Musée d’Art moderne de Paris

On the banks of the Seine, opposite the Eiffel Tower, the Modern Art Museum (MAM) occupies the east wing of the Palais de Tokyo, built for the Exposition Universelle of 1937. Before stepping inside, its worth taking a moment to admire the museum’s emblematic Art Deco exterior, with its immense columns and high-relief sculpture centred around Apollo, god of the arts.

Modern masterpieces

From Fauvism through the post-war years, the 11,000 major works in the MAM’s exceptional collection reflect the wealth of 20th-century French and European artistic movements: Fauvism, Cubism, the Paris School, abstraction, New Realism, Narrative Figuration, conceptual art… On the walls here, masterpieces by Matisse rub shoulders with those of Picasso, Braque, Picabia, Léger, Modigliani, Klein and many others.

The museum’s collection contains some exceptional works, like the first unfinished version of Matisse’s “La Danse” and Raoul Dufy’s monumental masterpiece “La Fée électricité.” Contemporary art is also represented, with works by major artists like Boltanski, Parreno and Buren.

Alongside temporary exhibitions dedicated to major 20th-century artists, there is also a programme focusing on new works by young artists and 21st-century creative currents.

Audioguides** in French, English and German are available, as well as a bookshop. The Forest restaurant with its stunning view of the Eiffel Tower** offers you a gourmet break before or after your visit.

Your visit continues in Paris Region's museums and cultural sites.