Gustave Moreau Museum (Musee Gustave Moreau)

The basics

Before Musée Gustave Moreau opened, the artist already began to alter the home’s interior before his passing, transforming the space into a mini-museum. The eclectic home, complete with a spiral staircase and brightly painted walls, has three floors with the first displaying the artist’s personal keepsakes, family portraits, and paintings gifted by fellow artist friends Edgar Degas and Théodore Chassériau. The second and third floors are large studios comprised of hundreds of paintings and watercolors, as well as more than four thousand drawings. Many of Moreau’s works are centered around Greek mythology and the Bible.

Things to know before you go

• The museum is open every day except for Tuesday.
• Large groups visiting the museum must call to schedule an appointment beforehand.
• Those with limited mobility should be aware that there are three staircases and no elevator, and is therefore not wheelchair accessible.
• The museum will not store large pieces of luggage.

How to get there

Hop on Metro line 12 and hop off at stops Trinité, Saint Georges, or Pigalle to reach the museum. You can also take Metro line 2 to Pigalle. Or take bus line 26, 32, 43, 67, 68, 74, or 81.

When to get there

The little museum is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 10am to 12:45pm, and reopens at 2pm until 5:15pm. On the weekends the house will remain open from 10am until 5:15pm. The last admission will be at 5pm.

Visit the Artist Community of Montmartre

Since Musée Gustave Moreau is mere steps away, consider exploring the hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre. Known as an artist enclave during the Belle Époque (1872-1914), Montmartre is a unique section of Paris centered by Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Place du Tertre, and the Moulin Rouge.

Ways to explore

Plan to spend an hour browsing the small, under-the-radar museum, where you’ll find more than 1,300 paintings and sketches, alongside Moreau’s personal effects, family portraits, and furniture. Much of the museum’s collection was laid out by the artist himself, as he worked to transform his home into an art museum before his death.

Art enthusiasts can visit the Gustave Moreau Museum with a Paris Museums Pass, which also includes admission to more than 50 monuments and museums across the city, or a Paris Pass, alongside 90 other tours and attractions. Museum admission tickets also grant entry to the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum within 72 hours.

Accessibility

The museum is not fully accessible for wheelchair users, although access to the ground floor is possible; there are three flights of stairs and no elevator.

Age limits

None; children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

What to pack

Camera, photo ID (travelers should always carry this in France), your smartphone with a translation app installed (the descriptions are mostly in French), photo ID (required by

What to wear

Comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing

Not allowed

Strollers (foldable strollers may be carried on the ground floor only), large bags and backpacks, skateboards, scooters, food and drink (except for water), flash photography, selfie sticks, filming for social media (without written permission)

Amenities

Bookstore, restrooms, free Wi-Fi, lockers

Address

The Gustave Moreau Museum is in the 9th arrondissement, close to the Pigalle Quarter. The easiest way to get there is by public transport.

Driving

With narrow streets, a convoluted 1-way system, and limited street parking, it’s best to leave the car behind and take the metro to the museum.

Public transportation

The closest metro stations are Trinité–d’Estienne d’Orves (12) and Saint-Georges (12), both about a 5-minute walk, and Pigalle (12, 2), about a 10-minute walk. Bus lines 21, 26, 40, 43, 68, and 74 all stop nearby.

Best times to visit

Visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the largest crowds, but don’t cut it too close—the exhibitions close 15 minutes before the museum.

Best days to visit

Like many Paris museums, it’s closed on Tuesdays and offers free entrance on the first Sunday of the month (tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, so reservations are highly recommended). Mondays and Thursdays tend to be the quietest.

Best months to visit

May and June are great months, as you’ll avoid the crowds of the peak summer months, but you can enjoy mild weather and seasonal exhibitions.

Special events

Festivals and special events: The museum takes part in the European Heritage Days (September) and the Night of the Museums (May), as well as hosting temporary exhibitions throughout the year.