Musée d’Orsay is the visitor’s favorite museum in Paris that houses the best collection of Impressionist and Post-impressionist art pieces.
The museum is located in the historic Gare d’Orsay building which served as an active railway station during the world war.
The station was then transformed into a museum 574 feet (175m) long and 246 feet (75m) wide.
The Musée d’Orsay has 3 floors and 42 rooms filled with masterpieces that attract 3 million visitors every year.
With such vast spaces to explore, it is easy to lose your way inside the museum.
If you are not a part of a guided tour, it is important to know the museum layout beforehand and become your own guide.
The easiest way to navigate through the museum on a self-guided tour is to have the Musée d’Orsay map.
This map is designed to help visitors explore the Musée d’Orsay with ease.
Use the Musée d’Orsay map to ensure you do not end up in Gustave’s Art Studio in search of Van Gogh’s starry night!
Musée d’Orsay Layout
The Musée d’Orsay is spread over three floors and a terrace exhibition space filled with paintings, sculptures and historic masterpieces.
With such a vast space to explore, visitors can get overwhelmed easily.
Hence to get the best out of the visit, it is recommended to research the must-visit spots of the museum and also know the layout.
Ground Floor
The ground floor displays artworks from 1850 to 1880 made by Courbet, Degas, Corot, Millet, Ingres and more.
On the right side of this floor, the galleries showcase historical paintings and academic and pre-symbolist schools.
The left side of the Musee d’Orsay displays naturalism, realism and pre-impressionism.
In addition to numerous artworks, you can also find architectural displays, sculptures and decorative objects from the mid-19th century.
Middle Level
Designed to display works from the late 19th century, this level has paintings, pastels and decorative objects.
Guests can witness an incredible collection of Art Nouveau decorations, spanning over six rooms.
Naturalist and symbolist artwork have found their home in the galleries facing the Seine.
The galleries on the southern side showcase work of Maurice Denice, Roussel and Bonnard.
Upper Level 1
The upper Level 1 of Musée d’Orsay is dedicated to the works of Neo-Impressionists, Nabists and Pont-Aven painters.
On this level, visitors get inspired by innovative and unconventional techniques of paintings and pastels.
You can find famous artwork of artists like Gaugin, Seurat, Signac and Toulouse-Lautrec at this level.
Top Floor/Upper Level 2
The upper level 2 houses the most spectacular works from the Impressionist and Expressionist movements.
Enjoy artworks of Degas, Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Pissarro and Caillebotte on this floor.
If you do not have much time to spend and would like to view the most famous artworks, we suggest starting from the top floor of Musée d’Orsay.
Terrace
This floor has an entire wing devoted to the French sculptor Auguste Rodin.
With panoramic views of the Seine, Louvre and Tuileries all the way to Sacre Coeur, the Musée d’Orsay terrace offers an amazing experience to all visitors.
If you do not have enough time to explore all the levels of the museum, then know more about the Musée d’Orsay highlights and must-visit spots.
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