Overview of Petit Palais

The recently renovated Petit Palais, situated near the prestigious Avenue des Champs-Elysées, houses approximately 1,300 works of art from Antiquity through the early 20th century. This under-appreciated collection boasts masterpieces by renowned artists such as Gustave Courbet, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and Eugene Delacroix.

Inaugurated in 1900 for the World Exhibition, the Petit Palais, presented alongside the Grand Palais, is a stunning example of art nouveau architecture and one of the city’s crown jewels from the Belle Époque era. With wrought iron entrance gates, decorative ceiling elements, elaborate cupolas, and colorful murals, the space truly embodies the grandeur of a palace. The museum of fine arts officially moved into the building in 1902.

The Best Part? It’s Completely Free

As part of a vast network of municipal museums, visitors can access the permanent collection at the Petit Palais free of charge. Moreover, temporary exhibits held here explore trends in modern art, photography, and various mediums. Therefore, if you find it challenging to decide whether to immerse yourself in classical or modern art, this hidden gem collection should certainly be on your radar after exploring the top attractions in Paris.

Location and Contact Information:

Address: Avenue Winston Churchill, 8th arrondissement
Metro: Champs-Elysees Clemenceau
Tel: + 33 (0)1 53 43 40 00
Information on the Web: Visit the official website (in English)

Sights and Attractions to See Nearby:

• Grand Palais
• Champs-Elysees District
• Avenue Montaigne, one of Paris’ most exclusive shopping districts
• Arc de Triomphe
• Jacquemart-Andre Museum

Opening Hours:

The museum, including both permanent and temporary exhibits, is open every day except Mondays and public holidays, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Please note that the ticket office closes at 5:00 pm, so ensure arrival a few minutes earlier to avoid disappointment.

Closing Days and Times: The museum is closed on Mondays and on January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th.

Tickets and Admission:

Admission to the permanent collection at Petit Palais is free for all. For details on current admission prices and discounts related to temporary exhibits, consult this page at the official website.

Temporary Exhibits:

The Petit Palais regularly hosts temporary exhibits focusing on modern art, photography, and fashion. In recent years, the museum showcased a widely admired tribute to the fashion of French designer Yves Saint Laurent. For a list of current temporary exhibits at the museum, visit this page.

Highlights from the Permanent Collection:

The permanent collection at the Petit Palais has been carefully assembled over the course of the museum’s extensive history, featuring works donated from both private and state collections. This impressive collection includes paintings, sculptures, and other mediums from Ancient Greece to the early 20th century.

Main sections within the permanent collection include The Classical World, showcasing major Roman artworks from the 4th to 1st century BC, alongside precious artifacts from ancient Greece and the Etruscan empire; the Renaissance, which features artworks, paintings, furniture, and books dating from the 15th to 17th century from France, Northern Europe, Italy, and the Islamic World; and sections highlighting Western and European art from the 17th through the 19th centuries. The Paris 1900 section focuses on the sumptuous art nouveau movement, featuring stunning paintings, glasswork, sculptures, jewelry, and more. Renowned artists in this section include Gustave Doré, Eugene Delacroix, Pierre Bonnard, Cézanne, Maillol, Rodin, Renoir, and celebrated crystal makers like Baccarat and Lalique.

For comprehensive information on works in the permanent collection, visit this page.