Stories
Guimet Museum (Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet)
The Guimet Museum houses one of the largest collections of Asian art outside of Asia, and is a must-see in Paris for the beauty of its art and simplicity of its displays. Located in the 16ème arrondissement, it receives far fewer visitors than central staples like the Louvre or Orsay museums, making it possible to view the exhibits serenely and unrushed, a true luxury in Parisian museums of this quality (indeed, many objects come from the Louvre itself when its Department of Asian Art was transferred to Guimet in 1945).
The museum gets its name from Emile Guimet (1836-1918), an industrialist from Lyons who traveled extensively to the Far East, and accumulated a vast collection of iconographic art and objects from the region. He founded the museum over a century ago, and it has since become world-renowned for the quality and variety of its artifacts. The five floors of the museum span 5000 years of culture and art ranging from China to Afghanistan, each room a thoughtful compilation of intricate and stunning pieces.
Interior and Permanent Collection
A recently completed renovation of the interior of the museum focused on increasing natural light and enhancing vertical liaisons. The result is a clean modern space with crisp lines, rich hardwood floors, and beautiful central skylight over the Khmer portion of the exhibit. Each floor is organized by region and then somewhat chronologically, including China, India, Tibet, Nepal, Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Japan, and South-East Asia. The bronze and limestone Buddhist art on the main floor, as well as the collection of painted porcelain and celadon pottery on the third floor, are particularly stunning.
Though explanatory panels at the beginning of each section are relatively small and only in French, the free audioguide (available in 6 languages) makes up for this, offering wonderful insight into key objects in addition to further general information about Buddhism and Hinduism if desired.
Practical Information
Address: 6, place d’Iéna, 75116 Paris
Tel: 01 56 52 53 00
Website: www.guimet.fr
Metro: Iéna, Boissière
RER C: Pont de l’Alma
Bus: 22, 30, 32, 63, 82
Hours: open every day except Tuesday from 10am until 6pm (ticket booth closes at 5:30pm)
Cost: 6.5 Euros for regular admittance, 4.5 Euros reduced fare, free for EU citizens under 26 (tickets are good for a whole day – I encourage going early and taking a break for lunch)
The Guimet Museum also has a library with related Asian archives, a restaurant on the basement floor, and a gift-shop. Special tours can be arranged for people with disabilities on days when the museum is normally closed.
by Caroline Boulos
