Orsay Museum – Musée d'Orsay

(Last Update: 01.04.2025) In this article, I would like to introduce you to a museum in Paris that is as valuable and special as the Louvre Museum, the Musée d'Orsay, or Orsay Museum. First of all, it is necessary to clarify the pronunciation of Musée d'Orsay in Turkish. One automatically wants to say "Orsay Museum" and the general acceptance is in this direction, but the truth is "Orse Museum” or even “ to exaggerate the accent “Ogse MuseumWe need to say 😉

Now picture Haydarpaşa Train Station; Why Haydarpaşa? Because This was once an important train station called Gare d'Orléans. for Paris; It was the first and last departure point of all trains departing to the southeast. Between 1900 and 1939 Gare d'AusterlitzThe line extended from ' ends at this main station building.

But the rulers of Paris must have thought that this place had lost its function, so they later disabled the station. While the discussions "whether it should be demolished or turned into a hotel" continued, it was decided to turn it into a museum. And the result; They have created a magnificent museum. While we were trying to turn the train station into a hotel, Orsay Train Station was turned into a museum with its hotel, imagine the rest...

I learned much later that these things were not that easy. After the station building lost its function, it was demolished and replaced by a building, according to its period. contemporary But from today's perspective, the idea of ​​building an extremely ugly, reinforced concrete building was on the agenda, but after long discussions, the museum project was put into action and this magnificent building was saved from demolition... Take a photo of the model of the building that was once planned to be built instead of the Orsay Museum. at this link You can see it and understand what I mean.

If you are very short on time during your trip to Paris, Louvre MuseumIf you do not have enough time to visit, I recommend you to do whatever you can and see this museum. Keeping the comparison of the cultural and artistic objects it contains separate; First of all, it is much easier to visit this museum. When you go up to the upper floors and look at the main hall, you may even have the illusion that you have seen all the works and feel relieved: However, the truth is not like that, of course, just between us :)

In this museum especially 1845-1915 The focus is on French works of art covering the period between 1960 and 1998, but there are also great examples from other important names that shaped the art world during this period. Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and many other artists' magnificent paintings and many important sculptures are exhibited in an exquisite presentation at the Orsay Museum.

Periodic exhibitions can be as interesting as the permanent exhibitions in the museum. To keep track of which seasonal exhibitions are on when you will be in Paris, you can access up-to-date information by clicking on the official page of the museum at the end of the article. I would like to remind you that you may need to purchase additional tickets to see periodic exhibitions. If you have the time, it's usually worth it.

Since there is great interest in the museum You may have to wait in a long queue at the door. Therefore, it is beneficial to buy your ticket in advance. As I said, it is worth all the waiting. Before you enter museum shop From there, you pass through the ticket control gate and enter the main hall of the museum. Knowing that this place was once a train station gives you a strange feeling, and you are happy that it has been preserved and turned into a museum.

The main hall is arranged as a gallery where mostly sculptures are exhibited. I recommend you visit this hall first. Go to the very end and at the back Opera GarnierDon't forget to see the interior and exterior models of . In fact, there is a special pleasure in walking on the glass floor here and watching the Place de l'Opéra model from above.

After this point, you can turn right, enter and exit the side galleries and return to the beginning. Of course, it's easy to say, but not so easy to navigate. There are so many galleries, so many rooms, and especially if you take into account the impressiveness of the works of art in these sections, when the spiritual excitement you experience mixes with the physical fatigue you experience, staying in this atmosphere for a long time tires you out without realizing it.

If you can afford it, you should also visit the galleries at the other end of this floor, there are magnificent works on that side as well. He is the founder of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, whom we all know from his painting "Turtle Trainer". Osman Hamdi BeyIt is an interesting feeling to see 's painting in the Orsay Museum.

