My first week in Paris has been absolutely amazing. Everyday has been fantastic and exceeded all my expectations. We’re staying at The Student Hotel in the business district, which is a 30ish minute train ride from the heart of the city. This week was museum week, and we had unlimited access to all the major museums in Paris! We went to Musée l’Orangerie, Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, the Picasso museum, the Centre Pompidou, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chapelle, the Sacre Couer, and Notre Dame. We’ve also been to the Eiffel Tower on multiple occasions, eaten our way through dozens of crepes and had our fill of croissants, pan au chocolats, and lots of other delicious french pastries.
Personally, my favorite museums were the Orangeries and d’Orsay. They both hold a lot of impressionist’s works which I love. The Orangerie is home to Monet’s famous waterlilies and a significant collection of Renoir. D’Orsay houses Renoir, Van Gogh, Courbet, Matisse, Morisot, Degas, and many more. The actual buildings that are the museums are extremely beautiful as well.
The top of the Arc de Triomphe gives a gorgeous view of the city, including the Eiffel Tower. It’s at the end of the Champs Elysses, and is great for not only spectacular views but great people watching.
The Picasso museum is a beautiful building full of paintings from Picasso’s different periods. It also houses his own personal collection of art, including a few pieces by Renoir and Matisse. It’s also within walking distance to the Centre Pompidou (not my personal favorite, but a great place to find contemporary artwork!)
The Sacre Couer is located in a unique area, and the hill its located on top of is full of cute little shops, markets, and restaurants. Also another great place if you’re looking for a view.
I absolutely loved the Rodin museum! The sculpture garden is beautiful and is where you can find “The Thinker”, and “The Gates of Hell”. Inside there’s many more sculptures, including “The Kiss” and “The Cathedral.” All in all a beautifully organized collection of Rodin’s works.
Sainte Chapelle is a gorgeous chapel surrounded by intricate,vibrant stained glass. When the sun is shining the chapel glows in the colors reflecting from the windows. Definitely a must see!!
We spent Friday at versailles, and I saw things I wasn’t able to see on my last trip to France including Marie Antoinette’s gardens and petit palace. We rented a little row boat and were the only ones on the small lake in the gardens.
