Guided tour of the Orangerie and the Water Lilies
Why a guide changes the underground collection
I'll be frank: no one needs a guide for the Water Lilies. Monet's eight panels are viewed in silence, sitting on the central bench, and everything a guide could say, the ceiling light says better. If you come only for the two oval rooms, the reserved ticket is enough and I tell you straight.
Level -2 is different. The Walter-Guillaume collection consists of 146 paintings hung in 1,300 m² of galleries: 25 Renoir, 15 Cézanne, 29 Derain, 22 Soutine, 12 Picasso, 10 Matisse, 5 Modigliani, among others. Without explanation, you pass by in twenty minutes recognizing names. With an art historian who tells the story of Paul Guillaume, a dealer who died in 1934, his widow Domenica, her remarriage to the industrialist Jean Walter and the purchase by the State between 1959 and 1963, the canvases begin to form a story. This is what the reviews describe when Mary writes that the guide 'took the time to place each artist in their era', or Julia 'historical depth and anecdotes about the artists'.
How does the tour for six go
The format is semi-private: a maximum of six people per guide, minimum two. The meeting point depends on the chosen language and is specified on the reservation voucher. The group crosses part of the Tuileries Garden on the way, allowing the guide to place the building in its context, the former 1852 orange tree greenhouse, before entering through the "ticket holders" access. The visit lasts 2 h, a bit longer than the average duration of a self-guided tour, because we talk.
A few constraints to be aware of. Large bags and luggage are not allowed and will need to be left at the hotel. The walking is moderate but real, with the passage through the garden, and the product is not recommended for people with reduced mobility. Some rooms require silence, the guide lowers his voice in the oval rooms. Temporary exhibitions are not part of the commented route, even if the ticket gives access to them afterwards.
Included
- Art historian guide, group of 6 people maximum
- Skip-the-line museum ticket
- Passage through the Tuileries Garden
- Water Lilies then Walter-Guillaume collection
Not included
- Temporary exhibitions (not commented)
- Meals and drinks
- Transfers
- Luggage and large bags (not allowed)
What 45 reviews say
The 5.0 rating is based on 45 reviews, which is few compared to the 7,188 of the standard ticket, but they are unanimous and detailed. The guides' first names come up: Anatole, Francesca, Manu, Hugo, Marcel, Elizabeth. Greg talks about a visit that is 'instructive, scholarly and extremely pleasant'. Frederick, a French visitor, praises 'exceptional insight into the works'. Suzanne mentions 'this lesser-known museum', which always makes me smile for a museum that receives so many visitors. Joy remembers 'the history of art, Monet's family and friends'. I haven't found any negative reviews, which is rare and I note it without reading too much into it.
Choose the first departure of the day if the language allows. The guide lets you enter the oval rooms when they are still almost empty, and that's where the difference with a 2 PM visit is noticeable. The best time also applies to guided tours.
Book the guided tour
The two private alternatives
If you are more than six, if you want a language not on the list, or simply a guide for yourself, there are two private tours. The first lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, in English, French or Serbo-Croatian, meeting at Place de la Concorde with a guide who loves talking about the Belle Époque. The second lasts 2 to 3 hours and covers nine languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean, meeting at the museum entrance. Both have seven reviews each, which is few. I compare them in detail on their page.
To locate the artists that the guide will name, the page of the exhibited artists gives the exact count of works by name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the guided tour include the entrance ticket?
Yes. The museum's skip-the-line ticket is included, you enter with the guide through the "ticket holders" access. What is included and excluded is detailed in the full review.
In which languages is the tour offered?
French, English, Spanish, German, Italian and Russian. The meeting point changes according to the language. For Chinese, Japanese or Korean, you need to book a multilingual private tour.
Can the guided tour be canceled?
Yes, free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. This is a difference with the standard ticket, which is non-refundable. I go back to these rules in do you need to book.
Is the guided tour suitable for children ?
The format is calm, two hours standing, with silence requested in some rooms. For young children, the standard ticket and a quick visit are more realistic. See visiting with children.