Although it is one of the most well known museums in the world, not many know that Paris’s Musée du Louvre was once a fortress built under the reign of France’s King Phillip II in the 12th century. Since that time the Louvre had been remolded and extended to serve as the royal housing for numerous royal families of France ... Read More »
Already an established painter, Claude Monet was persuaded by a French statesman in 1914 to dabble in the artistic depiction of water lilies. Convinced to attempt his masterful hand at this next series of landscape paintings, Monet produced his marvelous Water Lilies arranged in a large-scale cycle. His condition for donating these works to the state was that they be ... Read More »
A beautifully restored 17th century building nestled in the heart of the scenic and hilly French town of Montmartre, this museum was once occupied by artists Raoul Dufy, Maurice Utrillo, and even Auguste Renoir. The picturesque surrounding of the town’s natural beauty inspired a number of Renoir’s paintings, including The Garden Rue de Cortot, Montmartre. Now, this exquisite mansion ... Read More »
Once a grand railway station, the beautiful Musée d’Orsay seemed destined to house artwork that would complement its stunning architecture and interior design. However, it was not until 1977 that the building became a museum, hosting the Impressionist collection from the Musée de Luxembourg. But before these artworks found their way to d’Orsay, they were rejected by the Musée ... Read More »
The unusual team of two French thieves and a Japanese gangster resulted in a five year heist of the painting, Impression, Sunrise only to be recovered and permanently displayed at this museum, the Musée Marmottan Monet, alongside other stolen notables. However, the great boast of the museum is the largest collection of Claude Monet paintings in the world, and ... Read More »
Woody Allen’s newest film delves into the psyche of an American screenwriter whom like so many before him, have fallen in love with Paris. Except in the case of Owen Wilson’s character, Gil, it is specifically the Paris of the 1920s which intrigues him. When a midnight stroll leads him into the Paris of his dreams, Gil finds the inspiration ... Read More »
For many of the fashion minded travelling to Paris there is one place that is a must as a first stop, Colette. This three level temple dedicated to fashion and design of all kinds, introduced a new way to shop when it opened its doors on the Right Bank in 1997. It’s equal parts boutique and art gallery—and undoubtedly ... Read More »
Renaissance artist, inventor and all around genius Leonard da Vinci left many clues to his numerous experiments, much of which is written in a backwards handwriting he invented in order to keep his discoveries secret. Now, a fragment of his manuscript that had been forgotten for nearly 150 years has been rediscovered in the local archives in Nantes, France, uncovered ... Read More »
MUSEYON BOOKS Smart City Guides for Travel, History, Art and Film Lovers