Highlights in a Hurry at Musée d'Orsay

See Best of Monet, Renoir, Degas at Paris Museum in 3 hours or less

May 8, 2009 Kathleen Curry

Visitors limited to an afternoon or evening at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris can still get a feel for the amazing collection housed there by focusing on the highlights.

There is so much to see and do in Paris, trying to get everything in is a daunting task given the time constraints faced by most travelers. However, visitors should not miss the Musée d'Orsay simply because they only have two or three hours to work with.

The Musée d'Orsay opened in 1986 and is located in the former Orsay rail station. The museum brings in over three million visitors per year and is one of the best places in the world to see works in impressionist, post-impressionist and turn-of-the-century art.

The quickest way to get into the museum is to purchase an express pass that allows one to use an express entrance while bypassing the ticket lines. Time saved on the front end allows more time for viewing paintings and sculptures.

Once in the museum, pick-up the map that guides visitors to the different salons and artists that are the “must sees.” While on the main floor, enjoy stepping down the stairwell to see the famous clock that formerly indicated when trains would be arriving.

After taking in the view in the main hall, head straight up to the fifth floor and start moving through the Salle/Halls. Start with Salle 47 next to the escalator on the way up.

Fifth Floor Halls

Salle 47

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Le lit
Rousse

Salle 44

Paul Gauguin

Et l'or de leur corps
Arearea

Salle 41

Paul Cézanne

La maison du docteur Gachet à Auvers

Pierre Auguste Renoir

Portrait dit de Margot

Salle 39

Pierre Auguste Renoir

Les baigneuses
Danse à la ville
Madame Josse Bernheim-Jeune et son fils Henry

Salle 36

Paul Cézanne

Nature morte aux oignons
Nature morte à la bouilloire

Salle 35

Van Gogh, Vincent

Portrait de l'artiste
La méridienne

Salle 34

Monet, Claude

La cathédrale de Rouen. Le portail et la tour Saint-Romain, effet du matin
Meules, fin de l'été

Salle 32

Pierre Auguste Renoir

Madame Darras
Etude. Torse, effet de soleil
La balançoire

Monet, Claude

La gare Saint-Lazare
Les déchargeurs de charbon

Salle 31

Edgar Degas

Répétition d'un ballet sur la scène
Petite danseuse de 14 ans

Edouard Manet

La dame aux éventails
La lecture

Salle30

Berthe Morisot

Le berceau

James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Arrangement en gris et noir n°1

Gustave Caillebotte

Raboteurs de parquet

Of course, everyone would love to stay and see all of the exhibitions at the Orsay, but this is not always possible given all there is to do and see in Paris. Nevertheless, seeing the 10 aforementioned salles can give a visitor a good sense of why the Musée d'Orsay is not to be missed.

Contact Information and Hours

Musée d'Orsay

62, rue de Lille

75343 Paris Cedex 07

Information

+33 (0)1 40 49 48 14

Museum Hours

9:30AM to 6:00PM

9:30AM to 9:45PM on Thursdays

Closed on Mondays

Having a time limit does not mean one should miss the opportunity to look at some of the world’s greatest artistic masterpieces. Just don’t forget to save a few minutes for the gift shop.

The copyright of the article Highlights in a Hurry at Musée d'Orsay in W Europe Travel is owned by Kathleen Curry. Permission to republish Highlights in a Hurry at Musée d'Orsay in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.