HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longFondation Louis Vuitton

Unless you’re like me, you probably don’t organize your holidays around art exhibitions. Which means, it can be a bit of a gamble what you might see when you finally arrive at an art gallery or museum. I find nothing more frustrating than discovering that an exhibition I would have been interested in seeing finished the day before, or starts the day after I leave. But luckily, no matter what exhibition is on, there are some museums in Paris that are worth visiting all year round. Whether it be stunning architecture or impressive permanent collections, these museums never fail to impress!

HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longCentre Pompidou

For all the architecture nerds out there, Centre Pompidou was designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers and is a prime example of ‘constructivist’ architecture. The skeleton of the building is exposed, revealing all of its inner structure, functions and mechanics. Visitors zig-zag their way up the building via the external escalator.

HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longFondation Louis Vuitton

Fondation Louis Vuitton was designed by none other than Frank Gehry and is a spectacular piece of architecture. Glass ‘sails’ cover the building, an assemblage of blocks described as the ‘iceberg’. With a cascading water feature at the base, the overall effect is of a large ship soaring above the treetops of the Jardin d’Acclimatation. Inside, the gallery spaces are unconventional and mesmerizing: some small and intimate, others with vast ceilings and twisting skylights.

HiP Paris blog on the museums that can be visited all year longCentre Pompidou

Aside from its ground-breaking architecture, Centre Pompidou offers stunning views of Paris and one of Europe’s best collection of modern and contemporary art. Likewise, Fondation Louis Vuitton allows visitors to explore its rooftop mezzanines and admire the building’s magnificent glass sails, as well as different views of Paris.

HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longFondation Louis Vuitton

Permanent collections are often overshadowed by the big, crowd-drawing blockbuster exhibitions. But Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin are both beautiful museums with impressive permanent collections that cannot be missed. Mind you, this is Paris we’re talking about, and you can still expect to queue so do time your visit and get there early.

HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longMusée Rodin

Renovated in 2015, Musée Rodin is housed in the 18th century Hôtel Biron, which Auguste Rodin himself chose to present his work. The museum features the biggest collection of Rodin’s works as well as the artist’s diverse personal collection. Many of his sculptures can also be found dotted around the beautiful garden, including the iconic Le Penseur.

HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longMusée Picasso

Musée Picasso – in the heart of Paris’ Marais neighborhood – is housed in the Hotel Salé, which is a classified Historical Monument. The museum has the only collection in the world of both Pablo Picasso’s paintings, sculptures, engravings and illustrations, and documents of the artist’s creative process. It contains both the artist’s estate and other renowned artworks from the 20th century.

HiP Paris Blog on the museums that can be visited all year longFondation Louis Vuitton

These museums are sure to satisfy every art lover, no matter what time of year.

Centre Pompidou – Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004. Metro: Châtelet (ligne 1, 4, 7, 11 & 14). +33 1 44 78 12 33

Fondation Louis Vuitton –  8 Avenue Mahatma Gandhi, 75116. Metro: Les Sablons (ligne 1). +33 1 40 69 96 00

Musée Rodin – 79 Rue de Varenne, 75007. Metro: Varenne (ligne 13). +33 1 44 18 61 10

Musée Picasso – 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003. Metro: Saint-Sébastien-Froissart (ligne 8). +33 1 85 56 00 36

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Written by Ali Postma for HiP Paris. Photos courtesy of Ali Postma. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, Tuscany, Umbria or Liguria? Check out Haven In.

WRITTEN BY

Ali Postma

Ali is from Melbourne, Australia, where she studied Art History and Art Curatorship at Monash and The University of Melbourn. She has worked in various art galleries. Passionate about all things arts and culture, she has a particular interest French film, Nordic noir, photography, street art and architecture. Ali has lived in Paris since 2016 and has written extensively on art, food, beauty and more. Her work has in publications including BW Confidential, Oh My Mag, and HIP Paris.

One Comment

  1. For me, it’s always nice to visit these museums whatever the time of year. I nevertheless have a preference for the Center Pompidou. One is often in admiration in relation to it’s architecture.

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