museum
Musée de l'Orangerie
An elegant gallery in the heart of the Tuileries, home to Monet's monumental Water Lilies and the Walter-Guillaume collection.
History & context
Built in 1852 in the Tuileries Garden to shelter the palace orange trees, the Orangerie became an exhibition venue and then, in 1927, the setting Claude Monet designed for his Water Lilies.
The painter gave these monumental panels to the French state after the First World War, as a 'monument to peace'. The Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection, installed in 1984, adds Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, Modigliani and Soutine.
Key facts
- Built
- 1852
- District
- 1st — Tuileries Garden
Why visit
- ·Two oval rooms designed by Monet himself for the Water Lilies
- ·A short, calm visit that rarely feels crowded
- ·A high-quality modern collection downstairs
What to see
- ·Monet's Water Lilies
- ·Walter-Guillaume collection
- ·The oval room architecture
- ·Tuileries Garden nearby
Practical tips
- ·Book online to skip queues
- ·Much quieter than the Louvre and Orsay
- ·Combined ticket with Orsay available
Best photo spots
- ·The entrance seen from the Tuileries terrace
- ·The central bench of the first oval room
Good to know
- ·The Water Lilies are best seen standing, slowly circling the room
- ·Natural ceiling light changes the mood with the weather
- ·The museum is fully step-free
Schedules and tickets may change. Check the official website before booking.
Anu's insider tip
Start with the Water Lilies before 11am: you can have the room to yourself for a few minutes.
What to avoid
Weekend late afternoons, when groups arrive from the Louvre.
Itineraries with this place
Nearby
Tuileries Garden
Paris's first public garden, designed by Le Nôtre, between the Louvre and Concorde.
Louvre Museum
The world's largest museum and former royal palace, the Louvre holds 35,000 works including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
Musée d'Orsay
A Belle Époque train station turned museum, Orsay holds the world's largest Impressionist collection.
Champs-Élysées
"The world's most beautiful avenue" runs 1.9 km from Concorde to the Étoile.