Built in 1900, Osray museum is located in a grand railway station which is considered as the den of the numerous sculptures and impressionist work of art. The museum has developed into one of the most admired establishment in Paris.
Early 19th century the Gare de Lyon and the Gare d’Orsay, two of the largest railway in Paris was built. Along the Seine opposite the Louvre is the Gare d’Orsay. It was planned to bring electrified trains right to the city of Paris by the Compagnie d’Orleans.
The first designer of the Orsay Museum was Eugene Henard. He planned to use industrialized materials facing the Louvre. But he then receives mixed reviews from preservationists and decided to seek advice into a competition from a parliamentary commission. Victor Laloux, the winner of that contest had also planned the railway station in Tours, France.
His design was commended for the assimilation of the metal vault in the stone exterior. It measures 140 meter long, 32 meter high and 40 meter wide. As a whole it has 175 x 75 meter in measurement. About 12,000 tons of metal was utilized for the construction of the Gare d’Orsay, more than that of metals used in Eiffel Tower.
It was then a railway stationGare d’Orsay was considered a work of art of industrial architecture and was inaugurated in the 14th of July 1900 during the World Paris Exposition. But when trains arise for modernization, the Gare d’Orsay was set aside as a train station. As time passes it has been used as a parking lot, as a theatre location and even as an area for the prisoners of war.
I consider Paris to have the best museums when it comes to art display. There’s the Louvre and the Center of Pompidou, and of course the Orsay museum. I love how every museum compliments or fills the eras which the other one is lacking. Artworks displayed in Orsay museum are those from the period of 1848 to 1914. This museum has everything from paintings, sculptures, photography, music, and even decoration of the different operas. This museum is not like any other because concerts devoted to the period of 1848 to 1914 are also regularly held here.
I always love it when people try to think of new and better ways of designing buildings. And I can always count on the city of Paris when it comes to unique and beautiful edifices. What I love about the Orsay museum is the fact that it is actually designed as a railway station. This way, you not only look forward to the artworks inside but your eyes can already feast on the great architecture of this building.
If you have already been to the Louvre and the Center Pompidou then you should also not miss to visit the Orsay museum. It will definitely complete your travel to the best artworks of different eras. The museum is open on Tuesdays till Sundays from 9:30 am to 6 pm. But on Thursdays, they usually extend it to 9:45 pm. Tickets to enter the museum are sold until 5:00 pm only, so you may want to buy them ahead of time or book a schedule with the museum especially if you bring a large group with you.
This museum used numerous quantity of metal. Imagine, it used metal more than the Eiffel Tower utilized. It turned out to be a unique museum because of its ambiance. The different style captures the attention of tourists. Orsay Museum is the product of creativity of the Parisians.