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The exterior of Musée de l’Orangerie in Â鶹APP. Photo by Homonihilis on

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Musee de l’Orangerie

The Musee de I’Orangerie is an art gallery of post-impressionist and impressionist paintings that are located in the corner of Tuileries Garden. The Musee is close to Place de la Concorde in Â鶹APP.

The Orangerie was built in 1853 by Napoleon the third with the main purpose being to store the citrus trees of Tuileries garden in the winter. Architect Firmin Bourgeois built the building with the south (Seine) side being made out of glass.

The glass part was to allow light to flow into the trees. The opposite side was built to be windowless to protect the citrus plants from the winter cold.

After World War One, the building which belonged to the State was handed over to the Under-secretariat of State to provide space for artists. The museum is now famous because it is the permanent home of 8 large Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet.

The other artworks in the museum include works by Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau and other great artists. Here are the top 10 Interesting Facts about Musee de l’Orangerie:

1. Emperor of France Demanded the Construction of Musee

In 1852, there was an urgency of storing citrus trees during the winter spells. Emperor Napoleon the third of France demanded the building of Musee de l’Orangerie.

Renowned architect Firmin Bourgeois was given the work to ensure the construction was made. The Musee de I’Orangerie was built in some unique way.

2. Musee de l’Orangerie was Constructed for the Storage of Citrus Trees

The order from Emperor Napoleon the third to build Musee de l’Orangerie was to store citrus trees during winter. Architect Firmin Bourgeois made a brilliant plan for Musee de l’Orangerie which suited its role.

The Southern side, the Seine side was made out of glass for the citrus trees from the Tuileries Gardens to get light. The northern side of the building was built to be windowless to protect the trees from the winter cold.

3. Musee de l’Orangerie is Located at the Most Famous Sight in Â鶹APP

The Musée de l’Orangerie in the Tuileries Garden in Â鶹APP, as seen from the left bank of the Seine River, evening light. Photo by Jebulon on

The Musee museum is centrally located in the French capital of Â鶹APP surrounded by famous sights. Musee de l’Orangerie is located on the grounds of Tuileries garden.

It is also near Louvre Museum which is frequented by several visitors from around the world annually. To the east of Musee de l’Orangerie is the Place de la Bastille directly from Rue de Rivoli. This is where the French revolution began at a distance of about 2.5 kilometres.

About a kilometre from Rue de Rivoli is Place de la Concorde. This is where King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette were guillotined. Just around Musee de l’Orangerie are Champs Elysees, Arch de Triomphe and La Dèfense. This is a spectacular area to visit.

4. Musee de l’Orangerie was Handed over to Under-secretariat to Provide Space for Artists

The Musee de I’Orangerie was originally planned for conserving the trees but the original idea was changed. In 1921 after World War One, the State decided to give the building to the Under-Secretariat of State for Fine and Art.

The major purpose of this handover was to provide more space for artists to showcase and display their works. The Jeu de Paume building was also handed over by the State to the Under-Secretariat of State for Fine Arts.

5. The Museum Houses Claude Monet’s Water Lilies Murals

Monet’s water lilies in the Musée de l’Orangerie. Photo by Adrian Scottow on

After the major changes that saw the change of governance from the State to the Under-Secretariat of State Fine and Art, more artwork was brought in. Among them is the magnificent work of Claude Monet, the Water Lilies murals.

The Water Lilies paintings were meant for the State and were supposed to be placed in the Rodin Museum. However, the President of the Council, Georges Clemenceau demanded the paintings be put in the Orangerie rather than the Rodin.

In 1922, the Water Lillies murals donation was completed and taken to the Musee de I’Orangerie. Claude Monet and architect Camille Lefevre helped in the architectural designs of placing the murals.

6. The Museum Underwent a Series of Name Changes

Musée de l’Orangerie, paul Guillaume rooms reconstruction. Photo by sailko on Wikimedia

On 17th May 1927, the museum was officially inaugurated. Its original name was the Musee Claude Monet after the artist who made the Water Lilies murals.

It was named Musee Claude Monet until his death then it was annexed into Musee du Luxembourg. It was later renamed Musee National de l’Orangerie des Tuileries. Then it finally got the name Musee de l’Orangerie.

7. Musee Underwent Major Renovation to Change the Original Design

Previously built as a storage for citrus plants, the Musee de l’Orangerie had to undergo more modern renovations. Between 2000-2006, architect Olivier Brochet led the renovations of the museum.

The rooms which were on two levels were brought down to allow natural light to get directions to the Water Lillies murals. For the display of Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collections, the rooms were dug out of the basement.

During the renovations, spaces for exhibition, an auditorium and an education space were created. Remains of the Louis XIV wall that protected Tuileries Palace were discovered.

8. Dances, Piano Concerts and Other Events are Hosted at Musee de l’Orangerie

The museum is not only for the show of the artwork and collections of various artists. More events and activities usually take place at the Musee de I’Orangerie.

Piano concerts, hosts dance and other major entertaining events usually take place at the museum. They are majorly held at the Water Lilies gallery.

9. The Musee Houses Artwork Collections belonging to Famous Artists

L’ orangerie museum. Photo by David McSpadden on Wikimedia

The Water Lilies murals and paintings by Claude Monet are not the only artwork found at the Musee de I’Orangerie. There are several other artworks by prominent artists that are housed at the museum.

Some of the artists whose artwork is featured at the Musée de l’Orangerie include Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley and more other artists.

10. The Museum was Featured in a Famous Movie

The Musee de l’Orangerie is a very brilliant place to film and make some memories from. The museum was featured in a famous movie.
The Musee de l’Orangerie murals, Water Lilies gallery was featured in the 2011 famous movie, Midnight in Â鶹APP by Woody Allen.

The French capital, Â鶹APP is a very impressive place to visit and get to view various famous sites with Musee de l’Orangerie being one of them. The experiences got from the museum are worth a century.