Musée Rodin

Paris, France

The Musée Rodin was opened in 1919 and is dedicated to the works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It has two sites, at the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds in central Paris, and just outside Paris at Rodin's old home, the Villa des Brillants at Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine). The collection includes 6,600 sculptures, 8,000 drawings, 8,000 old photographs and 7,000 objets d’art. The museum receives 700,000 visitors annually.

While living in the Villa des Brillants Rodin used the Hôtel Biron as his workshop from 1908, and subsequently donated his entire collection of sculptures (along with paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Pierre-Auguste Renoir that he had acquired) to the French State on the condition that they turn the buildings into a museum dedicated to his works.

The Musée Rodin contains most of Rodin's significant creations, including The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell. Many of his sculptures are displayed in the museum's extensive garden. The museum is one of the most accessible museums in Paris. It is located near a Metro stop, Varenne, in a central neighborhood and the entrance fee is very reasonable. The gardens around the museum building contain many of the famous sculptures in natural settings. Behind the museum building is a small lake and casual restaurant.

The museum has also a room dedicated to works of Camille Claudel. Some paintings by Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh which were in Rodin's personal collections are also presented. The Musée Rodin collections are very diverse, as Rodin used to collect besides being an artist.

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Address

Rue de Varenne 79, Paris, France
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Details

Founded: 1919
Category: Museums in France

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Nicole P (4 months ago)
We really enjoyed the museum as we enjoy & appreciate Rodin's artwork. You could easily spend an hour here, maybe two. The gardens are nice with shaped trees and a rose garden. There are statues spread around as well as a fountain. The Gates of Hell were interesting to see in person to give you a perspective of size and depth of the work. The "smaller" pieces are inside the museum and worth seeing. There is also a cafe outside to rest and have a snack. If you are unfamiliar with Rodin but interested in sculpture, I highly recommend you visit here. If you are already familiar with Rodin, enjoy!
Eric Gartner (5 months ago)
A very talented sculptor and painter that donated his works to the government and properties so that all can view his works. In the main area they will have you wear backpacks on the front of your chest instead of back. The gardens outside also have pieces like the famous Thinker.
Sofia Lemann (5 months ago)
One of the best museums I’ve been to! The Musée Rodin was an incredible experience, featuring many legendary sculptures. The house is stunning too, with beautiful flowers in the garden and memorable views that complement the sculptures. Additionally, the arrangement of the pieces inside the museum is excellent. A great aspect of this museum is that it is less susceptible to crowds, allowing you to take your time to admire the art. It’s not like Versailles, where the crowds can be overwhelming.
Heather Holt (5 months ago)
So the gardens are BEAUTIFUL! I think that is my FAVORITE. The house doesn't seem to end but it does. It could take you about a good six hours for you to go through all of the house. You have statues mostly in the house and some paintings. The gardens you want to see on a sunny day or a cloudy day, BUT not really a rainy day! You can see most but not all if in a wheelchair.
Localizer (6 months ago)
This spectacular treasure of a museum of Auguste Rodin – is a must see in Paris, especially if are a Rodin enthusiast or an art lover. It’s easily accessible in the heart of Paris and close to several other attractions nearby. You should plan on spending at least a couple of hours here, if not longer. We had a great visit and tour, got there around noon and visited the inside two floors and outside. Do not miss to see the ‘The Thinker’ in the garden area. There is also a version of this inside. Obviously the main attractions besides the Thinker are the ‘The Kiss’, ‘The Walking man’, ‘The Cathedral’, ‘The age of bronze’ etc. But there are so many others and you will absolutely enjoy all of them. The staff were great and it was an absolute pleasure and treat to visit this wonderful museum. This museum is included in the Paris museum pass but there is no advanced reservation necessary to visit the place.
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