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Time Travel in Paris Museums: Enjoy the Journey Through Time!
TERAVARNA- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
“I went to the Louvre in Paris, and I saw all the paintings and the Mona Lisa. You don't really see something like that every day. I was looking at it, and everything else in the room just shut out. Like, Leonardo Da Vinci painted this thing - this is unreal that he touched that. It had this crazy effect on me.”
- Brian Fallon
The city of Paris is an enigma for the art & history buffs, a place where sophistication and grandeur breathe in every corner. The cobblestone streets, villas, and the alleys speak of a rich historical past and that includes the art museums too. While you enjoy the French cuisine, finest cheese & wine, music, or the welcoming vibes of the city, do take tours of some of the best-known Paris art museums, that let you slip back in time, and experience the aura of the past, just like Brian Fallon has mentioned in his awe for the Louvre.
Count on every gracious gesture of the city dwellers, as you stay agape at the art & architectural marvels, and the opulence. Explore the lavish townhouses to historic palaces, as these museums in Paris are more than just galleries to showcase art—they are the portals to time-travel!
So, catch up with us as we take you on a virtual tour of some of the best museums in Paris along with the cult Louvre.
Musée Carnavalet: Take a Walk-Through Parisian History for FREE
Located in Marais district, Musée Carnavalet, the beautiful museum speaks entirely of the history of Paris. It is fascinating to see how this museum is spread across two adjacent buildings, echoing history through rare French Revolution exhibits, stunning artifacts of the bygone era, revered paintings, and décor that speak volumes about the city’s origin to this day.
"To walk through the halls of Musée Carnavalet is to trace the footsteps of Paris itself,"
- Art historian Jean-Claude Lemaitre
Take a leisurely walk through the exquisitely restored rooms and trace your steps back into the historical grandeur of Paris during the French Revolution, the Belle Époque, and beyond. You can explore Renaissance and classical architecture, antique furniture, vintage signs, and personal belongings of famous Parisians that will make you feel you’ve been visiting some lavish houses in eighteenth-century Paris.
Tickets:
Entry: FREE
# Usually, the Musée Carnavalet permanent collections are free to visit, that means you don’t have to buy tickets for them! Any special show, or themed exhibitions will require tickets!
Musée Nissim de Camondo: An Artsy Tribute to the Belle Époque
"It’s not just a museum; it’s a house frozen in time," - Curator Marie-Hélène de la Roche
If you think of tasting the vibes of the ‘Belle Epoque’ or the ‘Beautiful Era’ of Europe, esp. France, (1871-1914), you can scout for this dreamlike Parisian mansion of Musée Nissim de Camondo.
This iconic museum has too many feathers on its cap – exquisite collections of decorative art, tapestries, paintings, architecture, silverware, and delicate porcelains of the Belle Epoque period.
The elaborate and ornate townhouse was built in the early 20th century and it is preserved the way it was during the stay of the Camondo family. Savor the burst of nostalgia and enjoy the travel in time, smelling opulence in every nook & corner of the lavish mansion – vouching for the family’s love and obsession for decorative art.
Enjoy your artsy visit to the private rooms, picturesque dining area, lush gardens, and you’ll get a glimpse of the time that was engulfed in the early 20th century luxury and refinement, as they remain untouched even after so many years!
Tickets:
Entry # Tickets to the Museum are €13/adult, and are FREE for visitors aged below 26 years, as per the museum website.
Musée Cognacq-Jay: Smelling the Old Charm of Enlightenment
You must not skip a visit to the legendary Musée Cognacq-Jay, the museum dedicated to the art and artifacts of the Enlightenment era – cradled in the heart of Le Marais. It has embraced the decorative rococo style, 18th century decorative art, and a lot more to turn your heads. Ernest Cognacq and his wife Maria Louis Jay founded this museum, who were also the founders of the famous Samaritaine department store. The museum building evokes the grandeur of the 16th century era, smelling of a wealthy Parisian home.
The art collections put together by Ernest Cognacq and his wife Maria Louis Jay showcase the delicate art of porcelain, renowned artworks by 18th century Baroque artists Boucher and Fragonard, and the renowned topography artist Canaletto. There are beautifully preserved furniture and sculptures. The intimate galleries that you'll walk through would give you a feel of stepping into an elite Parisian home from centuries back.
Tickets:
Entry: FREE
Louvre Museum: The National Art Museum & Ultimate Destination for Art & Antiquity
"The Louvre is not just a museum; it is a living history book," – art critic Pierre Francois
Nothing can surpass the awe & ecstasy of visiting one of the best museums in Paris, that is none other than the iconic national art museum in Paris, the Louvre Museum. This is the pilgrimage spot for the art-lovers, thronged by visitors from all over the world – pouring in to see the world’s largest and most prized art collections. Yes, it’s more than just a place to see art—it’s something that you can only experience like Brian Fallon did.
While you cannot take your eyes off some of the phenomenal collection of Louvre paintings—including the unmissable Mona Lisa or The Coronation of Napoleon—the museum is a not-to-miss spot as it is housed in a former royal palace. Don’t miss the majestic glass pyramid in the entrance, designed by I.M.Pei.
The elaborate halls & grand marble corridors feel like taking you down memory lane, to the days when the French kings and emperors reigned this place.
Tickets:
Entry: Buy Tickets Online/ on Spot (Usually €17 for adults)
Time Travel through these Showstopper Paris Art Museums
If you wish to get transported to the long-gone era of Napoleon Bonaparte or just to get a hang of the era of King Philippe Auguste, in whose reign the Louvre castle was built in 1190, you have enough reasons to be pampered by these historical monuments.
Each of these legendary Paris art museums lets you explore more than just beautiful artworks—they offer a journey through time. Whether you are taking a tour at the ornate rooms of the Musée Nissim de Camondo, rambling through the history-laden corridors of the Musée Carnavalet, or wandering the regal halls of the Louvre Museum, a museum housing more than 35,000 artworks, you’re not just looking into some artefacts or pieces of history – you are reliving it!
Trace Your Steps Back: Feel the Pulsating Art & History in Paris Museums
If you want to completely soak in art history and wish to trace your steps back to the prehistoric era to the creation time of Venus de Milo, Paris museums are your gateway. Exploring the marvels of the Belle Époque at Musée Nissim de Camondo to the revolutionary spirit at Musée Carnavalet and the extensive art treasure trove of the Louvre, these museums allow you to travel back into another timescape.
The next time you are in Paris, make sure to include these unmissable art hubs, the ‘time travel’ marvels to your itinerary—you won’t just see & feel history; you can journey through time of Renaissance when Mona Lisa (Lisa del Giocondo) posed for the luminary, Leonardo De Vinci!
Au revoir!
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