Orsay Museum in Paris is renowned for its staggeringly rich collection of art created between 1848 and 1914. Moreover, the museum building itself is a masterpiece of industrial art. Along with the permanent collections, temporary exhibitions are also held. This is one of the essential places to visit in Paris and is just a 10 minute walk from the Hotel du Danube.
Orsay Museum in Paris, a brief history
The Orsay Museum originally had a very different purpose, it was built as a railway station. The Gare d’Orsay was designed by the Beaux Arts architect and teacher Victor Laloux, who was noted for the cast iron frameworks he used as the skeletal structures of his buildings and which allowed for larger halls and plenty of windows. This principle was demonstrated in the design of the Gare d’Orsay, which was built between 1898 and 1900, being finished in time for the Universal Exposition of that year.
By 1939 the station’s platforms were too short to accommodate the longer trains which had by then come into use, and by 1970 it was scheduled for demolition. Fortunately, the Minister for Cultural Affairs interceded and the building became a listed monument in 1978. It was French president Giscard d’Estaing who provided the inspiration of developing it as an art museum that would bridge the chronological gap between the older collections of the Louvre and the modern art of the Pompidou Centre.
Since opening in 1986 the Orsay Museum has become one of the capital’s most popular attractions. Today it houses the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artworks. Within its proud walls can be found works by van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Gauguin and many more masters. Sculpture, furniture, architecture and photography from the period are also on show.
The Hotel du Danube highly recommends a visit to the Orsay Museum
Our pleasant and elegant hotel is one which we are sure you will appreciate almost as much as you appreciate the Orsay Museum. Come and relax at the Hotel du Danube after a busy day admiring the sights of Paris. You will be made most welcome.
Picture copyright holder : Tourist office Paris - Photographer David Lefranc