To follow Turkish traces in Paris Emre Caner'of Paris Love When I read his book, I learned a lot about Osman Hamdi Bey's Paris days. There is also Gustave Courbet's house, which was first owned by Halil Şerif Pasha and caused scandals in the art world. l'Origine du Monde – The Origin of the World His painting is also in the Orsay Museum, do not forget to see it. It caused quite a scandal during its time, and debates about this painting continue today.

Then you can start visiting the upper floors. As you go up, there is a special pleasure in looking at the hall in the middle from above. As you wander between floors and galleries, you feel for the millionth time in your bones how beautiful art is. Moreover, not only paintings and sculptures are exhibited here, but also furniture and accessories from that period are extremely interesting.

However, depending on the content of the exhibitions held from time to time, and sometimes because the works are entrusted to other museums for display, you may not be able to see some important paintings in place or their locations may have changed. I was trying to follow this cycle at first, but now I'm dizzy :) It's best to continue following the updated information on the official website at the end of the article.

Especially on the top floor Impressionists Gallery However, that place is legendary. My favorite work on this floor is the Renoir painting whose photo you see above. Bal du Moulin de la Galette This museum should be visited just to see this floor. In fact, I am aware that I need to prepare an article introducing just this gallery in my spare time. I wish a volunteer art historian would take up the subject and tell us all about this floor as a guest writer on Pariste.Net... If the Impressionism movement interests you, let me immediately recommend four places you can visit in and around Paris: Orangerie Museum, Marmottan – Monet Museum, Monet's House in Giverny and again Givernyin Museum of Impressionism...

You visited the museum, you got tired and hungry... If you want to have a pleasant meal in a beautiful place in the museum environment, you can visit the wonderful restaurant on the second floor. RestaurantYou can choose and find yourself traveling in time in this historical decor. Or on the fifth floor Cafe CampanaIf you stop by, the pleasure of drinking a coffee and eating dessert there is priceless. Especially watching the mechanism of the giant clock that you see from the outside, from the inside, makes you feel like you are traveling in time, dial by dial.

Also, when you go to the top floor, don't forget to look at the terrace. From here Louvre Museum, Tulieries Garden and beyond 'Montmartre Hill'What a wonderful view there is. There is even a small cafeteria here. Maybe you might want to have a snack while looking at this view. I would also like to remind you that the terrace is closed in winter.

The easiest way to get to the Orsay Museum by public transport RER-CGetting off at the “Musée d'Orsay” station of . Because when you leave the station, the museum is right in front of you. Also, metro line number 12 is called “Solférino” or “National AssemblyYou can get off at one of the stops and reach the museum by walking a little. Moreover Tuileries GardenTo the Orsay Museum, which is right across from Solferino Bridge – Passerelle de SolférinoYou can also reach it by going through .

Anyone under the age of 18, For European Union citizens aged 18-25 or those with an EU residence card Orsay Museum can be visited free of charge. Also, within a week after visiting the Orsay Museum Opera GarnierIf you want to visit , there is a discount on the ticket you buy there.

Musée d'Orsay Every day between 09:30-18:00 except Mondays navigable; Open until 21:45 on Thursday evenings. The museum is a public holiday Closed on May 1 and December 25 Please note that . Good news: Orsay Museum first sunday of every month It can be visited free of charge. Current prices, periodic exhibitions and other details, you can access the official website of the Orsay Museum from the link at the end of the article.

After visiting the Orsay Museum, we went to the other side. Tuileries Garden and you can visit its surroundings, from the left side Seine River along the coast Eiffel Tower'How far can you walk or go inland? Boulevard Saint Germainin Flore's coffee or Café Les Deux MagotsYou can walk up to and have a tired coffee at one of the two. Of course, provided that you remember these lines with a smile 😉

As I always say: Look at beautiful things, watch beautiful things, read beautiful things, listen to beautiful things, be with beautiful people.

Stay with art…

Pleasant trips, pleasant discoveries.

Web address:  musee-orsay.fr/en

Address: 1 Rue de la Legion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris