Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Photo: Musée des Arts Décoratifs — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located in the Louvre’s Pavillon de Marsan, the museum displays over 6,000 objects, including furniture, textiles, and fashion, spanning from the Middle Ages to contemporary times.
Planning your visit
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs occupies the Louvre's Pavillon de Marsan but is an entirely separate institution, and its collection covers what the Louvre does not: furniture, ceramics, glass, metalwork, wallpaper, toys, jewellery, graphic design and fashion from the Middle Ages to now.
The period rooms are the strength — complete interiors reassembled from demolished buildings, running from medieval through Renaissance, the eighteenth century, Art Nouveau and Art Deco to the twentieth, including Jeanne Lanvin's apartment by Armand-Albert Rateau, an intact 1920s interior of remarkable quality.
The fashion holdings are among the largest anywhere and are shown in rotating exhibitions rather than permanently, given textile fragility. The advertising and graphic design collections are similarly substantial.
It is consistently quieter than the Louvre next door despite sharing a wall. Allow two hours. Bookable options include tickets with audio tours. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Musée des Arts Décoratifs?
Musée des Arts Décoratifs is in Paris, France. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Musée des Arts Décoratifs?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Musée des Arts Décoratifs in advance?
The audio-guide option can normally be added on arrival, though booking ahead secures the date.
