Orsay Museum

Musée d'Orsay is a museum located at Rue de Lille 75343, the left bank of The Seine in Paris, France. This museum exhibits art that is mainly of French origin dating from the 1848 and 1914. They exhibit paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. It has in its collection the highest impressionist and post – impressionist works worldwide painted by Van Gogh, Sisley, and Degas. Without exaggerating, Musée d'Orsay is one of the largest museums in Europe.

History of the museum

The museum was established in 1986. The building housing this beautiful works of art was formerly a railway station. About 1939, the railway company stopped making use of the structure. After World War II, the building became a set for several movies including Kafka’s The Trial. The Minister for Culture, Jacques Duhamel in 1970 approved the demolition of the railway station but refused the site to be used to build a hotel. The Directorate of Museums in France later suggested the site be used for a museum. The decision was approved by France Prime Minister Georges Pompidou. The construction of the museum started in 1981, and by July 1986 the museum was ready for use. The building was designed by a renowned architect Gae Aulenti an Italian.

A visit at the Orsay Museum

The museum is open for exhibitions every day of the week except Monday. The opening time is every day from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm except on Thursdays when it closes late at about 9:45 pm. The museum is usually busier on Tuesdays and Sundays. You can become a member of the museum by simply applying on their website. As a member, there are certain rights attached to the membership. For instance, when you buy anything at the restaurant, you get ten percent discount. When you buy books from the bookshop you get five per cent discount.

Those who are between the age of eighteen to twenty-five and are citizens or are long-term residents of an EU member state are given free access to the museum. There are also special programs for students who are members of their University cultural department.

For disabled persons, they have free access to priority entrance C but must be accompanied. Admission is free for these visitors for both temporary and permanent exhibitions.

Museum collection

The museum has a collection of arts designed and produced by renowned artists like:

• Johan Axel
• Gustav Acke
• Amaury-Duval
• Cuno Amiet
• Albert André
• Félix Joseph Barrias
• Marie Bashkirtseff
• Jules Bastien-Lepage
• ...to mention but a few.

They have over hundreds of arts exhibited at the museum by different artists.

The museum also makes provisions for pupils from different schools to visit the museum accompanied by a tour guide.