Private Guided Tour of the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris
Located in the heart of the Tuileries Garden, the Musée de l’Orangerie offers one of the most
immersive artistic experiences in Paris, combining Impressionism, modern art and
masterpieces of the early 20th century.
This private guided tour invites you to explore the history of Parisian art from the 1860s to
the 1930s through a sensitive journey linking Claude Monet’s Water Lilies to the prestigious
Paul Guillaume Collection.
Blending contemplation, emotion and artistic insight, the tour allows visitors to discover one
of Paris’s most poetic museums at their own pace.
Claude Monet’s Water Lilies: a unique immersive experience
The highlight of the visit is undoubtedly Claude Monet’s famous Water Lilies, considered one
of the greatest masterpieces of modern art.
Described by André Masson as the “Sistine Chapel of Impressionism,” these monumental
decorative panels occupy two oval rooms designed according to Monet’s own specifications.
Monet devoted nearly twenty years to creating this vast cycle inspired by his garden in
Giverny. Offered to France in 1918 as a symbol of peace after the First World War, the
paintings were installed at the Musée de l’Orangerie after the artist’s death in 1927.
The eight compositions, spread across twenty-two panels, immerse visitors in a world of
water, reflections, clouds and vegetation where the horizon seems to disappear.
Monet sought to create “the illusion of an endless whole, of water without horizon or shore”
— a deeply sensory and meditative artistic experience.
The Paul Guillaume Collection: from Impressionism to modern art
The tour continues with the remarkable “Arts in Paris” collection assembled by the art
dealers and collectors Paul Guillaume and later Jean Walter.
Thanks to the wishes of Domenica Walter-Guillaume, the collection was preserved and
displayed at the Orangerie Museum. It includes 148 major works dating from the 1860s to
the 1930s.
Visitors discover masterpieces by:
- Pablo Picasso,
- Henri Matisse,
- Amedeo Modigliani,
- Marie Laurencin,
- Henri Rousseau,
- Pierre-Auguste Renoir,
- Paul Gauguin,
- Claude Monet,
- Alfred Sisley,
- Paul Cézanne,
- André Derain,
- Maurice Utrillo,
- Chaïm Soutine.
The collection illustrates the major artistic transformations that led from Impressionism to
decorative art, Fauvism, Cubism and the beginnings of abstraction.
A tour through contemplation, modernity and art history
This private guided tour explores:
- Monet’s Water Lilies,
- the history of the Musée de l’Orangerie,
- the Paul Guillaume Collection,
- the major artistic movements of the early 20th century,
- the relationship between modern art, collecting and Parisian cultural life.
Throughout the visit, artistic analysis, stories of artists and historical context provide a
deeper understanding of the evolution of modern art.
Practical information
- Private tours upon reservation
- Flexible duration according to your preferences
- Tours available in French, English, Russian and Armenian
- Museum open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, except Tuesdays
Meeting point:
In front of the museum entrance
Address:
Musée de l’Orangerie
Tuileries Garden
Place de la Concorde (Seine side)
75001 Paris
Access
Metro:
Lines 1, 8, 12 — Concorde station
Bus lines:
42, 45, 52, 72, 73, 84, 94 — Concorde stop
Nearby Vélib’ stations:
- Cambon–Rivoli
- Assemblée Nationale
- Quai Anatole France – Musée d’Orsay
- Quai d’Orsay – Invalides
Parking:
- Place de la Concorde
- Pyramides
- Carrousel du Louvre
reservation@visite-guidee.com
+33 (0)6 42 33 77 10
