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Paris is not only the City of Lights or the City of Love, but also an unmissable destination for art lovers. The city boasts countless museums, galleries, and outdoor art spaces, from classic masterpieces to innovative contemporary works.
Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre)
The Louvre is one of the world's most famous art museums. Originally built as a military fortress in the late 12th century, it later became the residence of the French royal family and was converted into a museum in 1793. Every day, thousands of visitors line up to enter and admire the priceless works of art.
In the Egyptian section, over 50,000 artifacts are on display, including the Pacheri mummy from the Ptolemaic period (305 BC - 30 BC). The Mesopotamian section impresses with two colossal lamassu statues from the 8th century BC, mentioned in the epic of Gilgamesh. In the Apollo Room, the French royal jewels, including the diamond, ruby, emerald, and sapphire-encrusted crown of King Louis XV, shine brightly. A must-see is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, now displayed in a separate room.
- Address: Rue de Rivoli, Paris
- Visiting time: 6 - 8 hours
- Ticket price: €22 (approximately 630,000 VND)
Musée d'Orsay
Located in a former train station built for the 1900 Paris Exhibition, the Orsay Museum houses masterpieces of 19th-century art. A highlight of the building is the enormous clock, which once belonged to the station.
The museum's collection includes Édouard Manet's Olympia – a controversial painting depicting a nude woman, Auguste Clésinger's marble sculpture Woman Bitten by a Snake, and numerous works by Vincent van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and other Impressionist painters. The museum also periodically hosts special exhibitions, offering fresh perspectives on 19th-century art.
- Address: Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Paris
- Tour duration: 4-5 hours
- Ticket prices: €11 - €16 (approximately 310,000 - 450,000 VND)
Quai Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly)
Located near the Eiffel Tower, the Quai Branly Museum showcases both indigenous and non-Western art. The area surrounding the museum has a distinctly old-fashioned Parisian feel with its winding cobblestone streets and small cafes.
The museum is particularly impressive for its exhibits on the impact of colonialism on indigenous art and culture. The collections recreate Aztec society before and after Spanish colonization, with paintings depicting the class hierarchy established by Europeans. Additionally, the museum displays art from French colonies in the Caribbean, African masks, artifacts from vudou rituals, Iranian pottery, and exorcism masks from Sri Lanka.
- Address: 37 Quai Jacques Chirac, Paris
- Tour duration: 2-3 hours
- Ticket prices: €11 - €14 (approximately 310,000 - 400,000 VND)
Dali Museum Paris
Located in the Montmartre district, the Dali Museum Paris houses the largest private collection of Salvador Dali's works. Surrounding the area are street artists, outdoor art stalls, and the sweet aroma of crepes from vendors.
The museum displays many of Dali's outstanding works, including models of melting clocks – a famous symbol in his paintings. Also on display are a watercolor tarot deck and the Venus de Milo with drawers – a special version of the Venus statue, with drawers added to the statue's body to represent Dali's obsession with the subconscious.
- Address: 11 Rue Poulbot, Paris
- Tour duration: 1-2 hours
- Ticket prices: €11 - €16 (approximately 310,000 - 450,000 VND)
Discover Montmartre
Montmartre is not only famous for the Dali Museum Paris, but also for its neighborhood steeped in art and history.
The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is the highest point in Paris, offering panoramic views of the city. Built in the 19th century, it houses the largest bell in France, measuring 3 meters in diameter and weighing 18,800 kg.
While strolling around Montmartre, visitors can come across many street art pieces, including video game-style mosaics by artist Invader (Franck Slama), a giant mural depicting the painter Toulouse-Lautrec, or the Moulin de la Galette windmill, which once appeared in a painting by Van Gogh.
Montmartre Cemetery is the resting place of many famous artists such as Edgar Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Jean Bauchet - the owner of the Moulin Rouge theater.
Another delightful experience is a night out at the Moulin Rouge Cabaret. While it no longer retains the same nostalgic charm as the 1889 nightclub depicted in Toulouse-Lautrec's painting, the venue still preserves a magnificent stage and performance space.
