MuseumChick | Danee Gilmartin

This is especially for my friend, Harley, who is traveling to Paris for her first time. I wish I could fit in her suitcase with little Darcy in tow (since Paris is super dog-friendly) but I’ve been eating too much cheese and French macarons lately.

Millions of visitors come from all over the world to see Paris’ extensive museums and beautiful monuments (the Louvre gets over 8 million visitors a year)! In the year I lived there I barely got to skim the surface of all the great large and small museums to visit. To skip the lines of all these visitors and too save a lot money and time you NEED a Paris Museum Pass. Trust me, it’s really worth it.

These are my top five favorite museums in Paris that are sure to make even the art-averse into art history buff wanna-bes.

1. The Louvre (at the risk of sounding very unoriginal- the Louvre is my favorite)

You can spend a day, a week or a year here, and you will never be bored in the museum of museums, The Louvre. Believe me, I tested this the year I lived there.

Originally a fortress, it was reincarnated as a museum in 1793. Their collection just keeps growing with works from Greek and Roman antiquities, French sculpture, and the Italian Renaissance to Napoleon III’s lavish apartments and more.

Its courtyard contains a glass pyramid designed by the Chinese-American architect, I.M. Pei.

Make a plan and download a map on their site to get the most out of the museum before your visit.

Location: 99 Rue de Rivoli

Metro: Palais-Royal, Musée du Louvre

Hours: Mon, Thur, Sat, Sun 9am to 6pm, Wed, Fri 9am to 9:45pm Closed Tues.

2. Musee d’Orsay

The d’Orsay Museum is housed in an interesting edifice which was at one time a palace, then a hotel, converted into a train station and finally into what it is today. As museums in Paris go, this one is relatively new but the depth of its extensive collection covers the period from the mid-nineteenth century to World War I.

Be wowed by the works of Gauguin, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Seurat and others for a pre- and post-Impressionist surplus at the d’Orsay Museum.

If you love Parisian scenery, the don’t forget a camera for some of the best views of Paris that can be had from the museum’s upper floor.

Location: 1 Rue de Bellechasse

Metro: Palais-Royal, Musée du Louvre

Hours: Tues- Sun 9am-6pm, Thurs until 9:45pm Closed Monday

3. The Musee National d’Art Moderne/Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou was constructed between 1971- 1977 and subsequently was named after the then-serving president of France. It is well-known for its novel architectural design, and includes a vast library, an art cinema and is considered to have one of the most avant-garde modern art collections in the world.

The Musee National d’Art Moderne offers visiting and permanent collections of obscure artworks, including the masters of Cubism and Modigliani. If you’re a fan of modern art, then the five-minute walk on the right bank from Notre Dame positions the perfect element of outings for you.

Location:  Place Georges Pompidou, 4th Arrondissement

Metro: Rambuteau, Hôtel de Ville, Les Halles

Hours: Daily Mon, Wed – Sun 11am to 9pm Closed Tues

4. Musée Jacquemart-André

Just steps from the Champs Elysées, this Parisian museum was once a private mansion in the 8th Arrondissement and visitors will be transported back to another time of Paris. The Musée Jacquemart-André still retains the sensation of being in a private home rather than a museum. French antiques, precious tapestries and draperies adorn the intricate gold and white woodwork.

Walk through collections of French, Italian and Dutch paintings with notable works by such artists as Botticelli, Van Dyck, and Rembrandt.

Children are more than welcome, and are handed a special activity book in which “Filou the Mouse” gives them their own personalized tour.

Location: 158, Blvd. Haussmann.

Metro: Saint-Augustin, Miromesnil or Saint-Philippe du Roul

Hours: daily, 10am to 6pm

5. La Gaité Lyrique

As the newest museum member of Paris’ museum community since December 2010, la Gaité Lyrique is dedicated entirely to the digital arts and modern music. Housed in a legendary 1862 theatre that can claim patrons such as Victor Hugo, it was transformed after eight years of careful redevelopment.

Whether you adore the digital influence or not, it’s one Paris museum that gives neon art a world-class showplace. The museum is an alluring maze, where any room walked into can go from high-tech exhibition galleries filled with selected artwork from festivals to 3-D installations, to “soundscapes,” and even cinemas.

Experience that abundance of wow-factor touches at la Gaité Lyrique, such as quotes that run along the floor in bright LED lights or eye-popping neon walls.

Location: 3 bis Rue Papin

Metro: Réaumur – Sébastopol

Hours: Tue-Sat 2pm to 8pm, Sun 2pm to 6pm, Closed Mon

Not sure if my last name, Gilmartin, gave it away but in case you didn’t know I’m a little bit Irish. I’ve always wanted to travel to Dublin for St. Patty’s Day and then drive along the coast, gazing at green pastures towards Cork. Since I’m too late in planning for this weekend, Alexandra Jacobs, of the blog Alex’s Journeys will take us there.

Guest post by Alexandra Jacobs:

On March 17^th, the celebration of St. Patrick, everyone seems to be Irish!  The activities and traditions carry on from year to year.  I’ll explain some of the background of where St. Patrick’s Day came from and why traveling to Dublin for St. Patty’s Day will give you the best experience you will ever have!  Spending St. Patrick’s Day celebrating in my home in New York City is a fun time, however, I can only imagine how Dublin will be.

St. Patrick was born in Wales late in the 4th century, abducted by Irish adventurers, and converted to Christianity while remaining in captivity for six years.  He became a priest spreading the Word throughout Ireland where he died March 17, 460.  He is celebrated throughout the Ireland and, indeed, the world, as the patron saint of the isle; therefore, St. Patty’s Day is for commemorating all things Irish by any means necessary especially in Dublin.

In 2012 the theme for the St Patrick’s Festival Parade is science especially pertaining to those questions asked by children.  Questions such as: “How do you tell how old the forest is?” or “What lives under the sea?” will generate pageants performed on the parade route from Parnell Square to St Patrick’s Cathedral.  Marching bands from the UK, the US and Russia will provide the music accompanying these pageants.  Festivities begin at 12 noon.

For the adults, also beginning at 12 noon on the 17th as well as other days during the week, the Irish Craft Beer Festival will be at Saint George’s Dock at the IFSC.  Here will be music, fine Irish beer, food stalls, as well as creative workshops, street performers and face-painting. This is another celebration of being Irish.

One can celebrate Ireland’s patron with a walk in his footsteps escorted by Pat Liddy, renowned Dublin historian.  He will guide participants through some sites such as Christ Church and St. Patrick’s cathedrals as well providing an overview of pre-Viking Development in Dublin.  These walks occur on the March 16, 17, 18 and 19 beginning at College Green at 2:30pm.

Finally, a word about the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, sponsor of the above activities, is necessary.  Beginning in 1996, supporters of a new and peaceful Ireland wanted to demonstrate that changes had begun.  They were amazed at a participating audience numbering at 430,000.  The next few years the festival grew taking up to 18 months to plan for the annual celebration; by the early 2000s more than a million and half people participated in the festivities.  Dublin’s festival is now one of the greatest celebrations in the world, stemming from Irish innovation and marketing ability.  All people, some Irish, some of Irish descent and some not attend and enjoy the imaginative celebration, projecting to an international audience what it means to be Irish.