Musée d’Orsay is renowned for its extensive collection of artworks and artistic artifacts spanning from 1848 to 1914.
Along with excellent collection, the museum also ensures a comfortable visitor experience.
For an absolutely seamless visit to the location, let’s quickly review the amenities Musee d’Orsay offers.
Reception and Surveillance
Once you enter Musee d’Orsay you can find a reception and information desk.
At the information desk you can collect maps, audio guides and other essentials.
The Reception and Surveillance Department receives items found in the museum forecourt.
From here, they hand it over to the Lost and Found Department.
Parking
Parking for Musee d’Orsay visitors is available at the Parking du Carrousel du Musee d’Orsay and Parking Bac Montalembert.
These parking spaces within 1 km (0.6 miles) from the museum.
These are paid parking spaces and are available during the opening hours of the museum.
There are arrangements specially made for disabled visitors, and the details are mentioned below:
- Twp spaces in front of no. 1 Place Montherlant
- One space in front of no. 5 Rue de Bellechasse
- One space in front of no. 48 Rue de Lille
- One space in front of no. 77 Rue de Lille
- One place in front of no 81 Rue de Lille
- Three spaces in front of no. 8 Rue de Solférino
- One space in front of no. 7 Rue de Poitiers
- Three spaces in front of no. 1 Rue de Villersexel
- One space in front of no. 13 Rue du Bac
- Three spaces in front of no. 96 Rue de l’Université
- Guide Map
The Musée d’Orsay has five levels, including the terrace.
It is important to have a museum map that helps you navigate through the museum on a self-guided tour.
You can collect a physical map from the reception or download the map on your smartphone.
Free Wifi
Musee d’Orsay provides free wifi and is open to all.
You can connect to the ‘Musee_Orsay_Public’ network, accept the general conditions of use, and browse the internet.
Once registered, your device gets automatically connected inside the museum areas.
This helps you to play the audio guide uninterrupted.
Cloakrooms
Museum and auditorium visitors must leave their coats, small bags, and other goods that need a mandatory deposit in the free cloakrooms in exchange for a token.
The maximum cabin size baggage allowed is 56x45x25 cm.
No valuables are accepted in the cloakroom.
School groups and adults must deposit their belongings in the cloakrooms reserved for these groups.
Before the museum closes that day, any item left in the cloakroom must be picked up.
Items not claimed before the closing time are considered lost property and sent to the Lost and Found department.
Lost and Found Desk
Unclaimed items found in the museum forecourt or any parts are taken to the Reception and Surveillance Department.
They are kept on hold until the following Monday, after which they are handed over to the Lost and Found Department.
Perishable goods and low-value items are destroyed at the end of each day.
Visitor Helpdesk
The visitor’s help desk is at the museum’s reception, where you can borrow equipment required for movement by providing proof of ID.
This equipment includes wheelchairs, wheelchairs, baby strollers and mobile armchairs, folding seats and usable canes.
Under the same terms, the museum also loans out the Flâneuses, movable armchairs designed to reduce tiredness.
They are useful for sitting, carrying young children or goods, leaning back when strolling, and more.
Audio Guide Desk
If you are on a self-guided tour in Musee d’Orsay, different aids-to-hire are available for visitors with a paid fee, like audio guides, digital tablets, etc., in the Audio Guide Desk.
These are multilingual and also feature French sign language (LSF) and audio description.
It is the visitors’ responsibility to handle the equipment with care and return it to the desk where they collected it at the end of the visit.
This service is helpful in case your device does not support the application or you cannot download the guide.
Elevators
The entire museum is well-connected across different floors, with elevators and ramps.
This allows those with limited mobility and strollers to explore the whole museum circuit, temporary exhibitions, and commercial areas.
Water Fountains
Water fountains for drinking water are available across the museum floors and levels.
This makes it easy for visitors to easily access water without having to carry it for themselves.
Restrooms and Baby Changing Area
There are several restrooms throughout the museum, some of which are accessible to those with disabilities.
A baby-changing space is available at the museum. It is situated on Level 1, near the adult group registration area.
Restaurant and Cafe
The Musee d’Orsay has a restaurant and cafe inside for your refreshment and refueling.
The Musée d’Orsay Restaurant is located on Level 2 of the museum.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.45 am to 5.30 pm and on Thursdays from 11.45 am to 2.45 pm and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm.
The Café Campana is at Level 5 and open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30 am to 5 pm.
Auditorium
There is an auditorium that hosts various live performances for visitors and groups.
These performances include artistic events, concerts, shows for young people, and cinematographic screenings covering all genres.
Lockers
Lockers are provided for groups in the group reception area and are exclusively reserved for groups with a prior booking.
Depending on space availability, each group can access a single locker using a code set by the group leader.
Any goods left in lockers that are stolen or damaged are not the museum’s responsibility.
Any deposited items that might endanger the security of people, property, or structures could face legal repercussions.
If one forgets to collect items, the deposited items shall be recovered and treated as lost property.
Picnic Room
The museum has a Picnic Room available for school groups only on Level 1.
Except on public holidays, it is open from 11 am to 4 pm from Tuesday through Saturday.
The room cannot be reserved and can accommodate one class at a time.
The group must ensure that the space is left clean as they depart.
Security and Emergency Services
The Musée d’Orsay has a well-integrated security system with video surveillance and personnel across the museum premises.
They have fire and ambulance crews with alarms installed and red interphones for emergency communication.
If fallen ill, visitors are permitted to use the defibrillators within the museum, following the instructions provided.
FAQs
1. What are the Musee d’Orsay facilities for families with children?
The museum has parking facilities, cloakrooms, an audio guide desk, hiring strollers and baby seats, restrooms, baby changing areas, and restaurants.
If there are any kid-friendly programs, they can attend them in the auditorium.
2. What are the Musee d’Orsay facilities for guests with disabilities?
The museum is well-connected with elevators, ramps, and restrooms for wheelchair users.
They also have separate disability parking areas allotted for such visitors.
The audio guide or aids-to-hire have French sign language (LSF) guides or descriptions available at the Audio Guide desk.
3. Does the Musee d’Orsay have storage facilities for visitors’ belongings?
There are cloakrooms for visitors to the museum and auditorium to keep belongings.
For school groups or educational groups, there are locker rooms available to keep their belongings in the locker with a lock code set by the group leader.
4. Are there any Musee d’Orsay facilities to help if I lose something at the museum?
The Reception and Surveillance initially accepts unidentified things found at the museum premises and then hands them over to the Lost and Found Desk.
If you have lost something, you can first enquire at the reception and then at the Lost and Found Desk.
Featured Image: Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash