Musée d'Orsay

About the museum

The present building was constructed from 1898 to 1900 by architect Victor Laloux as the terminus of the Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans, to welcome visitors to the 1900 Universal Exhibition. It stands on the site of the Palais d'Orsay, which was destroyed by fire during the Paris Commune in 1871 and remained in ruins for nearly thirty years.

Over time, the station became too small for modern trains, and its future remained uncertain. In the 1970s, a museum project devoted to the second half of the 19th century took shape, supported by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. A collection of decorative arts from 1848 to 1914 was assembled starting in 1977, and the building was listed as a historic monument in 1978. From 1983 to 1986, a team of architects transformed the station, with Italian interior architect Gae Aulenti responsible for the layout of the spaces. The museum opened on December 9, 1986.

The museum presents Western art from 1848 to 1914: painting, sculpture, decorative arts, graphic arts, photography and architecture. It holds more than 150,000 objects, of which about 2,300 are on permanent display. The best-known works include Manet's Olympia and Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, Degas's The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, Courbet's L'Origine du monde and Cézanne's The Card Players. Since 2010, the Musée de l'Orangerie has been attached to it.

Highlights

• The former Gare d'Orsay station and its great nave
• Olympia and Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe by Manet
• The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer by Degas
• The Card Players by Cézanne
• Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works
• Decorative arts, photography and architecture from 1848 to 1914

Founded

1986

Operated by

Établissement public des musées d'Orsay et de l'Orangerie

Visitors per year

approx. 3,785,134 (2025)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month; a reserved time slot is required.

The ticket gives access to the permanent collections and, subject to availability, to the temporary exhibitions, for a single entry; once you leave, you cannot re-enter. The Carte Blanche offers unlimited access by reservation to the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie for one or two years. A combined Musée d'Orsay – Musée Rodin ticket is valid for three months. The Paris Museum Pass is accepted with a reserved time slot. Admission is also free for job seekers, holders of the Pass Éducation and members of the Société des Amis du Musée d'Orsay.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The entire museum, the temporary exhibitions and the retail spaces are accessible by elevators and ramps. Wheelchairs and folding seats are lent free of charge in exchange for an identity document, as is a small sensory bag (noise-cancelling headphones, tinted glasses, stress-relief objects). Induction loops are installed at the ticket desk, reception, bookshop and auditorium. Tours in French Sign Language and a booklet in easy-to-read French are available. Reserved parking spaces are located on nearby streets, for example Place Montherlant, Rue de Lille and Rue de Solférino. The museum can also be reached through the Acceo service (instant transcription, sign language interpretation).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly

Guided tours, workshops and trails for families and children. During each school holiday period, the festive hall becomes a free space to relax and explore, open to all. The website “Les Petits M'O”, for ages 6 to 12, presents the works through games, adapted texts and podcasts. Small strollers are lent upon presentation of an identity document; there is a baby area on basement level -1, next to the reception for adult groups.

Getting there & parking

Drop-off and pick-up point for taxis and adapted vehicles on Quai Anatole-France.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi for everyone (network “Musee_Orsay_Public”). Free self-service cloakroom. Museum restaurant Café Campana on the sixth floor, Café de la Gare under the central nave, and a terrace open in summer. Bookshop and online shop. Baby area on basement level -1.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit