Located in the heart of the Tuileries Garden, the Musée de l’Orangerie is celebrated for housing Claude Monet’s monumental Water Lilies, making it an essential stop for art lovers and seekers of calm. This former Second‑Empire orangery was transformed into a museum in 1927 and today stands as one of Paris’s most beautiful Impressionist sanctuaries.

The story of the space is deeply tied to Monet: after the 1918 Armistice, he gifted this monumental cycle to the French State as a symbol of peace. His friend Georges Clemenceau ensured that the works were installed in a setting aligned with Monet’s vision—a tranquil, meditative architectural space.

The museum’s two vast oval rooms, flooded with zenithal natural light, create a panoramic experience immersing visitors in calming hues: blues, greens, and subtle pinks seem to shimmer around you. One room evokes dawn, the other a more introspective dusk-like ambience.

In the subterranean level, the Walter‑Guillaume collection enhances the visit with over 140 artworks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Featured artists include Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, Soutine, Modigliani, and Marie Laurencin. Each gallery tells its own artistic story—bold colours, vivid portraits, and modernist forms.

Visitors have a variety of experiences to choose from: Friday nocturnes, exhibitions such as “Dans le flou” (until August 2025), hands-on workshops, or immersive performances in the Water Lilies (dance, readings...), enriching the ambiance.

The atmosphere is elegant, restful, with a contemplative mood. You’ll encounter art connoisseurs, travelers seeking tranquillity, families, and design fans. Minimal furnishings, central benches, and clear spaces allow undistracted viewing. Monet intended visitors to “forget where they are” as they’re enveloped by the paintings .

As for practical info, advance timed reservations are recommended, even for free entry visitors or first‑Sunday‑of‑the‑month tickets. The museum is open Monday to Sunday (closed Tuesdays) from 9 am to 6 pm, with last entry at 5:15 pm and gallery clear-out by 5:45 pm. On Friday evenings during exhibitions, extended hours until 8:15 pm entry and 8:45 pm exit are offered, with reduced tickets after 6 pm.

Free Wi-Fi, audio guides (available for groups at €100 per maximum 25 devices), cloakrooms (limited during renovation), wheelchairs, folding seats, and canes are available. There’s also an elevator, baby-care spaces, accessible restrooms, and a water fountain on level –2.