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Private Musee d’Orsay Tour | History of Impressionism


Private 2 hrs Le Royal Orsay Refundable booking
musee d'orsay tour

LivTours Private Musée d’Orsay Tour covers some of the world’s most important Contemporary, Realist, Pointillist, Cubist, and Impressionist art from 1848 to the first World War, 1914. The Orsay, one of the largest collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces,  enjoys constant exhibit rotations in order to display its vast collection. This is one of the most comprehensive itineraries for anyone interested in the last 200 years of art by such greats as Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.

The Museum, originally built as a train station for electric trains, was built for the 1899 Universal Exhibition held in Paris. Its life as a train station was short-lived as train design grew by leaps and bounds, leaving the station’s short platforms obsolete. The station, a metal structure covered in limestone to match the nearby Louvre and Musee l’Orangerie, experienced many uses including mail sorting during World War II and the setting for several films, but it was not until the early 1970s that Paris started restoration to transform it into the world-class museum it is today.  Your LivTours’ Musee d’Orsay Tour will expose you to the timeless, most well-known beauty of masterpieces such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Along with his paintings are the likes of Renoir, Cezanne, School of Barbizon, Manet, and Monet. Walk and absorb history as if you were back in time to witness the progression of styles, the best of the best of each era.

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  • Admire the world’s largest Impressionist art collection with a private expert guide
  • Enjoy learning about the history of the last 200 years of art on this private tour
  • Maximize your time in Paris with our priority access entrance into the Orsay Museum
  • Understand the progression and origins of Impressionist art from start to finish
  • Discover the history of this once railway station, turned renowned museum
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Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian.

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!).

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English.

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system.

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions.


Your LivTours Private Musée d’Orsay Tour covers some of the world’s most important Contemporary, Realist, Pointillist, Cubist, and Impressionist art from 1848 to the first World War, 1914. Orsay contains constant exhibit rotations in order to display its vast collection. This is one of the most comprehensive itineraries for anyone interested in the last 200 years of art.

Your LivTours’ Musee d’Orsay Tour will expose you to the timeless, most well-known beauty of masterpieces such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Along with his paintings are the likes of Renoir, Cezanne, School of Barbizon, Manet, and Monet. Walk and absorb history as if you were back in time to witness the progression of styles, the best of the best of each era.

Equally impressive is the museum’s art nouveau interior, as it was once a Beaux-Arts Railway Station, Gare d’Orsay, that housed the first electric trains in all of France. This structure served many a purpose, even as a hotel, until it finally became what it is today – a structure that lends itself perfectly to displaying timeless art and its history in an organized fashion to the public.

One of the highlights of the Musée d’Orsay is the top floor view! Look outside to see a terrace with stellar views of the Sacre Coeur and the Seine River. The real attraction though and the climax of your visit are the masterpieces of Monet, Courbet, Manet, Picasso, and Renoir. Your LivTours guide will inspire you with awe-inspiring tales of some of the museum’s finest pieces of the Impressionist Movement.

Impressionist Art
To understand why these paintings are so popular, you have to understand exactly what impressionist art is and what exactly was the movement – learn this and more on your LivTours’ Musee d’Orsay Tour. Impressionist art and artists rebelled against traditional artistic expression favored by the regime at that time. Their art aimed to capture life in the moment, what the eye could capture in a single moment. As a result, their art became known as “different” and at the time, something quite unimpressive. Impressionism is the centric point of all modern art due to the fact it was the movement that freed people from preconceived ideas of how art should be made to even be considered art. Learn all about how this art movement changed the very way we view art today.

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  • Van Gogh’s Starry Night
  • Artwork by Manet, and Monet
  • Artwork by Renoir, Cezanne, School of Barbizon
  • Views of the Sacre Coeur and the Seine River
  • Fully guided experience
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LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.  LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here.

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When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

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Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Paris One Way Transfer from Hotel
Upgrade for a one way pick-up service directly from your centrally located Paris hotel to the meeting point of the tour. Guaranteed stress-free. One way only.
starting from
110 €
195.80 A$
102.30 £
128.70 $
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  • Inspiring and Beautiful

    This was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. Standing in front of Monet’s water lilies and Van Gogh’s vibrant canvases was indescribable. LivTours’ private guide made sure we didn’t miss a single highlight while keeping the pace comfortable.

    - Sophia Ramirez
  • A Fresh Appreciation for Art

    I had seen Impressionist paintings before, but I never truly understood their importance. Our guide explained the revolutionary techniques and the courage it took for these artists to break from tradition. It changed the way I look at art.

    - Patrick O’Donnell
  • A Great Choice for Couples

    My husband and I wanted something quieter after the hustle of Paris, and this tour was perfect. The museum itself is stunning, but what made it romantic was exploring the art together at our own pace. The view of the Sacré-Cœur from the top floor was unforgettable.

    - Anna Becker
  • Wonderful Insights and Anecdotes

    Our guide, Christian, sprinkled fascinating anecdotes throughout the tour. My favorite was learning how Parisians at the time mocked Impressionism as “unfinished paintings.” Hard to believe when you’re standing in front of Monet’s shimmering landscapes.

    - Daniel Carter
  • A Private Escape into Art

    The museum was busy, but having a private guide made it feel like we had it to ourselves. She steered us through the crowds and made sure we had time to pause at Van Gogh’s self-portraits. It was an intimate, almost meditative experience.

    - Katherine Miller
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By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.

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