France is a country of history, heritage, culture, and traditions. Every building, palace, monuments and even streets of the nation reflect the true essence of French culture, but it is exhibited in the beautiful museums in France, in the best way possible. All the museums in France are an incredible work of art that attract thousands and thousands of people from around the world. While some of them are known for their art and sculptures, others are praised for their 3D paintings and electronic display.
12 Best Museums In France That Will Leave You Jaw-dropped
A favorite of history buffs and archaeology enthusiasts, these museums are no less wonders than the living legends of the French past. Which one will you visit first?
- The Louvre Museum
- Musée d’Orsay
- Musée de l’Armée
- Musée Rodin
- Musée Jacquemart
- Palace of Versailles
- Galerie Tapiezo Contemporary Art Gallery and Museum
- Carrières de Lumières
- Airborne Museum
- Grand Site Aven d’Orgnac
- Centre Georges Pompidou
- Musée National d’Art Moderne
1. The Louvre Museum
The gorgeous museum of Louvre showcases art and sculptures by renowned artists of the World. Undeniably Louvre is no #1 in our list of most popular museums in France and one of the must-visit places to see in Paris. Located in the heart of the city, on the banks of River Seine, the mighty edifice of Louvre museum was originally a fort of the French army. Sprawling over 21,000 hectares, this museum is divided into different galleries like Egyptian, Oriental, Islamic, Roman, Greek, and British. Every gallery is endowed with marvelous collections of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts of the ancient and medieval era. If you are an art lover, Louvre Museum in Paris should be on the top of your bucket list.
Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
Key attractions: Monalisa by Leonardo da Vinci, Dying Slave by Michelangelo, Great Sphinx and Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. On Wednesdays, the museum is open until 10:00 PM. Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
Entrance charge: INR 1363/person online and INR 1200/person at the museum ticket counter
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2. Musée d’Orsay
One of the famous museums in France, Musee de Orsay is another place of wonder. Displaying eminent artwork of Jean Auguste, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Berthe Morisot and Eugène Carrière etc, this age-old museum is a restored national monument and attracts a plethora of art and history enthusiasts, round the year. This is considered as one of the most charming places to see in Paris, France.
Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
Key attractions: Bal du Moulin de la Galette, The Circus, Georges Seurat, Edgar Degas and Auguste Renoir
Opening hours: 9: 30 am to 6 pm on all days except Thursdays, when the museum closes at 9:45 pm. The place is closed on Mondays.
Entrance charge: INR 960/person. Entry is free for all on the first Sundays of the month.
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3. Musée de l’Armée
Reputed as the national military museum of France, Musée de l’Armée is located at the heart of Paris and was opened to the public in 1905. With 6 departments namely main courtyard and artillery collection, old armor and weapons, modern department, contemporary department, Charles de Gaulle monument, and cabinet insolites, the museum exhibits objects and artifacts of the French army and allures travelers of all kinds. An array of weapons, armors, private uniforms, crown collections, marshals’ batons and ceremonial swords, displayed at various galleries of the museum, are the main exhibits other than paintings and archives of French war history.
Location: 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, France
Key attractions: Dome church, Napoleon tomb and Veteran Chapel. There are few walks and tours but the interactive dome tour is the most famous among them.
Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Entrance charge: INR 960/person
4. Musée Rodin
Dedicated to the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, Musee Rodin is another interesting museum in France. Housed in a vintage building, this museum features artistic décor and spacious galleries, displaying as much as 8000 paintings, 6600 sculptures and 7000 objects of art. In addition, the place also boasts of an impressive archive of more than 80000 old photographs. Moreover, Musee Rodin also has a dedicated gallery for the works of Camille Claudel. Surrounded by a luxuriant garden and a small lake; Musee Rodin is one of the best sightseeing places in Paris.
Location: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Key attractions: Prestigious works of Auguste Rodin like The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell.
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 5:45 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Entrance charge: INR 1202/person
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5. Musée Jacquemart
Located in proximity to Place de la Concorde, this is another place of marvelous artwork display. Regarded as one of the quaintest museums in France, Musée Jacquemart-André houses famous paintings and sculptures of Henri Matisse, Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley, and Chaim Soutine.
Location: 158 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris, France
Key attractions: Eight water lilies murals by Claude Monet.
Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm. On Monday, the museum closes at 8:30 pm.
Entrance charge: INR 1082/person
Museums in other cities of France
6. Palace of Versailles
Palace of Versailles is another eminent name in the list of best museums in France, Paris and is definitely a must-visit. The gorgeous structure, musical fountains and artistic décor fascinate every traveler who pays a visit there. The objects of art, artifacts, armors, paintings, and sculptures of French rulers displayed at Versailles Palace museum, probably reflects the true essence and spirit of the medieval and Renaissance period of history. Take a petite tram ride to explore the lush green sprawling garden, surrounding the palace and enjoy the surreal beauty of the place.
