European Night of Museums
Every year, Europe's museums open their doors to you for a night on the occasion of the European Museum Night. Like the European Heritage Days, this event was set up in 2005 by the Ministry of Culture. Supported by the Council of Europe, UNESCO and ICOM (International Council of Museums), France and 30 European countries are organizing this event intending to promote culture. Every year, Museum Night takes place on the third Saturday of May. In France, it will be held on Saturday 16 May for the year 2020. Around 1200 museums welcome nearly 2 million visitors free of charge until midnight, for a unique experience.
The Louvre museum
In Paris, for this 16th edition, the Louvre museum is once again the preferred place for tourists and Parisians alike. Who has never dreamed of discovering the treasures of the Louvre in a subdued atmosphere? Come and admire the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, the Grand Sphinx de Tanis and, many other works of art hidden in this incredible Renaissance building.
Stroll through the Louvre's many galleries, from the Western art of the Middle Ages to the collections of ancient civilization and Egyptian antiquities. This night tour reveals the secrets of the world's largest museum of art and antiques.
The Orsay museum
Exhibiting an extensive collection of impressionist paintings, the Orsay Museum welcomes more than 12,000 visitors every year for Museum Night. Art lovers come to meet Western art with the presentation of paintings, sculptures, photographs and graphic arts. Why not discover masterpieces such as the Bal du Moulin de Renoir, Manet's Olympia or Courbet's The Origin of the World in a new light.
The Rodin museum
In the 7th arrondissement of Paris, other events are being prepared. The Rodin Museum opens its doors until midnight and gives you access to its most beautiful exhibitions. Explore the workshop of Auguste Rodin, Jean Cocteau and Henri Matisse. You will find the works of Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. The garden is also open for a night visit to the Porte de l'Enfer, Rodin's famous work.
The National Museum of Modern Art: Centre Pompidou
In Paris, the Pompidou Centre joins the Louvre as one of the most visited sites for the occasion, with more than 16,000 people visiting every year. An evening is often far too short to visit a museum on the scale of the Louvre or the Pompidou Centre. To allow you to discover all these museums, we offer you the « Paris City Pass » a package giving you access to more than 50 Parisian museums over 2 to 4 days. With this pass, you will be able to visit other incredible places such as the Yves Saint-Laurent museum, the Picasso museum, the Orangery museum or the Invalides museum. You will also be able to discover sites in the suburbs such as the Palace of Versailles or the Air and Space Museum thanks to this pass.
European Days in the rest of France
The rest of France is already preparing for the 16th edition. Marseille is planning several events at the city's natural history museum, including an exhibition retracing Benjamin Walter's intervention in Marseille, the screen and smoke, and a digital journey in literature. This exhibition gives you access both to an fantastic video, but also to a selection of archives and original works of the artist. The MUCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) is organizing a great show with the Ballet National de Marseille.
Lyon has not yet unveiled its program, but we hope to discover as many events as last year. Perhaps we'll find the Gadagne Museum around an exhibition that's just as exciting as the enigmas and workshops of the 15th edition. In 2019, children and adults went on an expedition with a journey through the labyrinth in search of treasure.
All the museums are doing their best (workshops, exhibitions, cinema, photos) to attract the public and promote the discovery of their heritage. This night dedicated to culture and history opens the doors to free exhibitions on many different themes to satisfy all audiences for one night. This amazing event gives you a new look at French heritage.
