Museums of Paris: Something For All Interests

With over 140 museums or Musee (say "myu-say") in Paris a visitor on vacation can hope to see but a few of them.

The variety of offerings is staggering. Whatever your interest you are sure to find a few musee to satisfy you.

In planning your museum time you should have a sense of just how long you can gaze at art and artifacts before getting "full".

A visitor to the Louvre stays an average of three hours. For myself I feel that two is about the limit for me. After that you stop "seeing".

Most museums allow you come and go on the same ticket for the entire day. This allows for a break and a rest in a garden or a drink in a nearby brasserie... always a fine idea.

Most visitors want to make sure they have time for the major museums. Certainly nothing wrong in that. Who wants to say that they went to Paris and didn't visit the Louvre or the Orsay.

But let that not keep you from one or two of the other fine Paris museums. Just think about what it is that interests you; you will find a museum on the subject in Paris.

Do you like things mechanical, that move and creak and get things done? Then check out the Musee de Arts en Metiers, or the hands on exhibits at the Pompidou Center.

Perhaps you have a thing for money. The Musee de la Monnaie could be the highlight of your stay. The is a museum about locks and keys; there is one on the history of the post office.

Museums dedicated to individual artists whose body of work is expansive enough to merit one are quite numerous.

There's Picasso of course, and Rodin. let's not forget Delacroix, Monet and the irrepressible Salvador Dali.

There are Natural History museums, Anthropology museums, museums on textiles, African art, the military.

There are museums on cinema, music, photography, journalism, French history, Space.

You can learn about the history of the Opera, or the history of the sewers of Paris.

I think you get my point. I mean the Louvre is wonderful beyond measure, but if your interest is in the ocean your time may be better spent in the Musee de la Marine in the Palais de Chaillot.

The listing below though not exhaustive of all Paris has to offer, should give you enough material to find a few museums that speak to your own interests. Each listing will give you more detailed information about location, hours, costs, some history perhaps and a link to their own website if they have one.

The Museums are listed in French, just the way that you'd look for them.

1er Arrondissement