but the temporary exhibitions are often show-stoppers. Past highlights include:
- A fascinating dialogue between Manet and Degas
- A bold Edvard Munch retrospective
- A poetic journey into the world of pastel art
Importantly, Orsay has also made space for female artists, recently showcasing the work of Rosa Bonheur and Berthe Morisot.
Nightlife at the Museum
Orsay isn’t just a daytime destination. It offers a rich program of evening events, especially the Curieuses Nocturnes—a series of late-night openings featuring DJ sets, talks, workshops, and special performances. The museum has even hosted clubbing nights and concerts, like the Norwegian residency curated by Lyon’s Nuits Sonores festival or a haunting performance by Brazilian cellist Dom La Nena in tribute to filmmaker Germaine Dulac.
Dining Behind the Clock
Yes, Orsay has restaurants—and they’re as stylish as the museum itself:
- The café-restaurant tucked behind the iconic clock was designed by Brazilian duo the Campana Brothers in a whimsical submarine theme inspired by Jules Verne’s Nautilus. The brasserie menu (untested) leans pricey.
- For something more upscale, there’s Le Restaurant, an opulent homage to Belle Époque Paris, with a menu by chef Yann Landureau inspired by current exhibitions.
Tickets & Good Deals
- General admission: €16 per exhibition
- Thursday nights (after 6 PM): €12 — a great way to save!
- First Sunday of the month: Free admission for all
Yes, the price is a bit steep—but in most cases, absolutely worth it.
This review was fact-checked and updated in 2025.