Location: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Key attractions: Hall of Mirrors, Musical Fountain Shows, Queen’s Chamber Museum of History of France and The Grand Trianon.
Opening hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm. The place is closed on every Monday.
Entrance charge: INR 1602/person
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7. Galerie Tapiezo Contemporary Art Gallery and Museum
Undeniably, Galerie Tapiezo Contemporary Art Gallery and Museum-is a one of its kind museum in France, displaying innovative paintings of French artist Tapiezo. This famous painter is best known for creating different and offbeat works with sands and natural pigments and interacts with all the visitors who visit his gallery.
Location: 7 Rue Richard Casteau, 84220 Roussillon, France
Key attractions: Totem sculpture, sand painting and hieroglyphs.
Opening hours: 11 am to 5 pm. The place is closed on every Sunday.
Entrance charge: INR 800/person
8. Carrières de Lumières
If you are in France and not visiting Carrieres des Lumieres, it’s going to be a major miss. This is an exclusive museum in France, where paintings and sculptures are projected and displayed with multi-media effects, coupled with music. There are galleries with works of Picasso, Michelangelo, and Raphael, which are displayed with light and sound, giving them an amazing 3D effect. Does it sound unreal? Pay a visit to believe.
Location: Route de Maillane, 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence, France
Key attractions: Night time projections of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael. Giants of the Renaissance and Flower Power movement.
Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Entrance charge: INR 1002/person
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9. Airborne Museum
Airborne Museum was built in the fond memories of American paratroopers, who parachuted into Normandy. The main Waco museum building is constructed in the shape of a parachute and comprises of an authentic Waco glider. With cargo planes, ammunition, uniforms, exhibits of World War I and antique items of the French soldiers, this place is one of the most interesting museums in France, located in the quaint locality of Sainte-Mère-Église.
Location: 14 Rue Eisenhower, 50480 Sainte-Mère-Église, France
Key attractions: Waco Glider, General James Gavin’s helmet, General Matthew Ridgway’s, General J. Lawton Collins’s jacket and C-47 cargo plane.
Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Entrance charge: INR 721/person
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10. Grand Site Aven d’Orgnac
Grand Site Aven d’Orgnac is one of the most exciting museums in France and the display of various geographical and topographical features is surely the stunner. Huge caverns, limestone topography and crystal formations are spread over three expansive caves and English-speaking guides take everyone to a guided walk through the underground chambers of this amazing natural museum.
Location: 2240 Route de l’Aven, 07150 Orgnac-l’Aven, France
Key attractions: Beautiful display of stalactites, stalagmites, pillars and monoliths.
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 7 pm
Entrance charge: INR 1082/person
11. Centre Georges Pompidou
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The Centre Georges Pompidou has always enthralled visitors with its bizarre architecture since its establishment in the year 1977. Its Lego-like walls have always blown the senses of art lovers and even kids that visit. Ranging from surrealism to pop art, the CGP has two floors full of over 65,000-plus pieces of modern art from France’s National Museum of Modern Art. What else makes it one of the best museums in France is its whopping 245-piece assortment of works by Matisse. And once you’re done with what the museum offers inside its walls, you must step out to enjoy the sweeping panoramic views of the city from the building’s 6th floor!
Location: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France
Key attractions: Pop art pieces, Matisse’s best works, bizarre architecture
Opening hours: 11 AM – 9 PM. Closed on Tuesdays.
Entrance charge: INR 1,040 for adults, free for children
12. Musée National d’Art Moderne
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The National Museum of Modern Art has earned its place in the list of the best museums in France owing mainly to its massive size. It has been documented as the second largest museum in France, spanning an area of approx. 17,000 square meters. Housing the most unique and notable pieces of modern artwork in France, the Musee National d’Art Moderne attracts a huge number of visitors from around the globe every year. Believed to be the first ever museum in Europe to be established with the prime motive of promoting contemporary art, it is an indispensable part of every history geek and art fanatic’s travel itinerary.
Location: Centre Georges Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
Key attractions: Famous pieces of France’s centuries old modert art
Opening hours: 11 AM – 9 PM. Closed on Tuesdays.
Entrance charge: INR 1,040 for adults, free for children
Further Read: France’s Green Volcanoes Are Now A World Heritage Site & It Proves They Are Actually Worth A Hike
Amazing isn’t it? These museums in France will undoubtedly make you fall in love with French and Modern architecture. And if you’re planning to book a trip to France, let us help you create an awesome plan for you. Know of any more fabulous museums in France, Paris? Let us know in the comments section below
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A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.
