Musée Picasso

The Musée du Quai Branly is a monument to indigenous art and culture located in the center of Paris. It includes work from AfricaAsia, the Americas and Oceania with over 450,000 objects. It was opened in 2006 and is the newest of the major Paris museums. The building is meant to reflect the spirit of openness that the museum itself exemplifies. As such there are no barriers or railings – it is an open space both physically and artistically. Even the garden of this museum is designed to be the antithesis of a French formal garden: it has neither lawn nor gate but instead seems almost jungle-like in its deliberately overgrown facade.

The Musée de Cluny is a must-see for any enthusiast of the medieval period. Located in Paris’ Latin Quarter in a 13th-century abbey townhouse, the building is an excellent example of medieval architecture in Paris. At any one time, visitors can see 2300 paintings covering the Gallic period until the 16th century. The collection includes Romanesque and Gothic sculptures as well as stained glass windows from the Saint Chapelle.

The Musée Picasso is located in a private mansion, the Hôtel Salé, in the heart of the Marais. It was founded in 1974 after the artist’s death and houses over 5,000 works and tens of thousands of archived pieces. It is a testament to Pablo Picasso’s love for Paris that he and his family have left such an extensive collection to the city. Furthermore, the artist himself once said: ‘I am the greatest collector of Picasso’s in the world.’ The paintings include such masterworks as the Self-portraitLa CelestinaMan with Guitar, and Memento Mori.

The Maison Européene de la Photographie is also located in the Marais. It boasts an extensive library of contemporary photographic art, an auditorium, a library and a café located in an 18th-century vault. The exhibitions have included works by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Andy Warhol, and Annie Leibovitz. This museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in contemporary photography.