Musée Rodin – An inspiring museum dedicated to an Parisian icon
Why you should visit the Rodin Museum in Paris
The collection at the Rodin Museum is so vast it is split into two museums. The Paris exhibition is home to thousands of sculptures, photographs, and drawings by the feted artist. The collection is augmented with antiques from Auguste Rodin’s personal collection and works from his long-time collaborator, Camille Claudel.
Housed in the striking Hôtel Biron, the pièce de résistance is the magnificent gardens evocatively filled with Rodin’s sculptures. Much of the collection is hidden from light, including photographs and drawings. But considering masterpieces like the Kiss and The Thinker can be seen up close, it’s an irresistible destination for art lovers.
Ticket info for you
Show TicketWhat is the Rodin Museum?
The Rodin Museum is dedicated to conserving works from one of Paris’s most celebrated sons. Opened two years after his death in 1917, the museum possesses a vast canon of Rodin pieces. The handsome Hôtel de Biron, a former home of minor Bourbon royalty, was selected as a space worthy of the father of modern sculpture. The result is a diverse museum bursting with works from Rodin and acclaimed pieces from his collaborator, Camille Claudel.
Blended into the collection is Rodin’s personal collection, a renowned hoarder of art. That’s why today, you can see Van Gogh’s Père Tanguy and other paintings and sculptures from contemporaries. Rodin had also embraced the latest technology and built an enormous cache of photos. Sadly, most are too fragile for display. The same applies to many of Rodin’s older drawings. As such, much of the collection focuses on sculptures and paintings.
The star attraction at the Rodin Museum is the picturesque sculpture garden. Dotted with statues, including several of Rodin’s most celebrated, it is a place to lose yourself on hazy summer afternoons. Rodin was such a prolific artist and collector that some of his collection is housed in the second Rodin Museum in Meudon, just outside Paris.
Tickets and entrance to the Rodin Museum
- Adult entry costs €14 (free for under 18s and EU citizens under 26). Audio guides are available in multiple languages for €6.
- A combined ticket for a beautiful river cruise and the entry in the Rodin museum coasts €25
- Entry to the Rodin Museum is included with the good-value Paris Museum Pass, valid for 2/4/6 days and costing €55-85.
Tours of the Rodin Museum
Most popular Rodin Museum guided tour | Rodin Museum and Seine river Cruise | Private tour through the Rodin Museum | |
|---|---|---|---|
What | A small group tour with an art historian adds texture to Rodin’s inspiring collection. | Plan a day trip and skip the line at the Rodin Museum before seeing Paris from the Seine. | Experience the full complexity of Rodin in with a private tour of an expert. |
Duration | 2 hours | 1 Day | 2 hours |
Buy the ticket |
Tours of the Rodin Museum : The details
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01
Rodin Museum Guided Tour
Museum in 7. Arrondissement
A small group tour with an art historian adds texture to Rodin’s inspiring collection. This is a tour for serious Rodin fans, who want to know more about the art and stories about the iconic work of Rodin.
Your eyes will be satisfied by the sensational artworks and more than 200 paintings!
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02
The Rodin Museum and Seine River Cruise
Cruise in 7. Arrondissement
Combine two memorable experiences into one unforgettable day. Skip the line at the Rodin Museum before seeing Paris from the Seine.
Audio guides on the cruise help fill in the gaps as you float through the French capital with amazing views of the best landmarks of Paris like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.
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03
Skip-the-line Musée Rodin and Musée d'Orsay Tour
Walking Tour in 7. Arrondissement
Discover the fascinating historical period of Rodin that marks the creative explosion of modern art. This tour includes a skip the line addition, so you can start the private tour right away.
Let yourself be enchanted with this special story while your expert guide tells you everything about the French artist.
Masterpieces like The Kiss and The Thinker up close are an essential destination for art fans in Paris
Highlights of the Rodin Museum
You can divide the highlights of the Rodin Museum in Paris into two distinct highlights. First, there are the works of Rodin alongside other fine pieces from his personal collection. And then there is the glorious sculpture garden, which elevates the Rodin Museum above the everyday.
