Paris Other Museums In The 7ème

TMusée De Maillol. In an arrondissement with some of the best art museums in Paris, the Musée de Maillol holds its own. Aristide Maillol was a sculptor, artist, and painter who, inspired by Paul Gauguin, focused most of his work on the human—especially female—form. When she was 15 years old, Dina Vierney met Maillol and became his muse, eventually finding her own passion as a collector of modern art. The museum’s permanent collection combines the careers of these two art lovers (and possible lovers); it includes Maillol’s work as well as pieces by Matisse, Kandinsky, Gauguin, Redon, Poliakoff, and Couturier, among others. Opened in 1995, the Musée has chosen to display its permanent collection in a series of temporary expositions that never fail to impress. (61 rue de Grenelle, 7ème. Rue du Bac. ☎01 42 22 59 58; www.museemaillol.com. Open M and W-Su 11am-6pm. Admission €8, students €6, under 16 free. AmEx/MC/V.)

TMusée De Quai Branly. In 2006, President Chirac jumped on the controversial presidentially-commissioned-architecture bandwagon by offering Paris this new cultural monolith of artifacts from Oceania, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. During its construction, the museum’s architecture aroused as much speculation as its collections. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the massive and wildly inventive building is ensconced behind a looming glass shield (to deflect traffic noise) surrounded by a lush imitation jungle. Once inside, visitors are greeted by a stark white, winding ramp with video displays of nature projected onto the neutral ground—the beginning of the “fresh approach” Branly promises. Divided into four geographically themed sections, the museum’s collection is exhaustive: 3500 of the overall 300,000 pieces fill the dimly lit display cases. But it is the pieces themselves that are truly impressive: towering totem poles stand next to ceremonial masks the size of a small car; enormous, intricately-carved ivory tusks are displayed above quirky and creative statuettes. The Garden Gallery (admission separate) hosts special exhibits that include rotating pieces from the permanent collection as well as loans from other museums. Quai Branly also hosts consortiums, workshops, and lectures in art history, philosophy, and anthropology, as well as concerts, dance performances, cinema, and theater, establishing itself as a diverse and rich source of cultural growth. Props to you, Chirac. (27, 37, and 51 quai Branly, 7ème. Alma-Marceau. Cross the Pont de l’Alma and turn right onto quai Branly. ☎01 56 61 70 00; www.quaibranly.fr. Open Tu-W and Su 10am-6:30pm (last ticket sales 5:45pm); Th-Sa 10am-9pm (last ticket sales 8:15pm). Admission to permanent collection and mezzanine galleries €8.50, students €6, under 18 free; temporary exhibits in the Garden Gallery €8.50/6; combined ticket €13/9.50. Free first Su of the month. Audioguide €5/7. English tours available; call ☎01 56 61 71 72 for more information.)

Musée National De La Légion D’Honneur Et Des Ordres De Chevalerie. Rewarded to individuals who have given outstanding service to the Republic, the National Order of the Legion of Honor is the highest honor in France. Famous recipients include Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek, and President Eisenhower. Recent recipients include Vladmir Putin and designer Valentino (2006), Clint Eastwood (2007), and Steven Spielberg and Celine Dion (2008). Housed in the 18th-century Palais de la Légion d’Honneur, this museum mostly displays medals of the French Legion of Honor, made of everything from enamel to precious stones. The carpet-sized embroidered ceremonial robes, as well as medals of honor from other countries around the world, are also worth a look. Once the elegant Hôtel de Salm, the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur was built in 1786 by architect Pierre Rousseau for the Prince de Salm-Kyrburgh. The mansion came into Napoleon’s hands in 1804. Though it burned down during the Commune of 1871, the members of the Légion rebuilt it soon after using the original plans. Both the Palais and the museum re-opened in November 2006 after extensive renovations. (2 rue de la Légion-d’Honneur, 7ème. At the corner of rue de Lille and rue de Bellechasse. Solférino. Walk up rue Solférino and turn right onto rue de Lille; the short rue de la Légion d’Honneur will be on your left. ☎01 40 62 84 25; www.legiondhonneur.fr. Open W-Su 1-6pm. Free)

Musée Des Égouts De Paris (Museum Of The Sewers Of Paris). From 1892 to 1920, a brave and curious few observed the bowels of the city of Paris via subterranean boats. Luckily, today’s tourists get to travel on foot through tunnels that are only slightly moist and smelly (don’t worry: the friendly tour guides will warn you before you enter the more fragrant tunnels). The displays showing Paris’s struggle for potable water and a clean Seine are arguably worth the slightly uncomfortable journey. (Pont de l’Alma, 7ème. Across from 93 quai d’Orsay. Tickets are sold in a hut by the Mairie de Paris. Alma-Marceau.☎01 53 68 27 81. Open M-W and Sa-Su May-Sept. 11am-5pm, Oct.-Apr. 11am-4pm. Closed 2 weeks in Jan. €5; students, over 60, and under 10 €4; under 5 free. English and French tours depending on volume of visitors.)