You mean there's more to Paris
than the Louvre?
The Louvre isn't the only museum in Paris,
and while it has definitely made our list of the top ten, it
shouldn't necessarily be your first stop on your cultural tour of
the city. Paris has dozens of incredible museums, many of
which are free for students. If you're looking spend a
little time excercising your intellectual side, here are some great
places to do it:
1. Musée
d'Orsay
- First on our list is not the Louvre, but its
next-door-neighbor, the Musée d'Orsay. Orsay is both smaller than the
Louvre and easier to navigate for first time visitors, so it's a
great stop for art lovers who aren't ready to tackle one of the
biggest museums in the world yet. The collection is comprised of
paintings and sculptures from 1848 to 1915, and includes works from
famous artists like Monet, Degas, van Gogh and Manet. The museum
itself is a beautifully restored train station, famous for its
unique appearance. Admission is free for students and the museum is
open from 9:30am to 6:00pm every day except Mondays.
2. Musée du
Louvre
- Of course, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the
Louvre, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world.
The enormous collection includes thousands of objects and art
pieces dating from ancient times to the nineteenth century. The
building itself is a historic monument, famous for its enormous
glass pyramids and rich architectural details. With so much to see,
students often feel overwhelmed visiting the Louvre for the first
time, so it's helpful to do a little research and plan exactly what
art pieces or sections you're interested in seeing. While you can't
miss the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, we reccommend spending some
time underneath the main level of the Louvre, exploring the ruins
of the original fortress. Admission is free for students and the
museum is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm every day except
Tuesdays.
3.Musée National d'Art Moderne (Centre
Pompidou)
- Located inside one of the most unique buildings in Paris, this
modern art museum houses both a permanent collection of art works
created from 1905 on, as well as a constant rotation of
exhibitions. The Pompidou Center, easily recognized because of its
ultra-modern appearance, houses an enormous permanent collection of
work. Admission to the museum is free the first Sunday of every
month, and the museum is open from 11:00am to 9:00pm every day
except Tuesdays.
4. Musée
Carnavalet
- For those of you who can't wait for the
invention of time travel (and those who just want to learn a little
more about the city of Paris), this museum is a must-see. Dedicated
to the history of the city, le Musée Carnavalet covers
everything from artifacts from the original Roman village to
photographs of 20th century Paris. We're particularly fond of the
museums collection of early maps and street-signs. Tickets are less
than four euro for students, and the museum is open Tuesday through
Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
5. Cité des Sciences et de
l'Industrie
- Take a break from staring at paintings
and discover the wonders of the universe!Whether you're a total science geek or the kind of
student who used bunsen burners to melt pen caps, you'll definitely
find something to peak your interest at this enormous science
museum. Exhibitions at the museum are constantly changing, so be
sure to check out the museum
website to see what's coming up.The museum is open from
Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 6:00pm and until 7:00pm on
Sundays. Admission prices vary by exhibition.
6. Musée de
Cluny
- Officially known as the National Museum
of the Middle Ages, this incredible building contains some of the
most fascinating pieces of artwork in all of Paris. Built on the
ancient ruins of a Roman bathouse, the building itself is an
amazing historical landmark. Be sure to check out The Lady and
the Unicorn, a famous series of tapestries known as one
of the finest works to come out of its time period. Admission to
the museum is 6,50 euro for students and the museum is open every
day except Tuesday, from 9:15am to 5:45pm.
7. La
Conciergerie
- During the French Revolution, this
intimidating royal palace-turned-prison became known as "the
antechamber to the guillotine." Today, there's still something a
little creepy about La Conciergerie, although the sounds of French
lawyers, politicians and international tourists echoing in the
hallways does tend to ruin the mood. La Conciergerie is a
fascinating example of medieval architecture and a great place to
feel transported in time. Don't miss taking a look at
one of the most famous jail cells in history-- Marie Antoinette's
final lodgings. La Conciergerie is open every day from 9:30am to
6:00pm and admission is free for students.
8. Musée Grévin
- If you've secretly always wanted to visit
Madame Tussauds (or if you have and can't get enough wax) then
you'll love La
Musée Grévin, a
waxwork museum in the 9th arrondissement. One of the oldest waxwork
museums in Paris, this fascinating (and let's be honest, kind of
creepy) museum features wax sculptures of everyone from Michael
Jackson to Louis XIV. We particularly love the French Revolution
scenes-- although they can be a little bloody! Admission is 19
euros for students and the museum is open from 10:00am to 6:30pm
Monday through Friday and until 7:00pm on weekends.
9. Musée National d'Histoire
Naturelle
- The National Museum of Natural History in
Paris is one of the most fascinating stops in the museum circut and
a must-see for all visitors. The museum was officially founded
during the French Revolution, although its history spans back
further, and it has been a center for scientific research and
education ever since. Plan your visit by checking out
their website for a list of exhibits and a map of the museum.
Admission is free for students and the museum is open every day
except for Tuesday from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
10. Musée du Petit
Palais
- One of the most beautiful
buildings in Paris, le Petit Palais is a work of art in and of
itself. The permanent collection includes paintings, sculptures,
furniture and art objects, with work from artists like Rembrant,
Monet, Cezanne and Rodin. Be sure to give yourself a few moments in
the interior courtyard, especially if you're visiting the museum in
the spring or summer. Admission to the permanent collection is free
and the museum is open from 10:00am to 6:00pm every day except
Monday.