The Best Places To See Monet's Art In And Near Paris

Claude Monet is considered the founder of the Impressionist movement, which recreated the world through light and colour. Monet’s attempts to capture the essence of a scene, whether it’s the light reflected on the water or a majestic piece of architecture, have resulted in some of the most significant works of art in history. From the grand Musée d’Orsay to the artist’s old home at Giverny, here are the best places in and around Paris to see his work.

1. Musée d’Orsay

Museum, Train Station

PARIS, France - Main hall of Musee dOrsay, formerly a train station (Gare dOrsay) and now an art gallery dedicated to French art of the 1848 to 1915 period. Includes extension collection of masterpieces by painters such as Renoir, Cezanne, Monet, and De

The Musée d’Orsay opened its doors in 1986 and offers six different art collections. The impressive architectural structure, formerly a railway station, is home to the most extensive range of Impressionist painters in the world. The collections encompass artists from Manet, Degas and Renoir to Van Gogh and Gauguin, and is also a great Monet museum. It is home to some of Monet’s most famous paintings, such as Women in the Garden (1866) and The Water Lily Pond (1899). The museum is one of the best places to experience Monet up close, while also offering further contributions to the Impressionist theme.

2. The Orangerie Museum

Art Gallery, Building, Museum

Water Lily Nympheas series painted by Claude Monet at Musee de LOrangerie Tuileries Paris France Europe

The Musée de l’Orangerie can be found in the centre of Paris, in the Jardin des Tuileries and has gained a worldwide reputation for the impressive water lilies Monet that painted of his garden in Giverny. Les Nymphéas, eight of a series of 250, can be found in two oval rooms, creating a sense of infinite reflection of Monet’s light effects in a 360-degree, naturally lit serene setting. The museum is also home to the Walter-Guillaume collection of Post-Impressionism. The scenic realisation of the water lilies represents one of the most skilful exhibitions of Monet’s masterpieces, and a walk through the Tuileries Garden offer the ideal ending to a day at the Musée de l’Orangerie.

3. Giverny

Bridge, Museum, Park

France,Eure,Giverny,Claude Monet Foundation,the japonese garden with wisteria in blossom

The village of Giverny is 70km (44mi) outside of Paris and is well worth the trip in order to marvel at the colourful greenery that inspired some of Monet’s most well-recognised paintings. Monet’s property was turned into a museum in 1980 and allows you to marvel at the blooming flowers as well as the tranquil waterlily pond. Giverny is also home to the Museum of Impressionists, which exhibits the works of artists who were part of this movement. Strolling through the water garden and crossing Monet’s Japanese bridge feels like entering one of the artist’s paintings.

5. Le Petit Palais

Art Gallery, Building, Museum

France, Paris, Le Petit Palais is a historical monument in Paris, now used as a museum of fine arts, which was built for the Universal Exhibition (aerial view)

An often overlooked little corner of Monet Paris, Le Petit Palais houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts of the City of Paris and features a section of Impressionist art, including a range of Monet’s works. A trip to the Petit Palais is worth the journey – it’s near Champs-Elysées Clemenceau and Franklin-Roosevelt metro stations – and offers an enchanting atmosphere. The impressive Belle Époque-style building features 1,300 different works, and ranges from medieval collections to French and Italian Renaissance painters. Its Impressionist collection features landscape paintings by Monet as well masterpieces by Bonnard, Pissarro, Cézanne and Renoir. The small indoor garden is particularly enchanting and a further example of Le Petit Palais’s architectural beauty.

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