Musée Rodin, Paris

About the Musée Rodin

The Musée Rodin opened in 1919 and is devoted to the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Its main building is the Hôtel Biron, an elegant 18th-century mansion by the architect Jean Aubert in the 7th arrondissement. From 1908 Rodin used it as his workshop, then gave his entire collection to the state on condition that it become a museum of his work.

The museum has two sites: the Paris mansion with its garden and the Villa des Brillants at Meudon outside Paris, where Rodin lived. The collection holds some 6,600 sculptures, 8,000 drawings and thousands of old photographs and art objects, including the antique statues Rodin collected and paintings by his friends Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir.

What to see

• The Thinker — the famous bronze in the garden.
• The Kiss — the marble couple in the mansion's rooms.
• The Gates of Hell — huge bronze doors with hundreds of figures.
• The Burghers of Calais — a group of six figures in the garden.
• The Camille Claudel room — works by Rodin's pupil and collaborator.
• The garden and roses — a pond, avenues and bronzes in greenery.

The sculpture garden

The museum's great charm is the garden around the mansion. Among roses, clipped trees and lawns stand Rodin's most famous bronzes in the open air. Right by the entrance sits The Thinker, lost in thought. Further on rise the monumental Gates of Hell, inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy, on which you can spot small versions of The Thinker, The Three Shades and The Kiss.

The garden also holds The Burghers of Calais, six townsmen, and the powerful Balzac in his long cloak. Behind the mansion are a small pond and a café where you can rest on a terrace among the sculptures. From the garden paths you can see the golden dome on the neighbouring esplanade.

Inside the mansion

The Hôtel Biron's rooms show sculptures in marble, bronze and plaster. The star is The Kiss, a white marble pair of lovers and one of the world's most famous sculptures. Here too are early works such as Man with a Broken Nose and The Age of Bronze, portraits and studies for the great monuments.

The museum holds about 8,000 drawings by Rodin, landscapes, fantasies on Dante and Baudelaire, portraits, and a vast collection of old photographs of his work. There's also the sculptor's personal collection: antique statues from Egypt, Greece and Rome and paintings by Van Gogh, including the famous Père Tanguy, Monet and Renoir.

Camille Claudel

A separate room is devoted to Camille Claudel, sculptor, pupil, model and collaborator of Rodin, who worked with him from 1884. Her works are full of movement and feeling: here are The Mature Age, The Wave, The Waltz, Sakountala and her bust of Rodin himself.

The Claudel room shows how the two artists influenced each other, and many visitors find it one of the most powerful parts of the museum.

The museum and its neighbourhood

The museum stands in the elegant 7th arrondissement among mansions and ministries, minutes from the Eiffel Tower and the Pont Alexandre III. Even Varenne metro station opposite the museum is decorated with copies of Rodin sculptures right on the platform.

The Musée Rodin pairs well with the Musée d'Orsay, which also has Rodin works, 20 minutes' walk away through the Left Bank streets.

Tips for your visit

Allow an hour and a half to two hours for the museum and garden. If you're short of time or with children, a garden-only ticket lets you see The Thinker, The Gates of Hell and The Burghers of Calais in half an hour.

Photos without flash are allowed. The garden has benches and a café for a break. Large bags must go in the cloakroom.

See The Kiss in the morning, as crowds gather round it later in the day.

Places in Paris: compare and choose

Places in Paris rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.

Nearby and on the way

51

Pont Alexandre III

Paris, France

20 min · Free · 16 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Pont Alexandre III

52

Musée d'Orsay

Paris, France

2 h 30 min · Timed ticket, online · 16 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Musée d'Orsay

41

Musée de l'Orangerie

Paris, France

1 h 30 min · Ticketed, free under 18 · 18 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Musée de l'Orangerie

34

Seine river cruise

Paris, France

1 h · ≈ 1-hour cruise, dinner costs more · 21 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Seine river cruise

How to do it right

• Closed Mondays.
• Garden in the sun.
• The Kiss in the morning.
• Free under 18.

Questions