Difficult to imagine that the museum was once a train station. And rightly so: the building was entirely re-covered with stone in order to hide the metallic structure of this industrial edifice. The idea was to transform the station into a dignified building that would sit across from the prestigious architecture of the Louvre.

Under the enormous glass nave, Orsay houses paintings, sculptures and photos, from the end of the 19th-century to the beginning of the 20th-century.  Renoir, Monet, Manet and the impressionists dialogue with the works of Gauguin and Lautrec. The controversial work of Courbet, "Origin of the World" (Origine du monde) is on view.

The period from 1848-1914 was chosen to create a bridge between the anterior collections of the Louvre and the posterior collections of the Pompidou Centre.

In addition to important temporary exhibitions, the museum organises a host of activities around the themes presented: shows, concerts and film projections. Learn about the teenage visits, known as Renc’Art, that favour more interactive visits in the presence of young artists.

Accessibility

Thirteen adapted parking spaces nearby. The esplanade is wheelchair accessible from the river side and there is a gentle slope from the Rue de Lille.
 
Personalized welcome service by appointment (practical information, sending of a specific map-guide, etc.). Possibility of on-site assistance.
Map-guide.

Physical disability : Entrance "C" accessible. Adapted guided tours for groups and individuals. Loan of wheelchairs.

Mental disability : Trained guides. Simplified visits for groups.

Hearing impairment : Auditorium and audioguides fitted with an induction loop. Guided tours in French sign language (groups and individuals). Subtitled films and films inset in French sign language.

Contact for disabled visitors:
Tel: +33/0 1 40 49 47 14 or +33/0 1 40 49 47 99