While touring the halls of Sainte-Chappelle, I made some friends who asked me what I was planning on doing during my trip. That’s the first time I’d heard of the Musée de l’Orangerie.

I love Monet’s water lillies paintings; when I was a kid, I took charcoal classes at the local bookstore, and learned how Money would paint the same scene, again and again, at different times of the day to catch the same scenes in different lighting.

I’ve seen a Monet before, but never these big. These paintings were on a completely different scale than the pictures in books that I was used to:

The idea these five-foot tall, hallway-length pieces was total immersion—allowing viewers to be completely immersed by the pieces. Walking through the oblong room felt like moving through the paintings themselves. When it takes 10 to 20 steps to take in a piece, rushing through an exhibit isn’t an option. The brightly-lit rooms have plenty of space to sit, in case you need to take a step back to enjoy the art. It’s well worth the cost of entry—and the café and adjoining gardens are a lovely way to enjoy the outdoor space nearby!

When I bought my ticket, they had the option of a second Museum – the Musée d’Orsay. I didn’t know anything about this museum, other than the fact that it was in a defunct railway station. I’m a bit of a sucker for historic buildings that have their original features (my apartment is actually in a refurbished church!), so I thought I’d give it a go, and I’m so glad that I did:

What I thought might be a train-themed museum turned out to be anything but science and tech—art from impressionists, post-impressionists, and romantics filled the halls, with more Vincent van Goghs that I’d ever seen. I got to see pieces in person that I’d only seen in friend’s apartment, on posters and postcards:

I think I might have enjoyed this more than the Louvre, if only because the space was limited (the Louvre felt infinite in the sense that I felt like every moment I spent lingering over a piece of art was time I was wasting when I could have seen one more piece), and the ratio of people to space was far less; there’s much more space to explore and take in the art when you didn’t see thousands of faces around you. And seating! Benches everywhere, in case your feet need a rest. The large, open great hall filled with natural light, and more than once I found myself enjoying sitting and resting somewhere so beautiful.

All in all, I’d recommend both these museums for a double-dose of culture, beauty, and art. Happy travels!