Delightfully uncrowded The last stop in our quest to escape the crush of tourists while in Paris takes us to the Museum of Modern Art - Le Musée d'Art Moderne. And interestingly, this escape lies just steps from one of the most crowded places in all of Paris - the Eiffel Tower.
So you might think that this particular museum would be a quite popular and busy place filled with the very tourists we are trying to avoid - and you would be partly right. A lot of people do come here. But the overwhelming majority of tourists who come here come to see the special - temporary - exhibitions. We, on the other hand, will be visiting the permanent collection downstairs - which also happens to be free.
http://www.paris.fr/loisirs/musees-expos/musee-d-art-moderne-de-la-ville-de-paris/p6450weeblylink_new_window
As you enter, ignore the line of people waiting to pay for admission to the special exhibits. Go down the stairs just to your left and you will find the free permanent collection. And the very first thing you will come to is the Salle Matisse. This exhibition salon was specifically designed to hold one of Henri Matisse's master works - La Danse de Paris (1931). The work is a giant triptych which fills one entire wall of the salon - and it is simply stunning. It is worth a trip to this museum just to see this work alone.
La Danse de Paris, Matisse But you will also find some truly wonderful pieces throughout the rest of the permanent collection. Works by Maurice de Vlaminick and André Derain - and everything from paintings to ceramics to furniture.
The galleries are beautifully laid out - and just as at Le Musée Cognaq-Jay - you will occasionally find yourself completely alone - and never in a crush of tourists. All in all - a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours; and crowd-free.
Well, there you have it. Five places guaranteed to relieve you of the stress of Parisian crowds - and still keep you active and involved with one the greatest cities on Earth.
To be sure, the crowded Parisian venues are certainly wonderful and exciting places to visit too. But at least now - when you just can't handle another hour-long wait in line, or another giant mob of visitors - you know you have options.
Bon voyage!
The galleries are beautifully laid out - and just as at Le Musée Cognaq-Jay - you will occasionally find yourself completely alone - and never in a crush of tourists. All in all - a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours; and crowd-free.
Well, there you have it. Five places guaranteed to relieve you of the stress of Parisian crowds - and still keep you active and involved with one the greatest cities on Earth.
To be sure, the crowded Parisian venues are certainly wonderful and exciting places to visit too. But at least now - when you just can't handle another hour-long wait in line, or another giant mob of visitors - you know you have options.
Bon voyage!
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