Louvre (Musee du Louvre): is said to be the world’s oldest art gallery and is probably the most famous as well. The ‘Castle of the Louvre’ was founded in the 12th century and turned into an art gallery by Charles V in the 14th century. The museum quickly established a reputation for artistic and historic conservation.

Without doubt, the most well known work of art here is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, but the impact can de slightly diminished by the hoards of people surrounding it. There are many other significant pieces here, such as Alexandros of Antioch's Venus de Milo and artists including Rembrandts and Rubens are also represented. The Louvre is situated in the centre of Paris, and in 2005 was the city’s most visited attraction.
Rue de Rivoli Open: 09:00 to 18:00 Wednesday to Monday.

The museums collection totals around 50,000 with about 1,500 or more on display. 20th century art movements such as Surrealism, Cubism, and Fauvism are all represented here. The Pompidou centre’s building itself is something of a work of modern art, with its complex external skeleton of pipes.
Beaubourg Open: 11:00 to 22:00 Wednesday to Monday.

Picasso Museum (Musee Picasso): can be found in the Hotel Sale on rue de Thorigny. The building was constructed between 1656 and 1659, and is a fine historic building. The museum houses many works of art from Picasso’s own collection; the man himself once said ‘I am the greatest collector of Picassos in the world.’

Rodin Museum (Musee Rodin): opened in 1919 to display works of the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. Located in the Hotel Biron, where Rodin lived from 1908, the museum contains many of Rodin’s most impressive works including The Thinker and The Kiss.

Rodin donated his entire collection, and some paintings by Van Gogh and Renoir, to the state on the understanding that they turn the building into a museum dedicated to his art. Many of the pieces are displayed in the large garden.
77 rue de Varenne. Open: April to September, 09:30 to 17:45 Tuesday to Sunday; October to March, 09:30 to 16:45 Tuesday to Sunday.