Paris’ Musee d’Orsay: Visitor’s Information
This story originally appeared on my blog in April 2020.
Paris’ second most popular museum is by far the Musee d’Orsay after the Louvre. While it is not nearly as large, the venue and art displayed inside is worth its weight in gold. I can honestly say I was overwhelmed when I visited the Louvre and much preferred the Musee d’Orsay. Their focus is on hosting a variety of art just like that of the Louvre. I went in September of 2019.
The Building
One of the most impressive facts about the Musee d’Orsay is that it is housed in a former train station! When Paris hosted 1900 World’s Fair, it needed an additional train station to host the large amounts of people flocking to the city. The Gare d’Orsay was one of the most modern stations in Paris; it was one of the first to have luggage ramps and elevators! Unfortunately, however, as technology advanced, the station did not. Newer and longer electric trains brought more train cars and people than the platforms could hold.It was officially closed in 1939 and only used briefly during World War II.
In 1970, the French government gave permission to have the Gare d’Orsay demolished, but Jacques Duhamel, the French Cultural Minister stepped in and vetoed the idea. After 8 years, in 1978, it was declared a historic site. In the same year, it was decided to…