Internationally renowned for its rich collection of Impressionist art, the Musée d`Orsay also displays all Western artistic creation from 1848 to 1915. Its collections represent all expressive forms, from painting to architecture, as well as sculpture, furniture, the decorative arts and photography. Many of these works were held at the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume prior to the museums`s opening in 1986. You`re sure to be dazzled by the beauty of the place: a train station that looks like a palace, inaugurated for the 1900 Universal Exposition.

At the end of 2011, the museum reopened all of its entirely renovated spaces as well as some new rooms: an additional 400 m² for the Pavillon Amont, Post-Impressionist artists at the heart of the museum, the redesign of the Impressionists gallery, a new temporary exhibition space, plus a new `aquatic` decor for the Café des Hauteurs, designed by Brazilian designers, the Campana Brothers.

The Musee d`Orsay is very busy and not as spacious as the Louvre. We highly recommend visiting the museum on Thursday evening when it is open until 9:45pm, and there are significantly fewer visitors. Remember that the Musee d`Orsay is closed on Mondays. Remember that the Musee d`Orsay is closed on Mondays.

Lines here are among the worst in Paris. Book ahead online or buy a Museum Pass; then go directly to entrance C. Otherwise, go early.

The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography. It houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world, by such renowned painters as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

To visit the exhibits in a roughly chronologic order, start on the first floor, take the escalators to the top, and end on the second. If you are going to see the biggest names there, head straight for the top floor and work your way down. English audio guides and free color coded museum maps (both available just past the ticket booths) will help you plan your visit. Note that renovations will be ongoing until 2015, so expect some gallery closings.

The elegant Musée d`Orsay Restaurant once served patrons of the 1900 World`s Fair and the Café du Lion offers quick fare on the ground floor by the entrance. There`s also a café and a self service cafeteria on the top floor just after the Cézanne galleries. Don`t miss the views of Sacré-Coeur from the balcony - this is the Paris that inspired the Impressionists!

Photography and filming is strictly prohibited inside the museum.

The Musee d`Orsay is wheelchair accessible and there are elevators located throughout the museum.