The aesthetic delights begin when setting eyes on the handsome Hôtel de Biron, once home to nobles and notables. The elegant interior is intelligently used to display carefully curated greatest hits from Rodin’s collection, including the breathtaking Kiss. The sculpture garden is where the magic happens. The trimmed, and fragrant space is peppered with sculptures. Among them, masterworks like The Thinker and Monument to The Burghers of Calais.
It’s an intoxicating location to set aside time and lazily meander around. Or linger with lunch at L’Augustine, a café planted among the flowers and statues in the sculpture garden. Inexpensive menus and bright flavors make it a tempting place to eat, utterly detached from the bustle of nearby Champs-Élysées.
Tips for visiting the Rodin Museum
Get the most value from a visit to the Rodin Museum with some helpful pointers.
- Book online to dodge the lines at the booking office. Add a Euro to the ticket price to save more time and use the fast-entry doors.
- Visit free on the first Sunday of the month from October to March.
- Join free tours included in the price of the ticket
- Reserve online
- Take kids to a sculpture workshop (Rodin Atelier) during the summer school vacation, and get some hands-on practice at crafting your own sculptures.
The Museum Pass offers you entrys in many museum
With the Museum Pass for Paris, you will get entry in 60 museums and other Monuments. Pay ones and enjoy 2,4 or 6 days of unlimited cultural fun.
Is the Rodin Museum worth visiting?
If you’ve ever wanted to see the sublime works of Rodin up close, it’s a must. With the mesmerizing sculpture garden enriching the experience, the Rodin Museum will appeal to art buffs and holds several surprises to charm casual visitors.
Historic facts about the Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum has an intriguing history that predates the artist. The museum’s home, Hôtel de Biron, had previously served as the home for Princess Louise-Bénédicte de Bourbon. Later acquired by Louis Antoine de Gontaut-Biron, the Duc de Biron and illustrious military Marshal, the building was eventually leased to the church.
In 1905, the incumbent nuns of the Sacred Heart were shuffled out of sight by the local government, so the state could move in. After Auguste Rodin indicated he wished to bequeath his entire collection to the state in 1909, the graceful hotel won the honor of hosting his art.
By 1919, the Hôtel de Biron had been converted into a museum that was unchanged until renovations in 2012. The refurbishment gifted interior decorators an exclusive new color, Biron Gray, from the chic-chi paint company Farrow & Ball. No doubt contributing significantly to the renovation costs.
Today, the museum attracts 700,000 annual visitors through its doors. Unlike many other City of Paris collections, the state museum is self-financing.
What to do after visiting the Rodin Museum
When you tire of soaking up the charms of the sculpture garden, there are a handful of choice things to see and do nearby.
- The sprawling and endlessly diverting Les Invalides is next door. A historically important landmark, it is now the National Army Museum, offering an unusual contrast to Rodin’s inspiring art. More famously, Hôtel des Invalides is home to the Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- The Orsay Museum is just a 15-minute walk towards the Seine. Situated in the magnificently styled Gare d’Orsay, the vast collection of French art welcomes millions of annual visitors and pairs wonderfully with the Rodin museum. Book dual-entry tickets to save money.
- Stretching your legs in different directions puts the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Tuileries Gardens within walking distance, or an even shorter Métro ride.
FAQ
Where are the two Rodin Museums?
The Musée Rodin has two sites. The first and original in the 7th arrondissement in central Paris. A smaller museum is located in Meudon, just outside Paris, in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
What is the nearest Métro stop for Rodin Museum Paris?
The nearest Métro stops for the Rodin Museum Paris are:
- Varenne (Line 13)
- Invalides (Lines 13, 8.)
Is the Rodin Museum and sculpture garden free?
No – the sculpture garden can only be visited with a purchased ticket for the museum.
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