Paris Official Most Visited Museums and Monuments: Part II

20 June 2011 by Adam Weiner    2191  
Paris Official Most Visited Museums and Monuments: Part II
Here are numbers 11—20 of the Top 20 most visited Paris Museums and Monuments based on statistics from the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau that tracks the number of visitors to each site (based on year 2009, most current report as of 2011). 11. Musée du Quai-Branly: This art museum is built around its extensive collection of indigenous art and cultural relics from civilizations in Africa, Asia Oceania and the Americas. The work of Australian aboriginal artists is an especially popular attraction. The museum also has an important research library. Located at a curve in the scenic Seine, the museum is an easy walk from the Eiffel Tower, as well as from #16 on this list. Musée du Quai-Branly Address: 37, quai Branly, Paris 7th Métro: Line 9, Alma-Marceau, Iéna; Line 6, Bir Hakeim RER: Line C, Pont de l’Alma Bus: 42, 63, 69, 72, 80, 82, 87, 92 Hours: Open daily (except Mondays) 11am — 7pm (until 9pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) Admission: Begins at €8,50 Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible from Rue de l’Université (southern side of museum) 12. Musée de l’Armée (Invalides): Originally a home and hospital for retired war vets, Invalides now features a series of buildings that include a war museum, burial site for war heroes and a soaring cathedral. While the most famous draw may be Napoleon’s tomb, the collection of arms, armaments and other military memorabilia are themselves a hit with kids and adults alike. Musée de l’Armée (Invalides) Address: 129, rue de Grenelle, Paris 7th Métro: Line 8, Latour-Maubourg, Invalides; Line 13, Varenne, Saint François-Xavier Bus: Lines 28, 63, 69, 80, 82, 83, 87, 92, 93 Hours: Open daily form 10am — 6pm April 1 to Sept 30; 10am — 5pm Oct 1 to March 31 Admission: Begins at €9; Free for anyone under 18 and any uniformed member of any military Accessibility: Accessible entrance on the south side of museum (admission is free for handicapped visitor and one companion) 13. Sainte-Chapelle: This Gothic chapel found on the centrally located Ile de la Cité has some of the city’s best stained glass windows and is an impeccable overall example of Gothic architecture; its fantastic blue ceiling alone merits a visit. Beyond that, the chapel offers a more intimate visiting experience than its much more famous neighbor, Notre Dame cathedral. Sainte-Chapelle Address: 4, boulevard du Palais, Paris 4th Métro: Line 4, Cité; Line 7, Pont Neuf RER: Lines B & C, Saint Michel — Notre Dame Bus: 21, 27, 38, 85, 96 Hours: Open daily 9:30am — 6pm March 1 to Oct 31; 9am — 5pm Nov 1 to Feb 28 (closed 1pm — 2pm during the week all year) Admission: Begins at €8; free for visitors under 18, disabled persons and their companions Accessibility: Accessible entrance on Boulevard du Palais (southeast side) 14. Musée Rodin: Located in the Hotel Biron, this museum is a tribute to the great sculptor August Rodin and features many of his works and sketches in a variety of materials including marble, bronze and terra cotta. Rodin’s iconic piece The Thinker (pictured) is housed here, as are The Kiss and The Gates of Hell. The museum also has a pristine garden that offers a refreshing alternative to purely indoor museums. Musée Rodin Address: 79, rue de Varenne, Paris 7th Métro: Line 13, Varenne or Invalides RER: Line C, Invalides Bus: 69, 82, 87, 92 Hours: Open daily (except Mondays) 10am — 5:45pm Admission: Begins at €6; visitors under 18 free; all visitors are free the first Sunday of each month Accessibility: Accessible entrance on Rue de Varenne (north side of building) 15. Musée Grévin: Charlemagne. Michael Jackson. Einstein. Ray Charles. Gandhi. Pope John Paul II. See them all and over 300 other characters at Musée Grevin, one of Europe’s oldest wax museums. The museum opened in 1882 and includes panoramas of historical scenes in addition to stand-alone celebrity figures. Musée Grévin Address: 10, Boulevard Montmartre, Paris 2nd Métro: Lines 8 & 9, Grands Boulevards or Richelieu—Drouot Bus: 20, 39, 48, 67, 74, 85 Hours: Open daily 10am — 6:30pm (until 7pm Saturdays and Sundays) Admission: Begins at €21, with discounts for children and families Accessibility: The museum is 100% wheelchair accessible. 16. Musée d’Art Moderne: This museum holds a giant collection of 20th century artistic trailblazers like Picasso, Matisse and Léger. Genres like surrealism, abstract and modern are on hand. The over 8,000 pieces hail mostly from Europe, though other regions are represented as well. Musée d’Art Moderne Address: 11, avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16th Métro: Line 9, Alma-Marceau or Iéna RER: Line C, Pont de l’Alma Bus: 32, 42, 63, 72, 80, 92 Hours: Open daily (except Mondays) 10am — 6pm (until 10pm Thursdays) Admission: Free for permanent collection; temporary collection admission ranges from €5 — €11 Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible through ramps and elevators 17. Institut du Monde Arabe: This collection of exhibits on past and present Arab culture also functions as a research & education center and provides a great rooftop view of central Paris. Paintings, sculptures, pottery, movies and other media are well represented in this museum located just across the Seine from Notre Dame. In addition to the contents of the center, the building’s walls are quite the sight: they’re made up of adjustable metal lenses that close and open in relation to the amount of sunlight they receive.
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By Adam Weiner