Orsay Masterpieces: Small Group 2-Hour Tour on 19th Century Parisian Arts
4.9
66 Ratings
Paris
Immerse yourself in the world of 19th century Parisian arts with a small group 2-hour tour of the Orsay Museum. Explore masterpieces by renowned artists and discover the social changes and controversies of the era.
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Musee d’Orsay - Immerse yourself in one of France’s most exquisite museums, the Orsay Museum. When in Paris, it’s an essential destination. Connect with your guide beside the ‘elephant sculpture’ right outside the museum, bypass the extensive queues, and explore a realm of avant-garde artists. In 1874, the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers organized an exhibit in Paris that would instigate a profound departure from traditional art forms and initiate one of the most beloved movements in the history of art. Their creations were seen as scandalous, and critics dismissed them as lunatics. Today, it’s difficult to believe that the finesse of brushstrokes or the selection of a subject in artwork could cause such astonishment, but to the Parisians of the 19th century, these pieces were tantamount to a cultural upheaval. During this tour, both grown-ups and youngsters will not only encounter iconic works like Manet’s Olympia, Monet’s Poppy field, Degas’s ballet dancers, or Van Gogh’s bedroom but will also uncover the compelling personal narratives of these intrepid artists who struggled for acclaim.
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
  • Entrance ticket. Only for adults. Under 18 years old, the entrance is free.
Additional Information

Take a 2-hour journey through the second most frequented museum in Paris in the company of a fully qualified guide and in a small group not exceeding 6 individuals. Our tour will transport you back to the 19th century, a period when Paris emerged as the center of arts. We will explore the contributions of famous artists including Millet, Manet, Courbet, Monet, Renoir, and Cassatt who captured the societal transformations brought about by a new century and faced both astonishment and disapproval from audiences.

  • ideal for families and children
  • the tour takes place with a minimum of 4 people. If this number is not reached, we will give you either another day or cancel it. This would be notify before 48 hours.
Location
Musée d'Orsay
The visit ends inside the museum.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(66 Ratings)
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Kelly_l
Apr 3, 2024
Fantastic experience! - Cynthia was amazing! Our whole family really enjoyed her and she brought the art to life. I would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Craig_b
Jan 6, 2024
I was in a hurry when I... - I was in a hurry when I booked this and missed the part where we were supposed to purchase our own entry ticket. Nevertheless the guide waited and we started a few minutes late. Our guide (Cynthia) was amazing and successfully got our teenage kids to interact which is no small feat! I would recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
V336qxtomh
Jan 6, 2024
Amazing Tour Guide - This Musée is my favorite and I forgot you can buy tickets onsite. The only reason bought the tour was because I thought it was sold out! At times it’s better to be lucky than smart, as Cinthia Ramirez, our tour guide was truly exceptional with her knowledge, explaining the history and genuine passion for the Art in the museum. She is absolutely fantastic. I would have gladly paid double the price because of the value she brings to the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fran_p
Aug 23, 2023
Wonderful experience.... - Wonderful experience. Guide was exceptional, knowledgeable and a true professional Great all around and highly recommend this tour
Review provided by Viator
Becca_r
Aug 16, 2023
Best way to experience the D’Orsay - Cynthia was a fantastic guide and made our d’Orsay experience truly memorable. Her knowledge of art history and the stories she told enriched our enjoyment of the artwork so much. Well worth the fee! Be sure to buy tickets to the museum ahead of time online to skip the long line!
Review provided by Viator
Majoh949
Jul 9, 2023
Remarkable experience! - We have a wonderful trip through time with Cinthia Ramirez. Her explanations were engaging, dynamic, illustrative and open-minded. We walked the masterpieces in the Musée d'Orsay in a clear storytelling way; she fulfilled our curiosity and left us talking all day about what we learned with her. My next time in Paris, I will book more tours with her. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and passion with us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zhannag2023
May 30, 2023
Eye Opening Experience - Cinthia is so knowledgeable and such a great storyteller, we learned so much about the painters and the French history. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamie_s
Mar 22, 2023
This museum was fabulous with the guide - Cinthia was a fabulous guide. We learned so much. Don’t miss her insight ! Our 16 year loved the tour as well and we went back by ourselves to see more.
Review provided by Viator
Lizez1114ds
Mar 9, 2023
PHENOMENAL tour! - I booked the small group tour for my mom and I with Cinthia, and it was one of the best we’ve ever been on! We were blown away by her wealth of knowledge and exceptional story telling. Her engaging style, paired with the intriguing background information behind the artists and the paintings we viewed left us completely in awe! Due to the strikes, we were lucky enough to have the tour to ourselves, which we were selfishly so appreciative of. We loved the paintings that she chose to focus on, and the flow of the tour was wonderful. We didn’t want it to end! Do yourself a favor and book this tour, you will be so happy you did! You will leave the museum a thousand times more grateful (and informed) than you did when you walked through the doors! Incroyable et fantastique, merci beaucoup! :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vinceo703
Jun 11, 2023
Disorganized - We booked a 7 pm tour guide via TripAdvisor and bought our museum entry tickets accordingly. The next day the operator wrote and said a 7 pm tour wasn’t available. They eventually suggested a 1:30 pm tour guide and we agreed. On our way to the museum, they wrote and said the tour guide had train trouble and couldn’t make it at 1:30. The operator cancelled our tour. We changed plans and went to the museum at 5:30. While there, the operator called to say that they found a tour guide for 7:00, after all. At that point it was too late for us. We appreciated their effort, but it was surprisingly disorganized.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 6 guests
1
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May 2024
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