While the lucky among us may be stuck safely indoors at the moment, it does not mean that it isn't hard and frustrating. Luckily, in the time that we live in today, if you have an internet connection, you can basically explore the whole world from your own home; from attending online personal training sessions and dance classes, to doing virtual pub quizzes with pals, to screening recent cinema releases on your own television, to using Google Street View to explore cities all over the globe. In addition to all of this the Google Arts & Culture program and various schemes from different museums globally has made museums and art galleries all over the world accessible at the click of a button, with catalogues of holdings and virtual tours.
If you had been hoping to get to France this spring to enjoy the pleasant weather, lovely towns and cities, cuisine, flowers and blossom trees, and the abundant cultural wealth of her architectural gems, tourist attractions, and museums but had to postpone your trip then, fear not: all is not entirely lost because you can still visit many of the country's best and most beloved galleries...virtually!
Here is our guide to some of the best museums in France that you can visit online and for free right now!
If you had been hoping to get to France this spring to enjoy the pleasant weather, lovely towns and cities, cuisine, flowers and blossom trees, and the abundant cultural wealth of her architectural gems, tourist attractions, and museums but had to postpone your trip then, fear not: all is not entirely lost because you can still visit many of the country's best and most beloved galleries...virtually!
Here is our guide to some of the best museums in France that you can visit online and for free right now!
1. The Louvre
Of course, we have to include, and start with, the Louvre. One of the most impressive cultural institutions the world over in terms of mind-boggling scale and the astounding number of masterpieces held inside, the Louvre is, understandably, one of the most famous and iconic museums in the globe. An important landmark in Paris, the Louvre was first opened in 1793 with a collection of 537 paintings and today displays around 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century at any given time, organised across eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. If you head to the Louvre website today, you will discover lots of different virtual tours and experiences that are currently available so that you can enjoy this extraordinary wealth of history, art, and culture from the comfort of your own home.
Of course, we have to include, and start with, the Louvre. One of the most impressive cultural institutions the world over in terms of mind-boggling scale and the astounding number of masterpieces held inside, the Louvre is, understandably, one of the most famous and iconic museums in the globe. An important landmark in Paris, the Louvre was first opened in 1793 with a collection of 537 paintings and today displays around 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century at any given time, organised across eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. If you head to the Louvre website today, you will discover lots of different virtual tours and experiences that are currently available so that you can enjoy this extraordinary wealth of history, art, and culture from the comfort of your own home.
2. Musée d'Orsay
Another key museum in Paris that can be toured online using virtual tours and exhibitions, this time offered by the Google Arts & Culture program, is the Musée d'Orsay. Though on a somewhat smaller scale (yet still massive) and less famous (yet very well-known) than the Louvre, this excellent museum is also home to some major artistic masterpieces and, in particular, boasts the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, including works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. The collection, as a whole, is mainly comprised of French art dating from 1848 to 1914 and includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.
Another key museum in Paris that can be toured online using virtual tours and exhibitions, this time offered by the Google Arts & Culture program, is the Musée d'Orsay. Though on a somewhat smaller scale (yet still massive) and less famous (yet very well-known) than the Louvre, this excellent museum is also home to some major artistic masterpieces and, in particular, boasts the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, including works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. The collection, as a whole, is mainly comprised of French art dating from 1848 to 1914 and includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.
Located on the Left Bank of the Seine, the Musée d'Orsay is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an incredibly beautiful Beaux-Arts railway station that was built between 1898 and 1900 and which serves as a lofty and charming setting for the museum and its large and impressive collection. Wander this grand space and discover the famous impressionist gems inside here.
3. Musée de l'Orangerie
Located in the old orangery of the Tuileries Palace on the Place de la Concorde, the Musée de l'Orangerie is the final Parisian entry on this list but, by no means, the final incredible museum in Paris that can be explored virtually. This gem, like the Musée d'Orsay, houses a rich collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings from artists such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley, Chaim Soutine, and Maurice Utrillo, among others.
Located in the old orangery of the Tuileries Palace on the Place de la Concorde, the Musée de l'Orangerie is the final Parisian entry on this list but, by no means, the final incredible museum in Paris that can be explored virtually. This gem, like the Musée d'Orsay, houses a rich collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings from artists such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley, Chaim Soutine, and Maurice Utrillo, among others.
However, while there are lots of wonderful works to explore in the collection, the Musée de l'Orangerie is most famous for the stunning series of eight large Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet that is permanently housed in the museum. This is the main draw for lots of visitors and they are definitely majestic and well-worth seeing for yourself. However, if you are planning a visit, virtual or otherwise, we recommend looking beyond these extraordinary paintings to see all of the other gems housed within the museum.
4. Versailles
While the Château de Versailles in Versailles is exceptionally ornate and unbelievably richly appointed, a sprawling monster of a building that boasts a collection that most museums around the world would kill for with grand frescoes by the likes of Charles Le Brun, Vernosese, Louis Jean-Jacques Durameau, and François Lemoyne; sculptures by the likes of Bernini, Antoine Vassé, and Augustin Pajou; objets d'art; beautifully made antique furniture in its original setting; luxurious interiors and trimmings; elaborate gardens; and much more besides.
While the Château de Versailles in Versailles is exceptionally ornate and unbelievably richly appointed, a sprawling monster of a building that boasts a collection that most museums around the world would kill for with grand frescoes by the likes of Charles Le Brun, Vernosese, Louis Jean-Jacques Durameau, and François Lemoyne; sculptures by the likes of Bernini, Antoine Vassé, and Augustin Pajou; objets d'art; beautifully made antique furniture in its original setting; luxurious interiors and trimmings; elaborate gardens; and much more besides.
Discover the impossible wealth of incredible things to feast your eyes on in Versailles virtually (for now) here.
5. Centre National du Costume de Scene
Located in the city of Moulins, this museum, inaugurated back in 2006, is a feast for the eyes of a different kind; displaying the most extraordinary collection of stunning costumes that were used in theatrical productions. Boasting a collection of 10,000 theatre, opera and ballet costumes, this is a must for fashion-lovers! Visit it virtually here and, when we can all travel again, be sure to visit in person and then grab a snack in the restaurant, which was decorated by the famous French couturier Christian Lacroix.
Being stuck at home doesn't mean you completely have to miss out. Take this moment to explore the world for free from the comfort and safety of your own space and make the most of the incredible resources available to all of us until a holiday to France isn't so far away any longer...
Located in the city of Moulins, this museum, inaugurated back in 2006, is a feast for the eyes of a different kind; displaying the most extraordinary collection of stunning costumes that were used in theatrical productions. Boasting a collection of 10,000 theatre, opera and ballet costumes, this is a must for fashion-lovers! Visit it virtually here and, when we can all travel again, be sure to visit in person and then grab a snack in the restaurant, which was decorated by the famous French couturier Christian Lacroix.
Being stuck at home doesn't mean you completely have to miss out. Take this moment to explore the world for free from the comfort and safety of your own space and make the most of the incredible resources available to all of us until a holiday to France isn't so far away any longer...
Photo credits
Picture 5: Brady Brenot / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 6: David McSpadden / CC BY 2.0;
Picture 5: Brady Brenot / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 6: David McSpadden / CC BY 2.0;
