Top 10 Paris Museums, Part 2

In this blog I will continue with the other 5 museums in Paris that should be visited while being in Paris. The information can be useful for travelers planning their trip to Paris because it will help them figure out their must-see places of interest. You have to be aware of the fact that only a day will not be enough to visit all of the mentioned museums, so it is advisable to make a reservation in one of the Paris hotels. There are also many other options for accommodation in the capital of France. There are either cheap or luxurious hotels in Paris and the service in all of them is excellent. So here are the museums:

1.     Cluny Museum – National Medieval Museum

This museum dedicated to the medieval period-- exploring both art and daily life in the "Moyen Age"-- is one of the city's best, but is often overlooked. Housed in the striking Hotel de Cluny, a late 15th century Abbey, the museum is built above Gallo-Roman thermal baths built between the 1st and 3rd centuries-- parts of which can be visited. The permanent collection's "crown jewel" is a 15th century tapestry, The Lady and the Unicorn, much revered for its sumptuous colors and enigmatic allegorical symbolism. The grounds also include a garden meant to mimic medieval aromatic and medicinal gardens, providing a pleasant place to read or slowly stroll.

2.     Rodin Museum

This museum consecrated to French sculptor Auguste Rodin is one of Paris' finest, and offers a multifaceted look at Rodin's complex body of work, in addition to works from his brilliant student Camille Claudel, among others. In addition to iconic works such "The Thinker", the museum has an extensive sculpture garden that's a true pleasure to stroll, or think (as it were) in.

3.     Musee Carnavalet – Museum of Paris History

Anyone wishing to understand Paris' multi-tiered, complex history would do well to pay a visit to the Carnavalet Museum. Housed within the walls of two Renaissance-era mansions, the Hotel de Carnavalet and the Hotel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau (built in the 16th and 17th centuries, respectively), the Carnavalet Museum's permanent collection traces the history of Paris across over 100 rooms. This exhibit is free of charge to all visitors, and arguably tops the list of Paris' free museums. The museum also hosts a series of temporary exhibits highlighting various periods or aspects of the Parisian heritage.

4.     Musee du Luxembourg

Situated on the stately grounds of the Luxembourg Gardens, this museum is one of Europe's oldest, and was opened in 1750 as France's first state-run collection of paintings. It hosts  a small number of temporary exhibits per year, but these are almost always highly anticipated and popular with the general public. Exhibits in recent years have focused on artists including Modigliani and Vlaminck.

5.     Musee Jacquemart – Andre

This is another lesser-known gem in the Paris arts scene that focuses on masterpieces in 18th century painting. Housed in a 19th century private mansion, the Jacquemart-Andre museum was founded by art collector Edouard André and focuses on works from French painters including Jean Marc Nattier, Elizabeth Vigée-Lebrun, Fragonard or Jacques-Louis David.

The mentioned museums are only a part of the great variety of museums in Paris. If you have the chance to travel to France, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Paris and its best museums – a memorable symbol of the Paris culture and traditions.