Le Petit Palais

Le Petit Palais was another unexpected delight on my current Paris trip. Much like our visit to Tour Saint Jacques. I knew the builiding was there, I'd been past it many times over three visits to Paris, but really I had no idea what was inside. After a long walk the other day, we still had half an hour or so before meeting up with friends from Australia.

It's only Petit when you compare it
to the Grand Palais across the road

So, after checking out the outside

the coloured columns are a recent addition

we popped inside through the magnificent gold doors to check out the foyer. Figuring it would be lovely to look at.

of course it was

Then we discovered that Le Petit Palais is actually Paris's Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris), and that entry to the permanent collections is free.

Actually, museums run by the city of Paris have free admission, and they're amazing. Check out Paris's free museum options here. I've visited a few this trip, but there are still many more to see. There's always a brochure display about other free attractions.

So we were in for a rather lightning visit. They have an amazing permanent collection. 

Hard to see in my photo
but that elegant lady is taking a monkey for a walk

Bacchante, Auguste Clesinger, 1848

Beautiful panelled rooms filled with 18th century treasures

Not all the objects are traditionally beautiful

I always love displays like this,
like the artist just stepped out 

As with all these places the building itself is beautiful

The commentary on the walls is in French. There was an audioguide available in English, and laminated sheets in most rooms about certain exhibits in English, and other languages.

On this visit we only had time really to walk rather quickly through the rooms (there's two floors of permanent collection). Already I want to go back for the audio tour (5 euros). I expect that will have to be on my next holiday to Paris, the list for that is growing as I run out of time on this trip.

Le Petit Palais
Avenue Winston Churchill
75008 Paris

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm
Late opening until 8pm on Thursday for temporary exhibitions.

Paris in July a glorious celebration from all things Parisian from Bookbath and Thyme for Tea

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