Places
Three of the best small museums in Paris
Musée Gustave Moreau
One of our favorites, this atelier was named after the great 19th century French symbolist painter. Known for his biblical and mythological works, he was admired by his contemporaries for the mystical aspects of his pieces. Visitors can roam the artist’s apartment on the first floor, which is left exactly as it was when he died. On the second and third floors his grand, light-filled former studios showcase more of his works. Look out for his two masterpieces, Jupiter et Sémélé and L’Apparition.
Musée Gustave Moreau
14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, Paris
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Rodin Museum
The works of another of France’s great artists, Auguste Rodin, are displayed in the magnificent backdrop of Hôtel Biron, the Rodin Museum. The manor boasts grandiose columns, arches and sweeping staircases, as well as subtler intricate moldings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The museum’s most attractive feature, especially when the weather plays ball, is the beautifully kept three-hectare garden. Visitors are free to roam the grounds, admiring not only famous works such as Le Penseur (“The Thinker”), but also the rose garden and peaceful arbor.
Rodin Museum
77 Rue de Varenne, Paris
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Nissim de Camondo Museum
Out of the way but worth the detour, this small museum, tucked inside a 1911 mansion house in the 8th district, houses one of the city’s most impressive collections of French 18th century decorative art. Born in Istanbul in 1860, Moïse de Camondo was known for founding the largest bank in the Ottoman Empire. Brothers Abaham-Behr and Nissim settled in Paris at the end of the Second Empire in the mansions that make up the museums today, and their sons (one of whom was Moïse) were fierce art collectors. Their finds were bequeathed to the city to create this impressive off-the-beaten-track museum.
Musée Nissim de Camondo
63 Rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris
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