Gustave Moreau Museum: a hidden artist’s house in Paris 9th

What is the Gustave Moreau Museum?

Gustave Moreau (1826–1898), a leading Symbolist painter, turned his family home into a museum himself and bequeathed it to the French state. According to the museum, you first see the first-floor apartment with its personal mementos, then two vast studios on the upper floors, covered with canvases, drawings and sketches.

What should you not miss?

• The spiral wrought-iron staircase linking the two studios: the photo everyone wants.
• The cabinets with hinged panels in the studios, holding thousands of drawings you can browse.
• The unique feel of a 19th-century artist's studio kept almost intact.

How long should you allow and when should you go?

Allow about an hour. The museum opens from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesday. According to the museum, admission is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, with booking. For prices and tickets, see the official website. Note that the building is not wheelchair accessible (steps, no lift).

How do you get there from the Concortel?

On foot, go via Saint-Lazare station and the Trinité church: about 20 minutes (estimate). By metro, line 12 serves Trinité – d'Estienne d'Orves, a few minutes from the museum. The neighbourhood, known as "New Athens", continues with the Museum of Romantic Life. More ideas in Discover Paris and, for lunch, our gourmet addresses.